Yes, but watching a let's play doesn't replace getting the game itself, and often encourages the viewers to get the game. Youtube videos are at the very worst completely neutral to nintendo, and at the very best improve their sales. The videos [i]are[/i] derived from Nintendo content, so at first glance it would seem perfectly logical for them to monetize the videos. However, it discourages people from doing something formerly beneficial to both parties.

I'll give you some truths about this debacle. You can disagree with them if you want: 1) It's ironic and laughable that these companies are worried that people would rather watch other people play these game than to play them themselves. 2) Unless, Nintendo is planning to hire these let's players as employees, this is a horrible business decision that is going to put many Nintendo focused let's players out of work while at the same time reducing people's interest in Nintendo games. Thus, the move is both retarded, and will cause thousands, if not MILLIONS of people to start hating Nintendo, it's corporate suicide.

If the only other option is taking down the videos, then I can agree with this. And it sounds like it only affects Nintendo's games, not any game played on a Nintendo console. So, LPers affected by this should probably launch a T-shirt line to compensate.

I will, for your own entertainment represent the future of Nintendo; [b]こんばんは！[/b] (Good evening!) [b]私はあなたが私たちの新しいゲーム、"スーパーマリオブラザーズ29310とカズンズ"を愛する聞いた！[/b] (I heard you love our new game, "Super Mario 29310 Bros and Cousins"! [b]したがって、あなたは、 "Wiiの呂"でゲームを置いたときに適用される使用条件は、私たちは、あなたの足を破壊するあなたの銀行口座を使用し、お金のためのゲームをオンラインで遊ぶの写真を販売することができます。[/b] (Therefore, the terms of use that are applied when you put the game in your "Wii Lu" allow us to break your legs, use your bank account and sell photos of you playing the game online for money.) [b]しかし、私たちは常にあなたに最高のゲーム体験を革新し、提供しようとしている。私たちはあなたの家をあなたは、インターネットメッセージングボード上の私たちの製品について文句を言うので、彼らはあなたが個人的なレベルで持っているすべての問題に答えることができるたびに、2タフで、背が高く、強力な任天堂の代表を送ります、特にとして。[/b] (However, we are always going to innovate and offer the best gameplay experience to you. Especially as we will send two tough, tall and strong Nintendo representatives over your house each time you complain about our products on internet messaging boards, so they can answer any issues you have on a personal level.) [b]これは良い夜あなた不潔plebs持っている、任天堂、日本のハイ社長です。[/b] (This is the High President of Nintendo Japan, have a good night you filthy plebs.)

Oh, it's legal, but so's always-online DRM, so's On-Disk DLC, so are online passes. There are huge differences between what a company CAN do and what it SHOULD do. Logically, Nintendo should highlight these things, put them on a pedestal, use them as examples of how they're superior to their competitors, not just free marketing but marketing that no one can argue against, this is what Sony are doing with the PS4's share feature, this is what all companies should do.

Oh, all they're doing is claiming advertising revenue? That's fine. I don't know why anybody should be angry about that.

yeah yeah yeah the stupid copyright and trademark card. Whatever. Nintendo is still a bunch of morons. They may own the content but it's not them who are posting the vids and doing all the work to make the let's play vids. Copyright laws these days are so outdated and stupid, just like the move Nintendo is making. This is exactly what they need anyways because we all know their console is doing SO well.

After reading through this, something stood out that bothered me. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if I understood correctly, the law, Youtube is kept safe from copyright related lawsuits, so long as they do whatever a copyright holder wants involving their content, even if that means taking down a video that is legally covered by fair use? Is there not a way they could have worked the law so that Youtube could protect videos that fall under fair use? Well, that said, hopefully Congress decides in favor of Let's Players, I really don't like the precedent that will be set otherwise. Oh and thanks for posting, it was an interesting read :)