StarLadder responds to backlash over CSGO major copyright strikes

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive content creator WarOwl took to Twitter to tell his 72,000 followers that giving StarLadder its own major was a mistake. 

“Such a disappointment; I look forward to the Major every 6 months, but now I can’t make ANY content on it for fear of getting a DMCA. RIP any coverage of the Major,” WarOwl tweeted. 

He made this tweet after the tournament hosts started striking streamers with copyright claims for streaming the event’s matches. This also affected Mythic player Erik “fl0m” Flom, who used the game’s built-in GOTV client to watch the Major with his viewers. After the muting of casters and hiding of sponsors during his stream, fl0m ended up being banned from Twitch temporarily. 

“I can’t confirm 100% this next part, but I believe StarLadder has now exclusive rights to the major, and I need permission from them to be able to stream the Major,” fl0m said. 

After speaking with StarLadder, fl0m’s ban was lifted. 

“I will say this they were not rude in any way, but the shit they are claiming means its time to have a real discussion about this shit,” fl0m continued. 

And fl0m did just that. He published a YouTube video on the topic soon after, featuring journalist Richard Lewis. Lewis had received a message from StarLadder himself, warning him to turn off his “No Majors Club” stream. If he declined, he would be copyright struck. 

“Dude, no way that’s right, we’re streaming GOTV. If they want to file a copyright strike let them do it,” Lewis said on stream. 

At the time, StarLadder Berlin Major had posted official rules that stated that all broadcast rights of StarLadder Major were owned by the tournament organizer. This included GOTV. This stopped streamers from streaming the Major in any way, even though they weren’t using advertisements or intellectual property. 

This didn’t sit well with fl0m and his followers, or the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive scene as a whole. In response to the backlash, StarLadder has now changed the original broadcasting rules. 

“We reached an agreement with the first Community Streamers, who are ready to share sponsorship obligations with StarLadder Major Berlin 2019. We will do our best to answer all inquiries before New Legends,” StarLadder tweeted a few hours ago. 

The tweet included a link to a list of broadcast channels allowed to stream the Major, including sponsors and community casters. This still wasn’t enough for many CSGO players and streamers, who shared StarLadder’s requirements for applying as a community caster. 

What has most specifically not sat well with the CSGO community is the requirement to include StarLadder’s sponsors in the stream. The new requirements can be found below: