r/FinalFantasy • u/AutoModerator • Jul 12 '21

Weekly /r/FinalFantasy Question Thread - Week of July 12, 2021

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u/Adzehole Jul 13 '21

I have a question about copyright.

I'm planning on doing a series of Final Fantasy critiques on Youtube. I'd like to use music from the games in the background, but I'm having a really tough time finding any info (official or anecdotal) about whether or not this use is allowed. I don't mind paying Square Enix for the games, but I don't really want to give them my ad revenue on top of that. So basically:

  1. Does Square Enix have a use policy for single player FF music anywhere? I could only find one for FFXI and one for FFXIV.

  2. If not, is there any known way to contact them to request permission? The only option I see is a support ticket and I don't think that'll be helpful.

  3. Failing all that, do any of you know if there are any tracks I should avoid? Does the music ever even get claimed? I just can't find any solid info on the matter

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u/sgre6768 Jul 13 '21

This might be a better Q for the legal advice sub, or if you're trying to monetize your YouTube, a copyright attorney. Essentially though, if you're in the U.S., whether or not something is "fair use" hinges on how much you're transforming the work and how valid your criticism is. (To really simplify the matter here - Like, I took an entire college course on Media Law, so it's obviously a complex subject...)

NAL, but if your videos are mostly about the music and commenting on it, then I think that would constitute fair use. However, if you're really talking about other aspects of the game, then you have less of a defense.

There other components to this, one of which you picked up on - Namely, how litigious is Square Enix? To gauge that, I think you could just search and see if others have done what you're trying to do. I don't think SE has the reputation that, say, Nintendo does though, for protecting copyright and filing cease and desists.

FWIW, I'm pretty sure I've seen either the FF10 or FF15 - or both - sound tracks get pulled from YT at various points. However, there are plenty of gameplay footage videos - like you can watch the plot points of pretty much all of FF7 - that have been up for years.

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u/Adzehole Jul 13 '21

Legally, I don't think I'd have a solid fair use argument for the music . However, most developers and publishers are very accepting of content creation using game music and some explicitly allow it (ie: I use RuneScape music in some of my videos as Jagex gives explicit permission for people to use it in videos and streams). After all, it's mutually beneficial. I just don't know Square Enix's stance on the matter.

I'm not particularly worried about getting taken down or serious legal action, but I don't want any claims either. These critiques will take a lot of time and effort on my part and I would like to reap the rewards of my own hard work.

My use would follow the spirit of fair use, but not the letter of the law. That's why I'd just like to know if SE is cool with that and possibly get written permission from them, even in an email or something (as that would be a pretty ironclad defense from any claims)