So basically, h3h3 made a video poking fun and criticizing someone, as he does, and this person has responded with a lawsuit. More than that, however, he originally said that the case would be dropped if Ethan (h3h3) paid around 5k for 'legal fees'. Many people are screaming 'blackmail' and 'censorship' because this guy is suing this channel because the criticized him. And that raises the question, where does it end? If this goes all the way and h3h3 loses the suit, where then is line drawn between copyright infringement and fair use? What can and cannot be said anymore? And what can someone then say is unfair criticism or slander or whatever other legal jargon they use to suit their own goals?

Other YouTubers have voiced their support for Ethan, with Philip DeFranco setting up a GoFundMe and donating $5000 to cover Ethan's legal costs for the case.

It also seems especially scummy on Bold Guy's (Matt Hoss's) behalf that one of the other conditions for him dropping the case was for h3h3 to apologize on video and share the video AND also promote Bold Guy's channel on all of his social media.

H3h3's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEGVOysbC8w

Philip DeFranco's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sh0ruRBvD0

GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/h3h3defensefund

EDIT: cleaned up the sloppy writing, I'm very tired right now...

That came up on my recommended video list. Never did watch it though.

I feel when you use a persons entire video in your own video, it's going far beyond what can be considered fair use. And while suing is far from the right way to go about this, something needs to be specifically decided on how far fair use can actually go.

Drama.

Yes. I read about the whole Leafy thing and now this? I'll stay out of it, thank you very much.

Drama for you, but serious life-affecting problem for the people involved, no?

Honestly I think they should file a counter suite of some kind.

This all seems frivolous to me. All this over a YouTube vid? People will fight about anything I guess.

You have no idea. Several youtubers I watch have had people even creep into their personal life. From having their true identity revealed to having letters sent to their work trying to get them fired, because someone didnt agree with their criticisms.

I don't know anything about these people, nor do I have time to, but YouTube isn't as frivolous as it used to be. Some YouTubers make millions of dollars per year in ad revenue.

Good point.

Epic Rap Battles of History is a good example of a successful business off of YouTube.

And the winner is... The Lawyers!

Yep.

I lol'ed in RL!

My kid started watching these videos of a lady opening toys and eggs with toys and candy inside. Seriously, that's all she does. She opens toys (lots of Disney stuff) and "surprise eggs," talks about them, and was the top earner on YouTube last year. She made over 12 million USD. It's insane. Her user name is DisneyCollectorBR, and apparently her husband has a similar channel that makes a ridiculous amount of money. The weirdest part: apparently, she's an ex-porm star.

Ain't it always?

damn why couldn't I have turned out more charismatic? I saw something similar to this on tv a couple of weeks ago. 11-13 yr old kid (I forget his age when he started) started off doing unboxing videos and now he's a frickin millionaire at like 17.

Depends.


Quite a few channels I follow play the entire thing while pausing, criticizing their claims, presenting counter evidence, and essentially, a debate.


This *does* fall under fair use.

Exactly! I sort of falls under educational purposes.

I hope h3h3 dies in a fire. I can't stand that couple.

Then don't watch them?

No, they must DIE!!!

Sure. But it gets debatable as to the amount of debate/criticism there is. If the creator's just showing the video and making one or two small comments during a twenty-minute video, then it's questionable.


I think that's one of the bullet points for fair use. "How much does the new content weigh against the old content?" Or something like that.