D&D (2024) D&D Player's Handbook Video Redactions & Takedowns

There's a lot of YouTube videos looking at the brand new Player's Handbook right now, and some of them include the YouTuber in question flipping through the new book on screen. A couple of those video creators have been asked by WotC to redact some of the content of their videos, with one finding that their video had been taken down entirely due to copyright claims from the company. It appears to be the folks who are flipping through the whole book on-screen who are running into this issue which, it seems, is based on piracy concerns.

Jorphdan posted on Twitter that "Despite fulfilling [WotC's] requests for the flip through video I was issues a copyright strike on my channel. Three strikes TERMINATES your channel. I don't think going over the 2024 PHB is worth losing my channel I've been working on since 2017. I'm pretty upset as none of this was said up front and when notified I did comply with their requirements. And I see other creators still have their videos up. Videos that are not unlike mine. Covering WotC is not worth losing my channel... Meanwhile please subscribe to my D&D free channel the Jocular Junction, where I'll most likely be making the majority of my TTRPG videos."

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Mike Shea, aka Sly Flourish, also posted a walkthrough of the Player's Handbook. While he didn't receive a copyright takedown action, after an email from WotC he has blurred out all the page images. "Note, I blurred out pictures of the book after Hasbro sent me an email saying they worried people would take screenshots of the book and build their own. Yes, it's complete b******t, but we must all do our part to ensure four billion dollar companies maximize shareholder value."

Popular YouTuber DnD Shorts had a video entitled 100% Walkthrough of the New Player's Handbook in D&D. That video is no longer available. However, his full spoilers review is still online.

 

[DrJawaPhD]

I don't know what you do professionally BUT if people were stealing your product, is that cool?

I don't know any industries where the company freely gives away samples of their product hoping to generate enthusiasm, but then turns around the next day and slaps them with legal repercussions for doing what they were asked to do in the first place.

Protecting your copyrights is understandable, but holy crap learn how to pick your battles

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

So much for WotC being on their PR A-game for the 50th anniversary and new core book release schedule.

But hey, good job saving the salary of those marketing folks who could have saved you from this.

 

[TiQuinn]

Protecting your copyrights is understandable, but holy crap learn how to pick your battles

I think that’s the issue. When legal gets involved, they approach the matter with a hatchet rather than a scalpel, and end up alienating a lot of other channels as a result.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

From the PackTactics videos I’ve seen, WotC told them they were allowed to discuss the book’s contents but were warned not to show the book’s pages. Was this warning not sent out to all the YouTubers?

 

[Parmandur]

From the PackTactics videos I’ve seen, WotC told them they were allowed to discuss the book’s contents but were warned not to show the book’s pages. Was this warning not sent out to all the YouTubers?

Miscommunication seems to be rampant here.

 

[Retreater]

From the PackTactics videos I’ve seen, WotC told them they were allowed to discuss the book’s contents but were warned not to show the book’s pages. Was this warning not sent out to all the YouTubers?

I doubt that channels like Sly Flourish would've ignored such warnings. We're not talking about small channels of inexperienced content creators here.
WotC is going after some of their biggest proponents here.
Not going to end well.

 

[Arilyn]

Not sure why it is on WotC to explain every detail on how to make a preview video, though clearly they ought to in the future and vet and coach content creators more carefully.

Every, I mean every company or independent author of a rpg book, who sends a promotional copy of their product to a you tuber, wants to see their product showcased. That's the point. Build up hype and hopefully get some positive vibes going. Why would any YouTuber assume WotC is different? The only stipulation was to wait till Aug. 1.Once again, WotC bungles and builds up ill will. They really really aren't learning...

 

[Micah Sweet]

Every, I mean every company or independent author of a rpg book, who sends a promotional copy of their product to a you tuber, wants to see their product showcased. That's the point. Build up hype and hopefully get some positive vibes going. Why would any YouTuber assume WotC is different? The only stipulation was to wait till Aug. 1.Once again, WotC bungles and builds up ill will. They really really aren't learning...

I'm seriously beginning to think that goodwill really doesn't mean all that much to them. Maybe they figure they're too big to fail.

 

[Retreater]

They really really aren't learning...

This is gonna be Honor Among Thieves all over again.

 

[Theory of Games]

I don't know any industries where the company freely gives away samples of their product hoping to generate enthusiasm, but then turns around the next day and slaps them with legal repercussions for doing what they were asked to do in the first place.

Protecting your copyrights is understandable, but holy crap learn how to pick your battles

Giving streamers a freebie to PREVIEW a product is different than streamers posting the entire product online for pirates.

Illegal streaming and internet piracy costs BILLIONS annually. Hasbro and every other company are right to fight it with any legal means available.

Anyone who doesn't understand this doesn't understand BUSINESS.