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Fine Brothers spark fury with YouTube trademark attempt

the_ultimate_evil

CURSE YOU GIN MONKEY.
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he creators of one of YouTube's biggest channels have sparked fury over plans to trademark and license a popular video format.

The Fine Brothers produce a popular series of "reaction videos", in which people watch online clips and respond.

On Tuesday, they revealed a scheme to let other video-makers use assets from their version of the format.

But they have faced a backlash from viewers for trademarking "react" - a term widely used by other creators.
Image copyright Fine Brothers Entertainment
Image caption YouTubers React is one of the Fine Brothers' successful series

Typically, reaction videos feature a group of people, for example children or YouTube personalities, looking at an object or video and talking about it.

The format is hugely popular on YouTube, and countless content creators, including US chat show host Ellen DeGeneres, have produced videos in this style.

Reaction videos have proved particularly successful for the Fine Brothers, who produce a number of regular series, including Kids React, Teens React and YouTubers React.

In 2015, the brothers applied to trademark terms, including "Kids React", "Adults React" and "Celebrities React", as well as the word "react" itself, which could be used to form new variations of the format.
Image copyright Fine Brothers Entertainment
Image caption Rafi and Benny Fine are known online as the Fine Brothers

On Tuesday, the brothers announced a licensing scheme called React World, which they said would let other video-makers use the "react" title and assets such as their graphics and music.

But the plan was negatively received by the YouTube community because so many people already make similar reaction-based videos online, using the word "react" in the title.

"They had a bunch of trademarks already and nobody minded," said Jon, a YouTuber from Many A True Nerd.

"But the moment they got to just the word 'react', it was just too commonly used.

"People aren't sure whether they will fall foul of the trademark.

"As creators, we have sympathy that you want to protect your content from being stolen - but in this case it's too far," he told the BBC.

The Fine Brothers have insisted they are planning to license only a complete package of "structural elements" and assets - in the same way any television company can produce a singing talent show, but a complete format such as the X Factor is protected.

However, critics of the Fine Brothers have expressed concern they may use the trademarks to stifle competition.

"People don't trust them because a few years ago when Ellen DeGeneres did a similar video - not that similar, it didn't have the same format or branding - they claimed it was their format," said Jon.
Image copyright Warner Bros Television
Image caption In 2014, the Fine Brothers criticised chat show host Ellen for producing what could be described as a reaction video

A number of people have alleged the Fine Brothers have already had other video-makers' content removed from the internet.

One critic on Reddit said: "They've used their leverage with YouTube to take down channels that were making kids-react videos and seniors-react videos."

Addressing the issue, Benny Fine said: "When you create series and products, sometimes there's specific situations where your content is being infringed... in very rare cases somebody produces a beat-by-beat version of your exact series, which has happened to us."

Asked on Facebook whether people would be prevented from making a video called, for example, "Kids react to Red Bull", the Fine Brothers replied: "That is a trademarked show name, so yes, that is correct."

But clarifying their licensing plan, on Facebook, the Fine Brothers posted: "We are in no way claiming reaction content in general is our intellectual property.

"We are not going after/shutting down/suing anyone who makes reaction-based content," they wrote.
Image copyright Ryan Morrison / YouTube
Image caption Mr Morrison has offered to help fight the trademark registration

Ryan Morrison, a video gamer turned lawyer, has expressed his disapproval of the Fine Brothers' scheme.

He posted on his website: "If you make reaction videos, which a lot of YouTubers do, you are potentially in a lot of trouble."

He has now offered to help video-makers fight the Fine Brothers' trademark application.

"The public has 30 days to file an opposition," he said.

"Had the Fine Bros kept quiet for another month, they almost certainly would have gotten this trademark, as no-one seemed to notice it.

"Instead, they announced their ridiculous licensing program and turned all eyes on them."
Perfect storm

Since their announcement on Tuesday, the Fine Brothers have lost more than 170,000 followers from their YouTube channel.

"I can't remember a channel that lost so many subscribers this quickly. At one point they were losing 10,000 an hour," said Jon.

"The Fine Brothers have become the convenient face of many people's frustrations.

