web The Fine Brothers are trying to copyright reaction videos

[Limeblossom 482]

And awesome gaming Youtuber Alphaomegasin ripped the FineBros into pieces while they're losing subscribers:

 

Edited January 31, 2016 by Limeblossom

[TubeSock2018 325]

I don't know what's more cringeworthy. The idea of what they're trying to do or that fake enthusiasm they present in the video like a pair of sleazy salesmen making a pitch.

 

Because the idea makes some sense. If a YouTuber made a Reacts video, posted it on React World, and was featured on the front page, that's a win-win. The Fine Bros make money and you get some exposure that could result in sending traffic to your channel.

 

The problem, however, is how broad they've made their plan seem.

They've filed to trademark the word "react". They say they don't want their format stolen (the f***?).

They say you can still make a video reacting to something, but you can't use their titles.

Like Elders React, Adults Reaction, or Kids React.

Ok, wtf, then how do you title the videos? Children React? Humans ages 6-12 React.

Older people React.

Sure, you can make a similar video, but what are you going to call it. You'd have to come up with some elaborate title that will never be easily found in YouTube searches, effectively giving the Fine Bros a monopoly on mass reaction videos.

 

Overall, it's so cringy how they attempt to sound non-corporate, and non-Hollywood, when that's exactly how they sound like.

This PR disaster isn't going to be their downfall. What they do next could be.

If they start taking down videos, that's when they'll feel true backlash.

Edited January 31, 2016 by pollo20x6

[Artimis Whooves 1,576]

Well... they are gonna loose a lot of subscribers...

[SBaby 660]

If they try taking down videos, a good lawyer would be able to find Prior Art that would invalidate it almost immediately.  The fact that 'React' videos have been around long before the Fine Bros did them means they couldn't have possibly invented the genre.  That right there voids any claim they try to make.

 

Not only that, but they can only copyright their own videos.  They can't copyright the genre of 'React' videos.  They would have to file a patent for it instead (as well as a trademark for the word), which the former requires them to prove they invented it.  If they somehow manage to do that, as I said a good lawyer and some Prior Art would invalidate that immediately.

 

So yeah, I don't know if this is going to last.

Edited January 31, 2016 by SBaby

[Roketsune 388]

Who the Hell are the Fine Brothers? I've never heard of these buffoons before.

[MoltenKitten 341]

They've already lost ~60k subs because of this

 

Which isn't much considering the total is 14 million

Edited January 31, 2016 by MoltenKitten

[Celli 4,338]

I always thought they were stupid as it is, but this is just fucking ridiculous.

[Guest]

If you want to watch the carnage first hand:

 

http://www.livecounts.x10host.com/?channel=thefinebros

 

It's pretty hilarious, their subs are dropping at over 5-10 a second.

 

If anything their video where they attempt to license the react format is laughable at best. Their video comes off as baby whining that people have "ripped off" their incredibly unoriginal concept that they didn't even coin. I love how they complain people are ripping them off though. They have 14 million subs that they generate revenue from, but apparently other people with only 50,000 subs is just unacceptable to them. They can't bear the idea that other people are making a nickel while they make thousands. And they laughably try and pass it off as they are doing it for anyone besides themselves.

Edited January 31, 2016 by Guest

[Riganthor 484]

They've already lost ~60k subs because of this

 

Which isn't much considering the total is 14 million

they have lost over 1 million subs already they where above 15 million subs before this video went up

[Shanks 10,816]

I hope these greedy pricks get a taste of their own medicine and get sued into the poor house, I think I might do a youtube video making fun of this.

 

The general word "React" it was filed in July 12, 2015 and approved January 13th 2016, to be published February 2, 2016.

Seriously? I have brought this point up many times in other threads but exactly what can't be copyrighted/trademarked these days? Maybe I should trademark the word "shit" and sue for royalties everytime someone says that word in movies, video games, tv shows ect...

[Guest]

I hope these greedy pricks get a taste of their own medicine and get sued into the poor house, I think I might do a youtube video making fun of this.

 

Seriously? I have brought this point up many times in other threads but exactly what can't be copyrighted/trademarked these days? Maybe I should trademark the word "shit" and sue for royalties everytime someone says that word in movies, video games, tv shows ect...

While I disagreed with some of the things you felt shouldn't be allowed to be copyrighted, this is definitely something I agree with you on. A "format" can not be copyrighted especially when the format is so fucking vague. What's more annoying is people can copyright shit that they didn't even create. So long as no one else has copyrighted it and they are the first to do it, they can copyright something they haven't even done.

