April Fool’s joke, isn’t it?

Update: My messages are overtaking themselves at an alarming rate. Is Twitch really planning to block EU users?

Yesterday, when I was thinking about whether and how to publish an April Fool’s joke, this topic came to mind. Not only are streamers, influencers, esports teams my main clients, the topic is also very topical.

Of course, I didn’t think I’d get a whopping 7! I would get inquiries about where exactly to find the appropriate licenses for Instagram and YouTube and what exactly to do now.

Therefore, to make it clear: Of course, yesterday’s news is NOT true. The problem is that no one knows what will actually happen next. Because the articles linked in the news are true, of course, meaning that – in purely legal terms – any gaming streamer is operating in a gray area unless they have explicit consent from the game publisher.

Indeed, the question also remains whether and how social networks intend to comply with the requirements of Articles 11 and 13 once they have been transposed into national law. In this respect, it is neither absolutely absurd for Instagram to require proof of licenses for photos and declarations of consent from the people photographed, nor for either every streamer who shows game scenes to prove that the corresponding rights have been obtained, or for YouTube or Twitch to conclude blanket licensing agreements, but in case of doubt to pass the costs on to the streamer, for example by reducing percentage advertising shares. As numerous critics have already noted, the coming changes are unlikely to result in any benefits for the YouTubers themselves.

At the moment, there is really nothing to do but wait and see how the portals and rights holders will actually react.

Author: Marian Härtel

Marian Härtel ist Rechtsanwalt und Fachanwalt für IT-Recht mit einer über 25-jährigen Erfahrung als Unternehmer und Berater in den Bereichen Games, E-Sport, Blockchain, SaaS und Künstliche Intelligenz. Seine Beratungsschwerpunkte umfassen neben dem IT-Recht insbesondere das Urheberrecht, Medienrecht sowie Wettbewerbsrecht. Er betreut schwerpunktmäßig Start-ups, Agenturen und Influencer, die er in strategischen Fragen, komplexen Vertragsangelegenheiten sowie bei Investitionsprojekten begleitet. Dabei zeichnet sich seine Beratung durch einen interdisziplinären Ansatz aus, der juristische Expertise und langjährige unternehmerische Erfahrung miteinander verbindet. Ziel seiner Tätigkeit ist stets, Mandanten praxisorientierte Lösungen anzubieten und rechtlich fundierte Unterstützung bei der Umsetzung innovativer Geschäftsmodelle zu gewährleisten.