Microsoft might have paid Machinima and their YouTube video partners to positively promote their Xbox One and game releases, Ars Technica reports.
A leaked promotional email reportedly shows Machinima offered their partners an additional $3 CPM, or $3 per thousand views, for featuring a 30 second endorsement of Xbox One content.
Paying for advertising content on site like YouTube are not uncommon, but the user normally discloses the company has sponsored the video. However, the leaked promotional email states that the user cannot disclose Machinima's partnership with Xbox One.
"According to a leaked copy of the full legal agreement behind the promotion, video creators 'may not say anything negative or disparaging about Machinima, Xbox One, or any of its Games' and must keep the details of the promotional agreement confidential in order to qualify for payment," Ars Techinca reports. "In other words, to get the money, video makers have to speak positively (or at least neutrally) about the Xbox One, and they can't say they're being paid to do so."
IGN reports Microsoft's promotional offer would end once the partnership resulted in the agreed number of views. According to the tech site, the videos were required to go live by 3 a.m. ET, Jan. 13 and 2:59 a.m. ET, Feb. 10 in order to be eligible for the promotional payment.
"The leaked Machinima email said the promotion would cease once a collective 1.25 million views on these videos were reached, which means Microsoft's financial investment in the promotion was minimal," IGN reports. "Machinima's PopTent feed lists the promotion as expired, suggesting that Microsoft had reached its goal by January 16."
Microsoft and Machinima have yet to comment about the partnership reports.
Do you think it's OK for tech companies to pay for "positive" or "neutral" ads about their products without disclosing to customers? Let us know in the comment section below.
