Nintendo provides a statement

Update:

Nintendo has provided us with the following statement, largely reiterating what's been suggested in Nintendo Japan's tweets.

Nintendo has been permitting the use of Nintendo copyrighted material in videos on YouTube under appropriate circumstances. Advertisements may accompany those videos, and in keeping with previous policy that revenue is shared between YouTube and Nintendo. In addition, for those who wish to use the material more proactively, we are preparing an affiliate program in which a portion of the advertising profit is given to the creator. Details about this affiliate program will be announced in the future.

Original Article:

As you may recall, YouTube was at the core of some controversy throughout 2013. A change to the Content ID system late in the year (December) led to a flurry of claims and various channels seeing their revenues put on hold as blocks mounted up; it was a logistical problem for channels as even frivolous claims could halt income. Nintendo, more directly, reportedly started aggressively claiming ad revenues on videos earlier in 2013, with a negative backlash seemingly prompting the company to ease off in claiming Let's Play funds, for example.

Such was the reaction last May / June that Nintendo's been largely staying away from Content ID claims — in other words seeking the revenues from videos showing content from its games; in the most recent controversy at the end of the year companies such as the big N and Sony notably steered clear of joining in the aggressive claims. It seems the company has been considering how to monetise videos featuring its content, however, with its official Twitter account in Japan stating that it's preparing an 'affiliate' program for YouTube.

Translated, these tweets explain that the company has already begun the process of tagging videos showing Nintendo content to display the company's adverts. Of greater importance, however, is that Nintendo is planning an affiliate program in which content producers can have permission to use Nintendo game footage, with ad revenue then distributed by Nintendo and Google to the content channel. Details on how this will work will be forthcoming, with wording suggesting there may be multiple tiers in the royalty agreements.

We'll need to wait for full details to be officially unveiled; this seems like an attempt for Nintendo to make advertising revenue from YouTube content showing its games — which prompted the controversy last summer — but with a formal agreement in place and some revenue still going to the content creator. It may still prompt a backlash, if Nintendo seeks to make money from what some may consider free advertising on YouTube, and could still deter some popular channels from covering Nintendo games if they can produce other content where all ad revenue is retained. It's also unclear whether such a program will be utilised wholesale across videos uploaded from Mario Kart TV in Mario Kart 8, for example.

We'll see how this develops in the coming days and weeks.

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/05/nintendo_japan_announces_plans_for_youtube_affiliate_program

what do you think of this? as someone who whatches a lot of video game related Youtubers that do Nintendo content, this is pretty big news for them

Thats kinda cool! Least its better than what they are doing now

Eh, its a step up I suppose. They already made their money on that person purchasing the game, don't see why they feel the need to keep making more off youtubers. I'm sure someone will enlighten me soon enough though.

Fuck this shit. Gamers shouldn't need a contract with Nintendo to earn money producing original content.

I seriously don't understand what their problem is. Youtube is basically free advertisement, especially from some of these channels with millions of subscribers. And they aren't having to pay a penny for this advertisement. Companies would kill to have that kind of exposure. So why stop it? Just to get some petty cash from ad revenue? I'm glad to see Nintendo are finally coming to their senses, but this should be a non-issue altogether.

There are so many times where I've bought a game after seeing a playthrough/gameplay on Youtube that I couldn't even count. In fact I don't think I've bought a game as of late without first watching a bunch of gameplay commentaries and reviews of the game.

It's a step up but it's still not as good as before.

I dont see this as something good its the same old BS just twisted.

let people make some money its not like nintendo needs a dollar from each lets play video they literally gain nothing and lose even more love towards fans.

Nintendo hiding their terrible Youtube-related business practices behind the fact this isn't as bad as it could possibly be.

I don't know how I feel about this yet, I will wait and see how it works out.

I think this is a good move by Nintendo. They didn`t have to authorize anything, but they did and they are still letting some of those users make money of their IPs.
Can`t complain.