A new campaign with Machinima video partners has been revealed that's apparently paid independent content producers on YouTube to positively cover the Xbox One console and games.
In the deal YouTubers were being offered an additional $3 CPM (that's $3 per thousand views) by Machinima for posting Xbox One related content. The issue that people are taking with the move is that there was a clause in the contract whereby YouTubers weren't allowed to talk negatively about the games that they were covering:
"You may not say anything negative or disparaging about Machinima, Xbox One or any of its Games in your Campaign Video."
In another clause that featured in what appears to be a leaked contract for the promotion (via Arstechnica), it was also stated that users were not able to state that they were part of the promotion:
"You agree to keep confidential at all times all matters relating to this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Promotional Requirements, and the CPM Compensation."
In this Neogaf post the promotion's requirements are laid out in simple terms, alongside a (since deleted) Tweet from one of the organisers describing it as the "easiest/best promo we've ever done".
It's unclear how many people signed up for the promotion, and how many YouTube videos were influenced by the incentive for positive coverage.