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."

​

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.

 

[CSwizzy]

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.

View attachment 375309​

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."

View attachment 375308
​

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."

View attachment 375310​

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.

View attachment 375336​

TINSTAFL

 

[OptionalRule]

Because that's not what happened and not who we are defending.

Yes. I believe Jorphan said his video was audio only an the pages were blurred.

 

[Parmandur]

This thread is a perfect example on how conversations can be a little bit weird with all the blocking and ignoring going on...

Well, as I understand it, it isn't appropriate to discuss this, but I find the tools help my experience.

 

[Mistwell]

Because that's not what happened and not who we are defending.

Two of the three videos ( Jorphdan and DNDShorts) I'm aware of that's what they did. I am asking what the third is. I guess it's Sly Flourish? Have not read details of what was at issue on that one, yet. I am sure it's in this thread I just have not gotten to that part of the thread yet.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Two of the three videos I'm aware of that's what they did. I am asking what the third is. I guess it's Sly Flourish? Have not read details of what was at issue on that one, yet. I am sure it's in this thread I just have not gotten to that part of the thread yet.

My point is, you are acting like those of us defending are somehow condoning theft - this is not the case at all.

It's more a matter if you think that spraying bullets into a crowd is okay as long as you get the perp, or if you think that it's better to let the perp get away, as long as innocents are not hurt.

I think we all agree that if you can get the perp without collateral damage, then you should absolutely do that.

 

[timbannock]

Same source as the takedown occurring, Jordphan posted it on Twitter

"Wizards_DnD was able to clear this up! The strike was removed this morning. I have since set the video to private, just because of all the attention. Happy and relieved"

View attachment 375540

x.com

x.com

Appreesh! I'm not on the socials so much. (At all, really.)

 

[SteveC]

I guess it's time to reset the sign again? Looks like we're back to "0 days since an unforced error creates bad press."

This time, I suspect it's the people involved with the marketing for WotC who are the issue. People are saying that they let some of the most experienced staff go, so I can see where this comes from. You absolutely need to specify what your expectations are for what content is okay to share and what isn't for the people you're sharing the new books with. Now, some of the people who got copies have had this happen before, so they should have gone through the "share this but not that..." discussion. But I can't blame them because if you're used to having a solid description of what you can and can't share, and you don't get it this time, you certainly would be reasonable to assume that those restrictions aren't in place.

It's just another messy, unforced error.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I guess it's time to reset the sign again? Looks like we're back to "0 days since an unforced error creates bad press."

This time, I suspect it's the people involved with the marketing for WotC who are the issue. People are saying that they let some of the most experienced staff go, so I can see where this comes from. You absolutely need to specify what your expectations are for what content is okay to share and what isn't for the people you're sharing the new books with. Now, some of the people who got copies have had this happen before, so they should have gone through the "share this but not that..." discussion. But I can't blame them because if you're used to having a solid description of what you can and can't share, and you don't get it this time, you certainly would be reasonable to assume that those restrictions aren't in place.

It's just another messy, unforced error.

I think this post pretty much sums up the entire thread and for me, is a capstone on the discussion. Thanks!

 

[TiQuinn]

Two of the three videos ( Jorphdan and DNDShorts) I'm aware of that's what they did.

That is incorrect in Jorphdan’s case. I watched the video. He showed portions of the book as he was reading it but never the entire book and flipped through it in a manner that no one could read the entire book. He did not go page by page. There were whole portions he skipped over.

 

[timbannock]

I guess it's time to reset the sign again? Looks like we're back to "0 days since an unforced error creates bad press."

This time, I suspect it's the people involved with the marketing for WotC who are the issue. People are saying that they let some of the most experienced staff go, so I can see where this comes from. You absolutely need to specify what your expectations are for what content is okay to share and what isn't for the people you're sharing the new books with. Now, some of the people who got copies have had this happen before, so they should have gone through the "share this but not that..." discussion. But I can't blame them because if you're used to having a solid description of what you can and can't share, and you don't get it this time, you certainly would be reasonable to assume that those restrictions aren't in place.

It's just another messy, unforced error.

Based on their actions in times where they've been (theoretically) fully staffed up, I'd argue it's unlikely that this has to do with senior staff being missing and more an issue of an organization run poorly regardless of their headcount or quality of employees.