I want to make some youtube videos on WoW lore, speculation, commentary etc. I’m planning to monetize them.
Am I allowed to use in game footage and screenshots? Can I use Blizzard assets such as maps, concept art and character models? Can I use music and voice clips?
I read the Blizzard video policy and it seems to say that this is all okay, but you never know with the crazy situation these days.
You can’t monetize directly off their assets, as in selling their Art, Music and Videos directly. But Blizzard have no issues of you monetizing off ad revenue to your videos… that’s to do with YouTube, as it’s essentially free advertising for them. If you ever go the route of Merch you CANNOT use their official art on your T-Shirts and what have you.
So anything owned by Blizzard is fair game for me to use for my videos? Does this include quotes and images from the books?
Yes.
You’d be best of just watching some existing youtube creators honestly.
Such as Bellular or more relevant to you, Nobeel87.
You can certainly use snippets and assets, as long as you’re using them as talking points, visual aids, etc.
Fair use is a bit of a difficult area because I don’t think it’s set in stone what it really covered, but generally you’d be good.
I’d avoid long clips of videos, and music is one of the easier areas to get snagged on.
As long as you’re not committing plagiarism you’re fine.
Wait, so you’re saying ‘Yes.’ I can use any assets, but not music and voice clips? Or can I use them aslong as they’re only snippets?
Music and footage and maps and screenshots are all fine, in the context of content YOU are creating, like explanations, commentary, analysis, gameplay.
Blizzard are very good about this. Back when the YouTube Copyright Panic was on, people like Preach and Bellular praised Blizzard’s quick response and “hands off” notices to YouTube when YT’s overeager algorithms made automatic strikes against their videos.
Listen, you’d be best off forgetting about the technicalities. Because technically you do not have the right to use that footage in videos without explicit permission, as far as I’m aware. BUT no-one has ever been copyright striked or w/e because they used in-game footage in their video. It has literally never happened, and never will, because it would only hurt Blizzard.
So yes, Blizzard does let you use their footage, although it’s not a written permission or anything. Every streamer and youtuber who makes content about WoW would be in trouble otherwise, you can probably imagine that it’s very obvious Blizzard wouldn’t ever copyright strike anyone for that.
Same applies to voice clips/music/character models by the way.
On Youtube they have a creator academy and it touches on this in particular.
If I remember it says the work must be transformative, simple as telling a story, writing a review or even a guide etc
I highly suggest giving it some time if you plan on using their platform for your content and making money - it should be essential.
Make love not lore 
Blizzard is extremely relaxed about these things and I only know of a handful of cases of people getting told to stop by Blizzard lawyers, and in those cases it was justified because this content was harming the Blizzard IP in question.
In general, if you make content around wow, it’s only publicity. As long as you don’t harm Blizzard with it, they most likely won’t care because it’s free advertisement
Depends what you mean by “Monetize” them, if you put them on youtube you are fine, if you sell them then it’s a big no no.
Remember everything in a Blizzard game is bound by copyright and/or trademarks to Blizzard.
Thanks guys, you’ve all been very useful
I’m feeling good about my videos
This topic was automatically closed 30 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.