PGL sends copyright strikes to NoobFromUA, other popular Dota 2 YT channels

A recent incident involving PGL, a prominent tournament organizer and popular Dota 2 YouTube channels, including NoobFromUA with a million followers, has sparked a controversial debate in the Dota 2 community.

This situation sheds light on the conflict between Dota 2 content creators, intellectual property rights, and community engagement within the Dota 2 competitive scene.

Copyright Strikes from PGL

The core of this issue began when the creator behind NoobFromUA, a YouTube channel beloved for its Dota 2 match highlights revealed that they were receiving copyright strikes from PGL. These strikes were in relation to content from the BetBoom Dacha Dubai 2024. As a result, he was informed that his channel would be taken down by March 4, if not countered. This action by PGL not only targeted NoobFromUA but also affected other Dota 2 channels such as Dota Digest, which found itself in a similar situation.

Dota Digest also expressed their frustration over the matter, unsurprisingly. They said that their content did not directly include PGL’s content but was instead from DotaTV’s footage, which is a feature within the game that allows for the replay and analysis of past matches. As such, claiming Valve is the true copyright holder of the Dota 2 matches.

Dota 2 Community Backlash

The swift and severe strikes from PGL provoked a strong reaction from the Dota 2 community. Many fans and fellow content creators rallied in support of the affected channels.

This outcry was particularly resonant on platforms like Dota 2 Reddit, where discussions around the need to call out PGL’s poor decisions and even requesting for Valve to clarify the matter.

Nevertheless, the controversy eventually led to the resolution of the copyright strikes against the channels in question. While this resolution was a positive outcome for the creators, it did not fully extinguish the concerns raised by the community regarding PGL’s initial actions.

Good news, Strikes resolved, thank you for the support. <3

— NoobFromUA 🇺🇦 (@NoobFromUA) February 27, 2024

Were the Dota 2 YouTube channels really at fault?

The incident raises important questions about the terms of copyright and content creation within the Dota 2 ecosystem. Valve, the developer of Dota 2, has established policies that broadly permit the use of its game content for creative purposes, including the production of videos.

However, the problem lies with the use of tournament footage, particularly when it includes organizer-specific elements like camera work and commentator audio. In this instance, NoobFromUA had adhered to the guidelines by avoiding the use of commentator audio and custom camera work altogether, focusing instead on the raw gameplay only.

Conversely, Dota Digest admitted to utilizing commentator audio, placing them in a more ambiguous position regarding copyright compliance. However, the latter believed the real copyright holder of Dota 2 matches is Valve, and they should intervene.

@pglesports claimed to Youtube that they owned content from the Dota 2 client (DotaTV) and thus deceived the Youtube team.
The real copyright holder of Valve’s game should intervene @valvesoftware @DOTA2

— DotA Digest (@DotA_Digest) February 26, 2024

Towards a Collaborative Future

This fiasco reveals a broader issue, concerning how tournament organizers, content creators, and fans can interact and support one another. A great example was ESL’s approach of collaborating with NoobFromUA. They were utilized to create highlight reels for the ESL channel.

Such partnerships not only respect intellectual property rights but also enrich the community by leveraging the unique insights and skills of dedicated Dota 2 content creators. These creators often have a deeper understanding of what the community values in terms of content. Thus, they are able to offer engaging content from tournaments, more so than the TO itself.