Fine Brothers spark fury with YouTube trademark attempt

[Mr. Analog]

If you hadn't heard by now the "Fine Brothers" have attempted to trademark "reaction" videos and the storm that has followed is almost impossible to fully comprehend

The 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.

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-35459805

http://superfame.com/post/fine-bros-unsubscribe-to-react-controversy-fight-drama/

If you want to see them losing subs in real time check out this link:
http://socialblade.com/youtube/user/thefinebros/realtime

Screenshot attached for posterity:

[Darren Dirt]

/checksCalendar

Nope, 2 months early.

Hmmm... #wtf



Already down to 13,854,389 ... poor babies.

[Tom]

The explanation I heard about it is they aren't actually asserting "react" in general, but in their specific format with their specific assets.

I think people are being dumb.

[Darren Dirt]

The explanation I heard about it is they aren't actually asserting "react" in general, but in their specific format with their specific assets.

I think people are being dumb.

Likely both sides are.

Because lawyers are involved.

It's entertaining to watch all the extreme... REACTions.


PS: real-time watch the DROP with cool music*! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH0qahqv5YM

and with CHAT! (pretty much Twitch) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq8E7CWATlk



The music is free, via https://www.youtube.com/user/NoCopyrightSounds -- some fine tunes!

[Darren Dirt]

GEEZ, their video where they finally react ("RESPOND[tm]") to this fiasco is pretty weak sauce... it's like "oops, we worded things really badly, sorry guys!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t-vuI9vKfg

Essentially, they are shooting for a "franchise" business model -- they used Burger King as an analogy.

Yup. FB wants to be the BK of YT.

[Jackie Chan reaction face]

PS: it's gone international -- http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-35459805


PPS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t-vuI9vKfg#t=2m45s they set up an email to deal with questions. Mistake!

[Mr. Analog]

PS: it's gone international -- http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-35459805

Sometimes I wonder if people read the OP

The explanation I heard about it is they aren't actually asserting "react" in general, but in their specific format with their specific assets.

I think people are being dumb.

Mmmm, I'm not so sure I can give them a pass on this, here's the actual trademark application:
http://www.tmfile.com/mark/?q=866893643

Trademark REACT

This trademark (serial no. 86689364, mark text "REACT") was filed with USPTO on 2015-07-10 and has a current status of "publication/issue review complete". Use the following table to research its status, prosecution history events, classification of goods & services, and current owner etc.

Actual Characters of Mark Text   REACT

Classification Statement:   Entertainment services, namely, providing an on-going series of programs and webisodes via the internet in the field of observing and interviewing various groups of people

Screw them and screw their money grubbery

[Darren Dirt]

I skimmed the comments for a bit.

LOL, this was a perfect place to stop reading:


Sky Lake43 minutes ago
I'm surprised they haven't disabled the comment section yet.


WeActOnImpulse Official
WeActOnImpulse Official4 minutes ago
+Sky Lake They have, twice, but they reenabled it (twice) after being called out on twitter and Facebook (twice)


CreeperSlayaRay
CreeperSlayaRay1 minute ago
+Sky Lake I'm surprised they haven't trademarked getting comments at all.



Perfection.

[Tom]

Haha, ok, I guess we'll see what happens.

[Darren Dirt]

Mmmm, I'm not so sure I can give them a pass on this, here's the actual trademark application:
http://www.tmfile.com/mark/?q=866893643

Trademark REACT

This trademark (serial no. 86689364, mark text "REACT") was filed with USPTO on 2015-07-10 and has a current status of "publication/issue review complete". Use the following table to research its status, prosecution history events, classification of goods & services, and current owner etc.

Actual Characters of Mark Text   REACT

Classification Statement:   Entertainment services, namely, providing an on-going series of programs and webisodes via the internet in the field of observing and interviewing various groups of people

I hope "Just For Laughs" as well as pretty much every major network late night talk show host does a "REACT" series just to make a point. Since "observing and interviewing various groups of people" is not exactly a new idea.


But TBH if you watch their "response" it does clarify how their INTENT is much more specific... even though the TM application is so vague and potentially inclusive that it makes electronics companies @%&#ing jealous of such huge balls.

[Mr. Analog]

If the trademark application was different their "reaction" story might hold more weight but this is pretty clear IMO, especially since it wasn't really revealed by them it was vetted through social media (Reddit I believe)

Either way they are being punished by the very system they seek to exploit, what's that word? Schadenfreude?

PARTICULARLY in the wake of Sony's attempt to trademark "Let's Play"
http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/27/10853620/sony-trademark-lets-play-rejected

huehuehue

[Tom]

It may also partially be copyright lawyers defaulting to "COPYRIGHT ALL THE THINGS". that's basically their advice on everything. doesn't matter if it makes sense or would even be approved. Gotta do it to protect yourself! mkay! (also to bill more hours!)

[Darren Dirt]

BTW... trademark != copyright.

Sincerely, Ted Moseby.

[Tom]

BTW... trademark != copyright.

Sincerely, Ted Moseby.

Meh. same lawyers

[Mr. Analog]

Ahh it gets better, so the Fine Brothers have released a statement regarding the situation https://medium.com/@FineBrothersEnt/a-message-from-the-fine-brothers-a18ef9b31777#.cz57t1558

They've also rescinded their trademark application, shut down the registration website / "React World" and released all Content ID claims on YouTube (the biggest scumbag move of all was this, THIS is what actually cost YouTubers money)

A message from the Fine Brothers

Hello,

We?re here to apologize.

We realize we built a system that could easily be used for wrong. We are fixing that. The reality that trademarks like these could be used to theoretically give companies (including ours) the power to police and control online video is a valid concern, and though we can assert our intentions are pure, there?s no way to prove them.

We have decided to do the following:

1. Rescind all of our ?React? trademarks and applications.*

2. Discontinue the React World program.

3. Release all past Content ID claims.**

The concerns people have about React World are understandable, and that people see a link between that and our past video takedowns, but those were mistakes from an earlier time. It makes perfect sense for people to distrust our motives here, but we are confident that our actions will speak louder than these words moving forward.

This has been a hard week. Our plan is to keep making great content with the help of our amazing staff. Thank you for your time and for hearing us out.

Sincerely,

Benny and Rafi Fine

*This includes ?React,? ?Kids React,? ?Elders React,? ?Lyric Breakdown,? etc. Please note: It takes a while for the databases to update, but the necessary paperwork has been filed.

**Content ID is YouTube?s copyright system that automatically flags content that looks like or sounds like copyrighted content. This mostly flags videos that are direct re-uploads of our videos (which is what the system is built for), but if you know of a video that has been claimed or removed incorrectly, please email us with ?false claim? in the subject line.

"Don't be a dick."
~Wil Wheaton

[Tom]

Wait, so they actually filed content claims? Oi... thats why people are upset, they say the motives are pure, but clearly the content claims say otherwise.