Microsoft recognizes YouTubers as influential but wants rules

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A recent marketing promotion between Microsoft and Machinima has sparked a discussion about the ethics of how YouTubers make a living. Ars Technica has a piece detailing a recent promotion where Microsoft (through Machinima) could pay YouTubers up to $3,750 for a video featuring Xbox One content, with the proviso that the YouTuber could not say "anything negative or disparaging about Machinima, Xbox One or any of its Games in your Campaign Video."

Reaction to the story has been mixed. Product placement is nothing new and some dismiss it as standard marketing practice, while others are raising questions about ethical concerns. Do or should YouTubers have to acknowledge when they are being paid to play or discuss a particular product?

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Source: http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/20/microsoft-recognizes-youtubers-as-influential-but-wants-rules/

Comments

"Microsoft recognizes YouTubers as influential but wants rules" :: Login/Create an Account :: 63 comments

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EverPosted:

This would be pretty cool, but you'd see an even bigger raise in "Wanna be Youtubers"

MoBoPosted:

No different, they already get paid rediculous amounts for doing barely anything... I fony life were that simple.

PensPosted:

Wow that's a lot of money. I might need to try you tubing XD

CrownsPosted:

daRealRush $3,750 just for making a video, and not saying anything bad about the Xbox One, Machinima, or any of its games! That a bit insane, that much money just for saying good things about something! It seems like this is how everything is ran these days.

It's really simple, so I don't see why they wouldn't.

MaggardoPosted:

$3,750 just for making a video, and not saying anything bad about the Xbox One, Machinima, or any of its games! That a bit insane, that much money just for saying good things about something! It seems like this is how everything is ran these days.

StedosPosted:

Crowns
Stedos If you were offered that much money to say some good things about products, then you might as well do it, nothing stopping you. And especially that much money, it would be worth it to make a video promoting these things. It's so much for just one video.


You'll probably get those people who say you're a money *****.


I'm not talking about general people, but most youtubers, especially people who are with Machinima like the idea that they get paid for playing video games. So, it's just them doing what they usually do. I'm sure most of them will take them up on this offer, especially since they just see it as easy money.

UrfPosted:

Stedos If you were offered that much money to say some good things about products, then you might as well do it, nothing stopping you. And especially that much money, it would be worth it to make a video promoting these things. It's so much for just one video.


And this is exactly why our elections are also ****.

TRSNPosted:

$3k per video? Damn that's a lot...

CrownsPosted:

Stedos If you were offered that much money to say some good things about products, then you might as well do it, nothing stopping you. And especially that much money, it would be worth it to make a video promoting these things. It's so much for just one video.


You'll probably get those people who say you're a money whore.

StedosPosted:

If you were offered that much money to say some good things about products, then you might as well do it, nothing stopping you. And especially that much money, it would be worth it to make a video promoting these things. It's so much for just one video.