If you're serious about using video on the internet, there are any number of reasons not to use YouTube, amongst them are the need to plaster your brand with their brand unless you spend a fortune with Google, the lack of basic functions like live streaming (although this is being rolled out) and the lack of tools to manage your video on platforms such as iTunes.
However, the main reasons are adequately outlined in YouTube's own terms and conditions:
However, the main reasons are adequately outlined in YouTube's own terms and conditions:
You can’t commercialise it:
you agree
not to use the Service (including the YouTube Player) for any of the following
commercial uses unless you obtain YouTube's prior written approval:
- the
sale of access to the Service
- the
sale of advertising, sponsorships or promotions placed on or within the
Service, or Content;
- the
sale of advertising, sponsorships or promotions on any page of an
ad-enabled blog or website containing Content delivered via the Service
unless other material not obtained from YouTube appears on the same page
and is of sufficient value to be the basis for such sales
prohibited commercial uses shall not include (i) uploading an
original video to YouTube, (ii) maintaining an original channel on the Website
in order to promote a business or artistic enterprise, (iii) showing YouTube
videos through the YouTube Player or otherwise on an ad-enabled blog or
website, subject to those advertising restrictions set out in 5.1(E)(iii)
above; and (iv) any use that is expressly authorised by YouTube in writing;
You can’t really customise it:
if you use the YouTube Player on your website may not modify,
build upon or block any portion or functionality of the YouTube Player
including but not limited to links back to the Website;
You have no access to your viewer information
you agree not to collect or harvest any personal data of any user
of the Website or any Service (and agree that this shall be deemed to include
YouTube account names);
You can’t use it to promote your company
you agree not to use the Website or the Services (including the
comments and email features in the Website) for the solicitation of business in
the course of trade or in connection with a commercial enterprise;
They can change things without telling you
YouTube is constantly innovating in order to provide the best
possible experience for its users. You acknowledge and agree that the form and
nature of the Service which YouTube provides may change from time to time
without prior notice to you.
They can just stop the service at any time
As part of this continuing innovation, you acknowledge and agree
that YouTube may stop (permanently or temporarily) providing the Service (or
any features within the Service) to you or to users generally at YouTube's sole
discretion, without prior notice to you
And you lose control of your rights
When you upload or post Content to YouTube, you grant:
- to
YouTube, a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable licence
(with right to sub-licence) to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare
derivative works of, display, and perform that Content in connection with
the provision of the Service and otherwise in connection with the
provision of the Service and YouTube's business, including without
limitation for promoting and redistributing part or all of the Service
(and derivative works thereof) in any media formats and through any media
channels;
- to
each user of the Service, a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence
to access your Content through the Service, and to use, reproduce,
distribute, prepare derivative works of, display and perform such Content
to the extent permitted by the functionality of the Service and under
these Terms.
No SLA
In particular YouTube does not represent or warrant to you that:
- your
use of the Service will meet your requirements,
- your
use of the Service will be uninterrupted, timely, secure or free from
error,
- any
information obtained by you as a result of your use of the Service will be
accurate or reliable, and
- that
defects in the operation or functionality of any software provided to you
as part of the Service will be corrected.
Enough said.