YouTube Gaming ContentID And Monetization Rules Revealed

As YouTube Gaming launches today, some new details on monetization and ContentID have been revealed.

Yes, ContentID will still be enforced, and the bots will be monitoring you live. The dashboard will show a warning if such a copyright warning comes up, but streamers will get a set time period to stop the music. If you don’t get it removed in time, the stream is automatically blocked, but not cut. Once the system detects the copyrighted content has stopped, the stream will no longer be blocked.

 In terms of monetization, YouTube is carrying over the preexisting system, including skippable pre-roll ads, in-stream ads, and popups. While YouTube has revealed plans for a subscription system, it does not seem that it will be ready in time for YouTube Gaming’s launch. Our source asked about this, and all YouTube would tell them was that they were very interested in the option. For now, there is a YouTube Fan Funding system that allows fans to make one time deposits.

Fans are already talking about ContentID, with some fans pointing out how false positives would ruin their streams.

Huh. For those who are thinking of leaving @Twitch for @YouTubeGaming , have fun when false positives mute your show? pic.twitter.com/fW5NT0j04l

— BBG | AJ (@BBG_AJ) August 26, 2015

However, Curtis Bonds of Nintendo World Report offers some interesting insight. In his capacity as a streamer, he has had access to YouTube Gaming for some time, and he claims he has not had to deal with ContentID matches on livestream, only when the recorded video of said streams come up. In fact, a YouTube representative has told him those matches shouldn’t happen.

RE YouTube Gaming's Content ID thing people have probably read about The article is referencing something that used to happen w/ YT streams

— Curtis Bonds (@CurtisBonds) August 26, 2015

When Youtube Live was first being rolled out they'd give you a warning if it detected a ContentID match, and would stop it if it kept going

— Curtis Bonds (@CurtisBonds) August 26, 2015

In the past few months me and the NWR guys have been streaming on there, there has been no such warning whenever songs/music were detected.

— Curtis Bonds (@CurtisBonds) August 26, 2015

We'd still get ContentID claims on the recorded video, but you don't have to worry about a stream getting blocked on YouTube Gaming.

— Curtis Bonds (@CurtisBonds) August 26, 2015

It should be noted that Curtis’ circumstances may be specific to him, as Nintendo has loosened up rules regarding YouTube videos for their games. They do have their own YouTube program, and even gamers outside the program won’t get their videos blocked. In any case, it's at least fair to say YouTube's ContentID policies will need more clarification.

Whatever limitations YouTube Gaming will have, a major player jumping in to compete with Twitch is sure to shake things up, if at least temporarily. Are you interested in signing up for YouTube Gaming? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.