In response to the rise in popularity of Let's Plays, streams, and other videos, Microsoft has announced a new formal policy regarding the use of its games in content creation.

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Except as described here, you can't sell or otherwise earn any compensation from your Item, including through advertisements in the Item. This means you can't charge money in exchange for your Item, post it on a site that requires subscription or other fees to view the Item, or post it on a page you use to sell other items or services (even if they have nothing to do with Game Content or Microsoft). You also can't use Game Content in an app that you sell in an app store.

The new policy grants content creators a "personal, non-exclusive, non-sublicenseable, non-transferable, revocable, limited license" to use things like gameplay footage, screenshots, and music, in exchange for following a few rules.As part of those rules, Microsoft prohibits video creators from reverse engineering software or creating offensive content. And most notably, video creators are prohibited from profiting off of any content created –– with the exception of ad revenue generated from YouTube and Twitch ads.The official rule can be seen below:The policy also gives Microsoft the right to use any content featuring their property without the creators’ permission.These rules apply to all games and content owned by Microsoft Studios, with the exception of Minecraft Mojang was recently purchased by Microsoft, the studio retained its own set of rules which haven't been updated since November of 2013.And, the popular web series Red vs. Blue created by Rooster Teeth has an agreement with Microsoft for the usage of Halo in their videos.You can brush up on all of Microsoft's new rules on the Xbox website.

Lauren Puga is a freelancer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @kittentarantino