Microsoft today posted its game content usage rules, affecting the way in which filmmakers — amateur, aspiring or otherwise — can use Microsoft Games Studios’ content in their works.
First off, filmmakers are free to use content that was procured without “reverse engineer[ing]… games to access… assets”.
Moreover, content cannot be used to “create an Item that is pornographic, lewd, obscene, vulgar, discriminatory (on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, etc.), illegal, hate speech, promoting violence, drug use or any illegal activity, promoting crimes against humanity, genocide or torture, or is otherwise objectionable.
“Whether an Item is “objectionable” is up to us, but you can expect us to be concerned if a significant number of people in the game’s community or the public at large report the content as offensive,” the rules continue. “If you see an Item or content that you consider objectionable, we recommend that you first report it to the online service where it is hosted, as it may violate that service’s policy too.”
Videos cannot be behind subscription paywalls, though partnerships with networks like Machinima are acceptable.
Most importantly, content made has to carry the following disclaimer: “[Name of the Microsoft Game] © Microsoft Corporation. [The title of your Item] was created under Microsoft’s “Game Content Usage Rules” using assets from [Name of the Microsoft Game], and it is not endorsed by or affiliated with Microsoft.”
Filmmakers can read the full page of rules here.
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