Microsoft paying YouTubers for positive Xbox One coverage

Microsoft recently launched a promotion that offered Machinima video partners payment for publishing videos featuring the Xbox One.

Reported by Ars Technica, participants were required to post a video that included a minimum of 30 seconds of footage from an Xbox One game, mentioned the Xbox One name, and were tagged "XB1M13" to be eligible for payment.

According to a leaked copy of the full legal agreement, video creators were not permitted to say "anything negative or disparaging about Machinima, Xbox One, or any of its games". Participants were also prohibited from mentioning the promotional agreement to be eligible for payment.

Payment was allegedly limited to the first 1.25 million video views in the promotion, which reportedly concluded on January 16.

A Microsoft representative was not immediately available to comment.

Microsoft recently announced that the Xbox One has sold over 3 million units worldwide. The console launched on November 22 in North America, the UK, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and New Zealand.