Youtube has announced expanding its Partner Program to twenty more countries and allowing everyone to make money from publishing their videos to the network. Until now, Youtube Partner Program was open only for the publishers of the most popular videos.

image: YouTube

"We know that there are many more creators out there with talents to share, and we want to empower them to achieve their goals, whatever they may be." Wrote a representative of the YouTube team on the Official Youtube Partners & Creators Blog when announcing on expanding the monetizing opportunities to 20 additional countries including: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States.

In addition to residing in one of the listed countries, to make money from Youtube, one must "successfully monetize" at least one video, which also must be original, own the commercial use rights of any content published in the video, and meet with YouTube guidelines (i.e. not include pornography, violence, hatred, etc.).

Youtube announcement has apparently gained extensive response among video publishers and creators since an update was added to the blogpost apologizing that it might take some time to supply custom thumbnails and banners that would satisfy the growing demand.