YouTube creators hit by 'Microstopped' take down requests -- Microsoft already fixing it
Creating content for YouTube is actually very hard and takes a long time to edit and upload. Even a simple-looking unboxing video can take hours from start to finish -- sometimes longer if you cut yourself opening the box and have to treat a wound. It is very disappointing to have your content removed for copyright issues, when you haven't actually violated anything. Even worse, it can be an impossibility to successfully dispute the bogus claim.
Today, many YouTube content creators were inconvenienced and upset by take down requests from an apparently overzealous company called "Marketly", acting on Microsoft's behalf. You see, all of the videos were Windows related, but not all of the removals were warranted. Of course, like all controversies, it has already been given a name and hashtag of #Microstopped.
YouTube personality Chris Pirillo was impacted by this take down, and was actually the first person to use the 'Microstopped' naming. "I think this was an oversight. I'd wager that Marketly was hired to take care of a legitimate problem and it was executed incorrectly. I am more than confident it has nothing to do with censorship and that Microsoft supports the tech community on YouTube even if we don't always see eye-to-eye on legitimate topics", says Pirillo.
A Microsoft spokesperson tells BetaNews, "while we are still investigating the recent YouTube takedown notices, it appears some of these videos were inadvertently targeted for removal because there were stolen product keys embedded in the comments section of the videos. Our intention was not to target legitimate YouTube content and we are sorry for the impact this has had. We have already taken steps to reinstate legitimate video content and are working towards a better solution to targeting stolen IP while respecting legitimate content".
In other words, Microsoft is not a bad-guy. The company is not actively waging a war against YouTube creators, but instead trying to protect itself, and legit videos got in the crossfire. Not only is the company admitting to the error, but already working to reinstate the accidentally removed videos.
Of course, removing videos based on the content of comments is a bad idea, as the creator of the video has no control over what people write (other than to remove commenting altogether). Think about it -- rivals could post Windows keys on each others video comments to get the other in trouble. Hopefully Microsoft sees why this was a bad idea and never targets based on comments again.
Were any of your videos impacted? Tell me in the comments.
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