Square Enix Hates Viral Marketing

[charlemagne]

SE are forgetting that it's a game companies job to make sure the players have fun, not to try to ruin it when they do.

[Garnatian]

I can understand. It makes the game look incredibly stupid.

[Nura]

I wish I could download it or get it somwhere.. I would even pay Gil for that lol.. It would be worth 1KK fo rme

[Fusionx]

At the end of the day, it's Square Enix's rules. They can enforce them whenever they want. The best part, is how wonderfully inconsistent they are on this subject.
Did you know that dat mining is against the ToS? And yet, how many database websites are there that exist because that's exactly what they do? Square Enix is looking the other way because they feel it helps the game by those sites remaining online.

Yet, a silly video with a bunch of hits that people are positively talking about on social media? That's the most horrible thing in the world and thus was taken down. Oddly enough, other videos on that persons channel with XIV content and non XIV music still remain. There is no logic when it comes to SE enforcing their policies- they simply pick and choose.

[Nura]

Hmm I should just report all the Websites that are against the ToS and see what happens.,

I will write a support ticket even lol xD

xivdb and stuff like that.

[LiadansWhisper]

HAHA! Seriously, this is funny. You honestly think that there is any legal weight to the "well he/she did it"?

Appetites for risk vary by company. Blizzard is well known for being aggressive, both in liberal definitions of fair use and defending their product. Not every company is going to see that allocation of resources as worthwhile.

To make a big deal out of a video with 50,000 impressions is beyond a joke. I personally like guerilla/viral marketing campaigns, but I know enough about business to realize that sometimes the risk associated with that isn't worth it. You lose a measure of control, and everyone knows SE likes having complete control.

There's no risk to SE, though. They have no exposure by allowing videos to be published with someone else's music attached. They're not exposed at all, because they aren't the ones doing it. I mean, sure, you can totally say, "Oh, someone could sue them" but the thing is, you can technically file a lawsuit against anyone, for anything, or nothing at all. Anyone can file a lawsuit in the US for any reason, and it doesn't have to be legit, because when you file it, they just take your money and the Petition. They don't look to see if it makes any sense. But that doesn't mean that it would get any further than that. So, I mean, if they're that scared of lawsuits, they should just shut the game down. Because someone could sue them for the game existing at all.

[bluerei]

OP doesn't know what viral marketing means.

[Nura]

Like this here? lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhj-...e_gdata_player

[FinagleABagel]

stuff

*facepalm*

First off, no you can't sue anyone for anything. It's called standing.

Second of all, SE clearly wants to control the tone and perception of advertising. They don't want to have to defend themselves over what someone else did. That is their right. This isn't just about impressions and getting the word out there about FFXIV. We are talking about a franchise and a very valuable brand image. Viral marketing / guerilla campaigns are best used to generate buzz and recognition of something new. While the 14th installment franchise is new, the franchise itself is not. The assumption being that they will continue the franchise, those branding elements are going to be closely defended.

Have you actually ever dealt with IP law or advertising in a professional setting?

[Scamperoo]

Orophin, Tupsi
While I agree that we all said yes to the ToS (Our choices were limited, after all if we didn't agree we couldn't play, right?)I don't think anyone realized that square would be so draconian in it's application. Not only this but one tends to hold out hope that some common sense would be used when dealing with the positive fandom of FFXIV, after all 80% of this forum roundly trounces the game at any given opportunity. In the face of really good and positive free advertizing I would have expected Square to, at the very least turn a blind eye. The fact that you quote the ToS with little feeling for the game and brickbats for anyone who would question it, seems to me you only want to state the obvious and ignore what this thread is really about. It's about having fun with all aspects of FFXIV!!! So what if the rules are bent just a little if it gets more people to laugh and join the game....this overkill just pissed people off. Not a good time to play the ToS card!