The rumoured YouTube buy-out already seems to be changing Twitch

4.7
Copyright sweeps and limited archiving: big changes are coming to Twitch, and users are alarmed.

Twitch today announced two major policy changes, both of which impact end users.

According to the Twitch blog, the service today implemented an audio recognition system. This system checks archived videos for copyright material, and enforces 30 minutes of silence whenever it is detected.

What that means is that if you were playing copyright music during a stream, and then archived that stream, you’ll now have gaping periods of silence, with all audio muted. This applies to in-game music as well.

The change is likely to affect thousands of archived videos, and indeed has even hit some of Twitch’s own archives.

“We respect the rights of copyright owners, and are voluntarily undertaking this effort to help protect both our broadcasters and copyright owners,” Twitch said.

“Audio Recognition will only be run against audio in VODs. We are not scanning live broadcasts and there is no automated takedown of live content.

“Flagged Content will display an on-screen notification informing viewers that content owned or controlled by a third party has been identified. The progress bar will also be red for the duration of the muted section.”

Twitch said the system is not 100% accurate and may return false positives or miss copyrighted materials, and said users can file claims for incorrect flagging.

“If you wish to include music in your VODs, please remember that you are responsible for clearing all such rights (this includes ambient music that may be playing in the background while you are broadcasting),” the service added, linking to various free music sources as alternatives to copyrighted materials.

Interestingly, Twitch noted that it’s not legally obliged to filter user’s content for copyright claims and is doing so voluntarily, which is likely to make some users even more upset.



Posted:
Related Forum: PC Gaming Forum

Source: http://www.vg247.com/2014/08/07/twitch-dmca-takedowns-deleted-archives-policy-changes-youtube-buyout/

Comments

"The rumoured YouTube buy-out already seems to be changing Twitch" :: Login/Create an Account :: 48 comments

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ItalianPosted:

Ortho
Ethics Oh great Google are going to ruin twitch just like they ruined Youtube.


What's wrong with YT? I'm using it now and it's fine


You clearly don't remember the old YouTube. It was just so much better, still use YouTube as it is the best video site out there. But still changed for the worse from what it use to be. Also Twitch is going to suck once owned by YouTube. I barely use it, thank god.

EthicsPosted:

Oh great Google are going to ruin twitch just like they ruined Youtube.

DeluxeHazardPosted:

Please don't ruin Twitch like you ruined YouTube Google.

DusknoirPosted:

Why is enforcing rules bad?

UrfPosted:

The rumored buyout from Google has NOTHING to **** do with the fact their now enforcing their rules. Is this really what TTG has come down to? Using worse clickbait than Polygon? Twitch is now enforcing these rules because they, and I quote, "Don't want their users to be at risk for copyright."
It has NOTHING AT ALL to do with the buyout.

SHSPosted:

Human
AR15
ProDread It's a shame that a good website and streaming service like Twitch gets bought out by Google and they start destroying it.


They are not destroying it. Calm down.

Google is merely updating some things to make the end users and what not more safe.

They are improving it.

no, they're adding unwanted features, just like they add features to youtube which people oppose.


Well to be honest, if companies wanted to they could sue streamers who didn't have the rights to use their music so it is to protect the users even if it is annoying. Of course its unwanted but was gonna have to happen at some point

RSLPosted:

GILF I think twitch is fine the way it is and I don't think that there is any need for any unnecessary features or updates


Here we go with the copyright BS. Google love to mess perfectly good websites up.

GILFPosted:

I think twitch is fine the way it is and I don't think that there is any need for any unnecessary features or updates

spidumPosted:

this is insane. I hate google. i hate the things they do. I hate censorship! we need an alternative now.

KixaPosted:

Hopefully this change is good for the company.