Legalities of Recording Pro Games

NoDragonsPlz·6/14/2019, 5:57:31 PM·5 votes·2,048 views

So, this is a question I've always wondered as I see channels pop up that only record games from LCS/LCK/LEC etc. Is what they are doing legal? I know that Riot freely allows recording of your gameplays, and even use of the music that they release without copyright issues, however I see channels that only exist to upload Pro games after they are finished. Are these channels technically breaking the rules or does Riot actually care about these channels? I know there is a case for "there's too many that do that, so we can't moderate them all" but I really am interested in the legalities of it all! Figured some people here would know!

Thanks!

12 Comments

Absolut Garen6/14/2019, 7:05:12 PM4 votes

In the first instance, Riot probably considers that these channels are ultimately a benefit to them as free advertising etc...

Secondly, how is this worse than recording anything else?

Judah the Hammer6/15/2019, 8:41:39 AM4 votes

What specific channel?

Oleandervine6/14/2019, 7:26:36 PM3 votes

If they're just recording the games, that's no different than anyone else. How they edit them and all that is up to them, they can add whatever commentary they want, etc.

If they're verbatim recording and uploading and replaying Riot's coverage of the eSports, then they're in actual hot water, because Riot has rights to their own productions.

ChompyWulf6/15/2019, 3:36:55 AM2 votes

I'm assuming one of several things.

Riot doesn't profit from VoDs and therefore doesn't mind if VoDs are uploaded to YouTube by a channel.
Riot views these re-uploads as free advertising for their game.
If a channel is big enough and monetizing it, they have an agreement to pay a percentage to Riot.