The Fine Bros appologize for "misunderstanding".

[AlTech]

So the Fine Brothers, famous for their react series of videos and arguably being the brains that popularized the genre, caused quite a stir when they released their video about React World.

Opinion: Their first video was more ambiguous than a legal document. And that's saying something!

 

 

 

 

So what did they possibly do wrong?

Well here's what:

 

They trademarked the word "React" so legally, if you use the word react they could fine you (funny cos their last name is fine), they could also sue you.

 

 

Quote

Benny and Rafi Fine — the creators of the popular React channels — announced on January 26th their intention to license the React format. Although they claim the licensing program, called React World, would be, “a huge step… for the entire global media industry,” most creators saw it as a massive leap backward capping off several weeks of turmoil on the platform.

While the React World FAQ explicitly states, "we do not hold a copyright on reaction videos overall," many creators still felt concerned that the move could see reaction videos of any kind taken down for infringement by Fullscreen, Inc, the multi-channel network3(MCN) which represents the Fine Bros, FOX, and NBCUniversal among others. More confusingly, the same FAQ dances around whether or not React World is an MCN stating: "We are not an MCN from the perspective of what passes for an MCN4 these days." 

At first it seemed users' worst fears were coming true, as videos began to surface of creators whose work had been blocked by Fullscreen, the most egregious of which came from LeKevPlays — 10-subscriber strong YouTuber whose video was manually5 blocked after a whopping 8 views. Then earlier tonight, the Fine Bros posted a video simply entitled "Update."

 

 

 

Quote

"You could start [a restaurant] on your own and possibly find huge success, but if you love Burger King and want to be part of that organization, if you joined you'd be able to get access to things like menu items and recipes and specific logos and promotional support. It's the same kind of things with React World: you can join... or make your own reaction videos completely without us."

Seemingly the message for the digital fry cooks of the world is clear: we'll stop taking down your videos. A note in the description of the update states, "If you have a Content ID claim, we are working to resolve the issue by early next week," presumably alluding to the takedowns that occurred between the 26th and tonight. For all other issues, the Fine Bros posted their email address and promised to be "personally checking" it. 

All this comes after several weeks of mounting tension on the platform as more creators publish videos critical of YouTube.

 

And as a result here's what the Fine Bros had to say:

 

 

 

This is a really large amount of BS. I hope YouTube gets cleaned up cos right now it's a big mess.

http://mashable.com/2016/01/26/fine-bros-react-videos/#lDU7WKLix8qc

 

Leave a comment below!

[Paralectic]

[ShadowCaptain]

it did give us this fantastic song

 

 

 

[D-Dos Dan]

I still don't understand how they thought they could casually say that they were going to license out a format of 'reaction videos' and manage the revenue for the channels that make them. How can you trademark a reaction, these guys increased the bounds of stupidity, I've never seen something so dumb before.

[AlTech]

3 minutes ago, ShadowCaptain said:

it did give us this fantastic song

 

 

 

That's a damn good Rap.

[WereCat]

LOL... this is just so stupid on so many levels. Thats like Linus trademarking "Review" ... how could it even pass?

[Crowes]

I've said it before and I'll say it again; you can't license a human response. They probably felt that, as the biggest source on YouTube to capture different age-groups' reactions to a large range of random things, their integrity was comprimised because other people have been doing it for years, too.

It's almost like TheRadBrad trying to copyright Let's Play!(s)

[samcool55]

Well, you know what they say!

If you can't convince them, confuse them.
And the fact there was so much confusion about it, could only mean 1 thing...

It was something SO BAD they couldn't even market it properly.

Turns out it is, and we realised that and responded, and it looks like they realised they made a mistake.

Still crap, but could be worse.

I do still hate them for all this

 

[EChondo]

All I'm getting from them is PR double speak. They aren't apologizing. They'll be apologizing when they pull this system.

In the meantime I'll be watching their sub count go down: http://www.thefinebrosdemiselive.com/

As an avid watcher of their content, their show quality has been going down the drain these past few months. I think they're trying to do so much at once and it's all coming back at them.

I'll just stop watching and see where they want to take this. Hopefully they don't get their "REACT" trademark, utter BS they even got their "X Reacts" ones. There's been TONS of react videos way before they started doing them, there was even a specific "Seniors React" that debut a month before they started doing their "Elders React", which the Seniors React video has been taken down by the Fine Bros.

Here are the two videos;

Spoiler

Seniors React Archive: http://web.archive.org/web/20120406235634/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99bwWcZ2Eg8&gl=US&hl=en#!

Elders React Video: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Trixanity]

While I disagree with pretty much everything they did, I do believe people misunderstand it intentionally.
I mean they can't actually trademark a reaction nor do I believe that they have. What they did was trademark their format which I assume means having a bunch of people belonging to a specific group react across the span of a video and then a Q&A about what the viewers saw. I'm certain you can still make a personal react video of you just reacting.

