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MrPlow writes in with a BBC article about a YouTube trademark licensing scheme (Submitted via IRC for Bytram):

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.

[...] In 2015, the brothers applied to trademark terms, including "Kids React", "Adults React" and "Celebrities React", as well as the word "react" itself, which could be used to form new variations of the format. On Tuesday, the brothers announced a licensing scheme called React World, which they said would let other video-makers use the "react" title and assets such as their graphics and music. But the plan was negatively received by the YouTube community because so many people already make similar reaction-based videos online, using the word "react" in the title.

[...] Since their announcement on Tuesday, the Fine Brothers have lost more than 170,000 followers from their YouTube channel. "I can't remember a channel that lost so many subscribers this quickly. At one point they were losing 10,000 an hour," said Jon.

They had over 13.9 million subscribers as of Feb 1., 19:30 UTC.

Update: YouTube stars U-turn on trademarks after online fury

Announcement video that sparked the controversy. From the description:

REACT Community Unite! REACT WORLD is a new and innovative way to license formats around the globe with no upfront cost, and our goal is to cultivate a worldwide community of creators (media companies, other production companies, and individuals) on digital media platforms around the REACT franchise. Since creating React in 2011, we've aimed for our productions to be a time capsule for future generations to look back on to understand what their parents, grandparents, or ancestors were thinking and doing during this incredible time, and by opening up the various React formats to you all around the world, we hope to grease the wheels for us to understand the world better now, to shine a light on topics and issues both large and small, and learn and appreciate one another more. We believe that together, we can build something larger than any of us can do on our own, and help change the world through reaction, opinion, and conversation.

Original Submission