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Video Game Movies "Not Creative Expression"
GamePolitics is one of many that is reporting on the impending removal of video game movies from the video hosting site Vimeo. While they have agreed to leave machinima alone, all walk-throughs, strategy videos, pvp battles, raids, etc, will be deleted on September 1st. "The Vimeo staff does not feel that videos which are direct captures of video game play truly constitute 'creative expression.' Further, such videos may expose Vimeo to liability from the game creator(s), as we have already seen action from popular video game companies against videos such as these... Gaming videos are by nature significantly larger and longer than any other genre on Vimeo ..."
The "these do not truly constitute creative expression" bit is just a cop-out for them to save face. They just don't want to come out and say "The only reason is that we're afraid of getting sued by the game companies and we're a bunch of poor pussies who can't afford lawyers. So please stop investing in us now that you know we're too poor to withstand even a small lawsuit."
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
I think that walkthroughs, or gameplay videos do not necessarily show creative expression. Your watching a video on how to do something. The equivalent is reading a do-it-yourself book. I can see why Vimeo can take on the same view. The posters are not taking the game and throwing their own twist on it, just simply posting a copy of it. Now that the devil's advocate is gone.. Personally i agree with what other people have been saying. Posting walkthroughs and similar could bring about legal issues in the future. In a way, they are promoting creative expression with more intensity seeing you will be watching "videos with a twist" more than other stuff.