When independent management ("tycoon") game, Weedcraft Inc., went live on Steam earlier today, publisher Devolver Digital soon found that it had much more to worry about than simple storefront discoverability.

As Weedcraft Inc. models the rise of the nascent marijuana industry, the game quickly faced YouTube demonetization of "influencer" streaming, reviews, or even commentary, prohibitions on Facebook advertisements, and more.

But what do the Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch terms and conditions have to say about content restrictions like those imposed on Weedcraft?

Why are such restrictions written so broadly?

Why should all of the "tech giants" think twice about claiming that any piece of media necessarily "promotes" what it depicts?

And do we really want YouTube or Facebook determining what has artistic or educational merit?

Dangerous waters here in the Age of the Influencer.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/GB3JKUp1ADA

#Weedcraft #YouTube #VirtualLegality

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Discussed in this episode:

"YouTube’s rules don’t justify demonetizing Weedcraft Inc videos"

VentureBeat - April 11, 2019 - Jeff Grubb

(https://venturebeat.com/2019/04/11/youtubes-rules-dont-justify-demonetizing-weedcraft-inc-videos/)

"So Weedcraft, a game about building a corporate business around legal marijuana..."

Twitter Thread - April 11, 2019 - AgentTinsley

(https://twitter.com/AgentTinsley/status/1116387260461502464)

Facebook Advertising Policies

(https://www.facebook.com/policies/ads/)

YouTube Advertiser Friendly Guidelines

(https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6162278?hl=en)

Steam New Releases

April 11, 2019

(https://store.steampowered.com/explore/new/)

Twitch Community Guidelines

Last Modified - November 14, 2018

(https://www.twitch.tv/p/legal/community-guidelines/)

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On Twitter @hoeglaw

At our website: https://hoeglaw.com/

On our Blog, "Rules of the Game", at https://hoeglaw.wordpress.com/

On "Help Us Out Hoeg!" a regular segment on the Easy Allies Podcast (formerly GameTrailers)

(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZrxXp1reP8E353rZsB3jaA)

Biweekly on "Inside the Huddle with Michael Spath" on WTKA 1050