Twitch is a live video streaming platform where gamers can live stream the video games they play while receiving donations from viewers. Twitch streamers have been criticized in the past for not needing to pay to stream games to large audiences.
That may change soon due to recent events regarding Twitch streamers and the platform itself. Alex Hutchinson, Creative Director of Stadia Games & Entertainment (SG&E) Montreal Studio, weighed in on the issue, saying Twitch streamers would need to purchase licenses to be able to stream games on the Twitch platform.
This claim was made after Twitch handed several Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) claims to several Twitch streamers for playing copyrighted music during their streams. According to gameranx.com, Hutchinson commented on online gaming services company Google Stadia saying streamers should have to pay developers and publishers a license fee to stream their games. Google Stadia has since distanced itself from Hudson, saying his opinion is his and does not reflect the views of Stadia, YouTube or Google.
However, since Twitch streamers get paid for streaming games although this is not considered a real full-time job, I think Twitch streamers should pay some sort of licensing fee. I feel like if Twitch streamers were to pay a license fee to play a specific game from a company, they would enjoy the game a lot more and might be motivated to tell their followers about the game, or maybe even play the game themselves. This would benefit the studios and companies behind the games more directly financially.
I think it was a good idea for Google Stadia to back away from the controversy surrounding Twitch streamers and whether they should buy licenses to stream games. While I agree with Alex Hutchinson’s comments, I understand Google Stadia’s desire to distance themselves from him in order to preserve their public image.