Edited January 31, 2016 by Guest

[Ianpiersonjdavis 512]

The whole 'React' format itself as many others have pointed out, not only has been around before the Fine Bros or Youtube, but before the internet itself, back in the 80s. 

 

 

 

If they start taking down videos, that's when they'll feel true backlash.

 

They have been doing that to smaller Youtubers who have done react videos and of those who have criticized them (including one with only 8 views), as well as deleting comments that are critical of them on both videos. 

[Shift 4,272]

Wow, is there anything people won't copyright these days? I wonder how the damage control is working out, probably censorship that's only going to dig themselves deeper. To think I liked TheFineBros before this.

 

EDIT: Well, turns out I predicted the damage control correctly, they're deleting comments that aren't in favor of their video. Wew.

 

@@Key Sharkz,

This is hilarious, thanks for the link.

 

@@Riganthor,

They're at 14,019,731 as I type this. I checked before that about 15-20 minutes ago and it was in the 14,020,000's. They're losing so many subscribers that it's pretty funny. Soon they're gonna be below 14m. 

Edited January 31, 2016 by Shift

[A Black Circle 1,586]

More reason to hate all reactionism ever.

[Moved to Elsewhere 11,331]

Wow this pretty much destroyed their reputation.

 

Look at the like/dislike ratio on every one of their new videos:

 

 

 

They even attempted to damage control the situation with an update video. It didn't work:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t-vuI9vKfg

[SUPERFOX5 387]

I just unsubscribed from them after learning of this.

 

I know copyright laws have gotten strict, but this is a big steaming bag of garbage right now.

 

You can't exactly copyright actions that people do.

 

Reaction videos have been around longer than Let's Play videos have.

[Megas 27,569]

If you want to watch the carnage first hand:

 

http://www.livecounts.x10host.com/?channel=thefinebros

 

It's pretty hilarious, their subs are dropping at over 5-10 a second.

Calling it now, it's gonna below 13.5 million before the day is done at the rate it's going

Edited January 31, 2016 by Megas

[That Guy with the CMB 5,873]

What? Wait, so they think they'll own every reaction video? What gives?

[Phill 1,287]

I always suspected that they were douche bags. Turns out I was right

[takai 1,060]

In a way, I can understand what they're trying to say about stealing content. But they assume that anything "react" is directly stealing from them. To a point I agree with them that it sucks that there are channels out there that are popular because they directly copied and pasted someone else's ideas, for example, Did You Know Anime directly copies Did You Know Gaming, Honest companies or whatever it's called has directly copied Honest Trailers, there's a Brony channel who has directly copied Cinema Sins. As a content creator myself, it makes me sick seeing them be popular by directly copying others' formats.

 

The "Done Bros." as I'm calling them, are still in the wrong about all this though.

Edited February 1, 2016 by takai

[BlinkZ 1,151]

Long time ago, my really old youtube account got shut donw becaue some dam comapny call joystickers was made. yeah stickers for your conroler or something. granted i was much younger and stuff and i really dont hav any regrests but yeah sucked how i had to ive it i up just becsae of a compnay.

But dang, saying they own the righs to react..what bullcrap is that.  Next compains will be copyrighting ABC song or something.

[Phill 1,287]

I'm going to copyright the colour red. Wish me luck

[Meson Bolt 2,648]

Bronies React falls under a video that parodies Fine Bros. React, just like how Cinemare Sins parodies CinemaSins. I'm pretty sure if Fine Bros. wanted to take down Bronies React, they'd have to go through a lot of legal loopholes to do so, and even then I'm not sure. No doubt it'd hurt the channel a lot, and I'm sure we'd all feel the effects of it, but you can't just say "We did it first, so it's our copyright!".

 

That'd be like saying the first band to play jazz could 10 years later make a copyright on all jazz music. It's not "ripping off our format", it's a genre of videos.

 

Besides that, wouldn't that make Let's Play videos "So-n-so reacts to this video game" videos?

 

Oh, and by the way...

 

*snuggles Cinni*

Edited February 1, 2016 by Meson Bolt

[Alphys Hedge 671]

You can't copyright a human action. It doesn't work like that. I might start making reaction videos just out of god damn spite.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Alpha Hedge

[Rawzy 1,302]

Ah...the Fine brothers, I remember those guys...

 

You know what I hate most about these guys? It's when people base their opinions about other peoples age groups because of what the people say in this show.

 

1st guy: "Yo, bronies are weird and need to die".

 

2nd guy: "Why?"

 

1st guy: "Because some teenager said it on a Fine Brothers video".