What's happening with the fine bros? Why are they losing followers?
from what i understand, they are attempting to trademark “their format” of reaction videos on youtube under the title of “React World.” they will allow other creators to license the React World model if those creators get their approval and go through the proper legal channels. here is the video where they explain it. basically, people are upset because:
they never specified exactly what they mean by “their format.”
is it their specific process of filming people while they watch videos, and then asking questions about the content and their opinions? is it their different React series like “Kids React” or “Elder React”?
Youtube’s copyright system is deeply flawed...
so even if the trademark doesn’t legally enable them to have any react video they wish removed, they could potentially flag the videos and have them removed for copyright violations anyway.
a lot of people believe this gives them way too much power over youtube’s content and will add to the egregious false takedowns for copyright violations that already restrict many youtube creators.
(side note: if you want to know how fucked youtube’s current copyright system is, watch this video where Doug Walker aka The Nostalgia Critic from Channel Awesome/The League of Super Critics explains what recently happened to them)
they didn’t invent react videos
one of the biggest complaints people seem to have is that The Fine Bros are acting like they invented react videos, which existed long before they started making them and long before the internet in general. even “their format” is not very original.
they would be profiting off other peoples’ work and content
licensing the format of their react series to other creators would almost definitely involve those creators having to pay The Fine Bros in some way, whether that means giving them a significant portion (or all) or the profits, paying them a flat rate for the rights, or both.
one comment on their announcement essentially boiled down to an accusation that they had run out of original ideas and were trying to get other people to do all of the work for them while they get the money.
this is the best video i have seen on the situation so far. it’s a very fair, balanced, and intelligent assessment of the pros and cons.
also cr1tikal explained everything that’s fucked up and aggravating about it in his reaction to the original announcement and it’s worth a watch because it’s hilarious.