A lot of people don't like how YouTube's content takedown system works and that it treats you are guilty until proven innocent.

"That has helped this become the perfect storm of anger."

The BBC has approached the Fine Brothers for comment.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35459805

yeah they didnt just shoot themselves in the foot, they blew they're entire legs off
 
Holy **** and I like their channel. :wow:
 
It's just an internet phase, the "NEW" thing to lose our collective s**** over, happens all the time, just give it a little time and half the internet will forget that this ever happened.

Right now the fallout of their announcements all over the internet is just sheer entertainment at best.
 
It was a stupid decision. Never liked their scripted videos.
 
As soon as I read the article, I open my YouTube app and a Fine Bros. Update video is trending, and the dislikes are very high. They could've gotten away with it too if it weren't for their meddling uploads. :o
 
I saw some disparaging comments towards Fine Bros. in the comments of some of the new Game Grumps uploads. I guess this was what they were referring to. I liked Fine Bros. react videos in the past, but this is some Donald Trump trying to trademark "You're Fired" level stupidity.
 
Good thing I trademark ''Hnnngh'' and ''Lawd''..I get $3.99 anytime someone uses it on here.
 
Well there is a website solely dedicated to their subscriber count going down which is amusing. They honestly think they were wronged by the negative reaction it seems. I also didn't know about the Ellen thing until the article, so I hope they lose another 100k.
 
Why the f*** are people even allowed to trademark a single word on its own?
 
I assume people were making reaction videos before these two came along?
 
yhN72ds.jpg
 
AAAAAnnnnnddd they removed the "apology" video.
 
Yep both videos (the update and announcement) are now gone.
 
The concept isn't that bad of an idea... but they probably should've done it before they got so popular.
 
It's gonna take awhile for them to get their popularity back.
 
It's just an internet phase, the "NEW" thing to lose our collective s**** over, happens all the time, just give it a little time and half the internet will forget that this ever happened.

Right now the fallout of their announcements all over the internet is just sheer entertainment at best.


By Zod... j3 actually has the wisest take on this.
 
Take your Ehrmann elsewhere it is not for the likes of thee or we. :o

The concept isn't that bad of an idea... but they probably should've done it before they got so popular.
It's applying an old business model to a newer technology or idea. This works for something like a television network, not sure about a YouTube channel. The idea is sound, but the execution and how they presented it hurt them. I understand they want to protect their videos and content, but their format has been done by others before and now claiming it as theirs is the reason this is beyond shady and full of greed. React World appeared to be their attempt to globalize their channel's format, but it's globalizing a format that really wasn't theirs to begin with.

I'm not trying to direct this towards you specifically Lencho just using your comment to make a point. :)
 
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And to think they'd have had their trademark application gone unchallenged and unnoticed if they hadn't opened their traps. They were badly advised or weren't at all. Saying that as a corporate guy.

As a still somewhat decent bloke, glad they tripped over their greed/stupidity/arrogance.
 
This reminds me of when King (creators of Candy Crush) tried to trademark the use of "Candy" in all game titles and the current bruhaha over "Ghost" between Ubisoft and EA.
 
I was more or less watching this unfold for 3 days straight. This was a screw up of epic proportions. An announcement that was made to sound like an exciting new opportunity was actually nothing more than typical corporate BS dressed in casual clothing with colourful imagery.

One of two things happened with this situation, either the Fine Bros honestly didn't realise what they were proposing was a terrible idea for Youtube content creators, an idea that sounded good in the heads but was actually something that would have given them a monopoly on a genre. Or, they knew exactly what they were doing and tried to get away with it. The fact is they tried to bring old media ideas to a platform that was built on democratic ideals and people saw through it.

Frankly though, something like this was going to happen to some youtube star eventually, the copyright system on the website is broken as hell and smaller channels, some who make their livelihood making content, have been issued with false copyright strikes, suspensions, and have subsequently lost revenue as a result. Worst of all the appeals process is stacked against them. This was a pot that was boiling for months and it exploded right when one of the biggest Youtube channels made a move that looked to further make their lives miserable. This is going to hurt the Fine Bros for a long time to come.
 

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