YouTubers can now get paid for sharing Nintendo gameplay videos
Nintendo is today rolling out its "Creators Program," a system that ensures it gets paid when YouTubers share its content. The Creators Program is a response to the popular "Let's Play" YouTube clips that feature long amounts of gameplay. Nintendo took issue with such videos back in 2013, asserting its copyright over them either by issuing takedowns or inserting commercials before them. Last year, it did the same with popular Mario Kart 8 videos but also revealed it had a plan to start revenue sharing, and some eight months later it's ready to explain how it all works.
YouTubers wanting to get paid for videos that include Nintendo's content will need to register with the company at its Creators Program microsite. Once that's done, they'll need to either register their entire channel (if all the videos feature Nintendo content), or individual videos on a case-by-case basis. Nintendo will then take up to three days to mull over the claim before approving the channel or video(s).
Once they've jumped that hurdle, they'll then be making money again. How much? Nintendo will share 70 percent of advertising revenue for those that register entire channels, or 60 percent for individual videos. Creators won't get paid immediately, of course -- Nintendo will send out payments (via PayPal) two months after YouTube tallies the view counts i.e. you'll be paid in March for all your January views. And that's that. The system is a little convoluted, but if Nintendo insists on getting paid -- which it has every right to -- the Creators Program is surely better than DMCA takedowns and forced advertising.
