Question about "Let´s Play" Valve Games and the Copyright

[Hot Shot]

I searched a lot for the right answer. Who do i have to ask if its okay to make a Let´s Play Video Series from Valve Games. I tried the Support but the just delete the Questions which is sad. Does anyone know where i have to email to, so i can ask about allowence to use valve games for lets play videos.

[Hot Shot]

The thing is uploading a Lets Play is a Copyright infrigment. I just want to be rather save then sorry. Plus i already have the allowences from 3 other big companies and i dont want to upload stuff without allowence.

[Aidan]

Yes you are allowed. Plenty of people have done LPs for Valve games. You can even post your Youtube videos on Steam. Valve encourage modding and user participation etc.

[Hot Shot]

Okay do you have a link or the paragraph in the Terms of use where this statement is proven. I heard as example a statement about ea games "they dont do anything so you are allowed" just right before several Youtubers get strikes because of EA Lets Plays ^^,,

[OldMemes.biz]

how can recording your gaming experience and uploading it to youtube constitude copyright infringement? you're not claiming you designed the game; you're not creating your own game and stealing anything from Valve to do so... You're simply recording a gaming session... Am I missing something here?

[Hot Shot]

Simple the copyright law in my country (Germany) differs a little from the US in Germany you cant use any Material that is not 100% from you without breaking copyright laws. except the Right Holder allows you to use it. even Screenshots are not allowed to share. Fanart is a Copyright infrigment aswell except you change the artwork so much that you created something new.

I had to ask the designer of the picture that i use as avatar if im allowed to us it or else he could sue me. ;)

[Nacimota]

I very much doubt Valve would care unless you were using their content for commercial purposes.

[Gooby]

no. there are many videos of valve games from huge youtubers and there isnt any issue

[Haggis]

I've done playthroughs of two Valve games (Half-Life and Portal 2) and I've never had any issues. If you want to be on the safe side, throw in their name in the description and claim that they own the rights.

[Hot Shot]

Yeah i dont think valve would care much because i dont want to make money with it. but hey i just thought maybe someone know at which email i should send the questions. Even this thread was moved but not answered XD.

Anyway i just want to be sure about valves point of view at this question but i guess after waiting 14 days for an answer at the contact mail from valve, a deleted support ticket after 2 days and no statements at all at the forums or their Terms of use i guess they dont give a damn.

edit: That there are other youtuber with valve games lets played don´t automaticly means its alright. it just means they dont mind.