With that being said. I think it was bs to apply for the trademark to begin with and it seems like they did at first try go for the all out corporate greediness until it backfired and are now gonna be a bit more lenient in their enforcement to avoid losing their audience. They are definitely doing the PR damage control right now trying to mitigate the damage and anger. They are probably not being as sincere as they claim to be. I mean they're afraid of losing their revenue instead of increasing it like they hoped to do with this failure of a plan.

So they dun goofd and are backpedaling as little as possible. And yes, that was no error. They're not canceling their "React World" program it would seem. So they're not reversing their decision at all. They will try to only reverse the most severe parts of the program in order to maximize the gain. So their job is now to find out how much they can do without pissing people off. So they discovered that kicking people in the face was too much, now they'll try to find out if a bitch slap is okay.

 

[TrigrH]

road to 13mil (live):

 

 

[Misanthrope]

Hey dipshits: You're trademarking a word (react) Maybe you should try to understand how the motherfucking trademark system works before you submit such a stupid one.

Incidentally I don't know if you know this but I have a trademark on "Shitty non-apology" videos so I will see you in court.

[MrRavens]

3 hours ago, ShadowCaptain said:

-Snip-

Lmfao thank you for this haha!

[MeshFile]

They're not specifically saying what their 'format' is so they can screw creators over semantics. Their update doesn't even explain what their 'format' is so they're likely hiding something that greatly benefits them.

[MrRavens]

1 hour ago, TrigrH said:

road to 13mil (live):

-snip-

To be honest I'm actually amazed people are "putting their money where their mouth is" and are actually un-subbing. 

[Misanthrope]

13 minutes ago, LtRavens said:

To be honest I'm actually amazed people are "putting their money where their mouth is" and are actually un-subbing. 

I'm not surprised: they have 13 fucking million, a couple hundred thousand equates about 1% of their audience that's properly informed on it. I mean it's funny to see the unsub meters and all but it's pretty fucking meaningless if you think about it.

[MrRavens]

15 minutes ago, Misanthrope said:

I'm not surprised: they have 13 fucking million, a couple hundred thousand equates about 1% of their audience that's properly informed on it. I mean it's funny to see the unsub meters and all but it's pretty fucking meaningless if you think about it.

Fair point. Watching as their sub counts drop.

[Technous285]

I've been watching their sub count fluctuate over HERE, when the number was at just over 14 Million, already down to 13,911,000 (give or take 150 or so) as I'm posting this.

[MrDynamicMan]

Jees, some of your... REACTIONS have been a bit extreme. *kappa*

 

[Trik'Stari]

Am I the only one who sees the mention of FOX and NBC and immediately knows where this is coming from? We need to keep the major networks OFF of Youtube.

[Poofu]

i dont see why anyone even cares they make react videos and aren't going to pursue copy write stuff so why do people care

[Lotus]

Misunderstanding my ass.

22 hours ago, Lotus said:

They HAVE been going after small youtube channels and attempting to shut them down based solely on the name. They claim they can't copyright "react" and that's true. They're trademarking it. It's horribly shady.

Case #1: Ellen DeGeneres Show (not an example of a youtube complaint, but an example of how little common ground is required for them to think they should go after you)
https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/43e6a9/link_inside_in_2014_the_fine_bros_told_its/

Case #2: Seniors React (videos from 2012, show predates FineBros' Elders react)
https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/43fdw3/seniors_react_originally_posted_apr_3_2012_was/

Case #3: FineBros admitting in AMA that simply using two words in your title will result in a youtube takedown regardless of content:
http://imgur.com/oik8CsA

Note: Case #3 will soon be expanded to simply using the word "react" as that trademark has also been filed. Source: http://tsdr.uspto.gov/documentviewer?caseId=sn86689364&docId=NOP20160113074621
 

 

[Misanthrope]

14 minutes ago, Poofu said:

i dont see why anyone even cares they make react videos and aren't going to pursue copy write stuff so why do people care

Do you understand how a trademark works? It means you're literally saying "I will legally fight anyone infringing on it" otherwise you run the risk of losing your trademark.

That's the issue: people are upset that this lying sacks of shit are apologizing when legally, they're basically saying they will do the exact opposite and strike react videos everywhere. 

[Qub3d]

CGP Grey was actually moved to make a parody, which is impressive. As someone on reddit put it, its like "the quiet kid in the back of class stood up and yelled".

 

 

And then he made a parody "Update" video!

 

 

[GeekJump]

1 hour ago, Lotus said:

Misunderstanding my ass.

Shit, I knew about the rest but I didn't think they'd actually attempt trademarking the word. They are doing EXACTLY the same as Candy Crush with candy and saga trademark attempts. Hopefully it will get thrown out

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My only regret is I didn't hop on the reaction to 'React World" video train  people that did are getting thousands of views and subs lol...