YouTube's Fine Bros. Attempt to Trademark Reactions

[Jazz Commies and Sexy Astrophysicists]

Woah, we both posted different means of measuring their subscription loss. Sweet.

Mine is a long term trend and yours is their current status, so they also go very well together. I enjoy when these kinds of lucky coincidences occur.

Same here. Nice work, friend.

They didn't try to trademark reactions. They tried to trademark the word "React". And duh, why wouldn't they? "Some People React" videos are quite clearly their thing, and anyone making similarly titled videos would obviously be trying to make money off the Fine Bros' fame.

People have been posting other's reactions when they show them videos since the 90s, I don't know if I'd say it's "their thing".

[Ifreann]

They didn't try to trademark reactions. They tried to trademark the word "React". And duh, why wouldn't they? "Some People React" videos are quite clearly their thing, and anyone making similarly titled videos would obviously be trying to make money off the Fine Bros' fame.

People have been posting other's reactions when they show them videos since the 90s, I don't know if I'd say it's "their thing".

Read the first sentence of my post again.

[Jazz Commies and Sexy Astrophysicists]

People have been posting other's reactions when they show them videos since the 90s, I don't know if I'd say it's "their thing".

Read the first sentence of my post again.

I read the whole post. I also pointed out how "X reacts to X" videos predated Fine Bros. Even if they utilize the words in each of their videos, that doesn't mean that they get a claim on them.

[The Rich Port]

They didn't try to trademark reactions. They tried to trademark the word "React". And duh, why wouldn't they? "Some People React" videos are quite clearly their thing, and anyone making similarly titled videos would obviously be trying to make money off the Fine Bros' fame.

The Marine Corps beat them to the idea by several years. They have more of a claim than they do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doZnJSojBtw

Also... You seriously want to pay the Fine Bros. every time you write the word "React"? That's even worse.

From what I understand, copyrighting or trademarking things like words is no longer legal, according to Plagiarism Today... Especially if it's an extremely common word used in everyday speech.

It would seriously make more sense to trademark the genre or idea, but those cannot be copyrighted either according to Plagiarism Today.

[Jazz Commies and Sexy Astrophysicists]

-snip-

I know that you probably didn't mean this video, but I will admit that I got a chuckle out of it.

[Ifreann]

Read the first sentence of my post again.

I read the whole post. I also pointed out how "X reacts to X" videos predated Fine Bros.

Which is irrelevant because, as I said, they didn't try to trademark reactions.

Even if they utilize the words in each of their videos, that doesn't mean that they get a claim on them.

Like how McDonalds doesn't get to trademark the name McDonalds because they didn't invent burgers.

Oh, wait, no, they totally do get to trademark that name.

[The Rich Port]

-snip-

I know that you probably didn't mean this video, but I will admit that I got a chuckle out of it.

XD Goddamit, no.

... Really?

I don't get it... Well, I guess, kinda.

But friggin' YouTube poops...

Honestly, I think this one is funnier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1xY5gEhV04

Also, this one includes a full video! Too bad you can barely hear them and are supposed to have watched the original first...

[Ifreann]

They didn't try to trademark reactions. They tried to trademark the word "React". And duh, why wouldn't they? "Some People React" videos are quite clearly their thing, and anyone making similarly titled videos would obviously be trying to make money off the Fine Bros' fame.

The Marine Corps beat them to the idea by several years. They have more of a claim than they do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doZnJSojBtw

Also... You seriously want to pay the Fine Bros. every time you write the word "React"? That's even worse.

From what I understand, copyrighting or trademarking things like words is no longer legal, according to Plagiarism Today... Especially if it's an extremely common word used in everyday speech.

It would seriously make more sense to trademark the genre or idea, but those cannot be copyrighted either according to Plagiarism Today.

Your insistence on confusing trademarks and copyrights is absolutely infuriating.

[Jazz Commies and Sexy Astrophysicists]

I read the whole post. I also pointed out how "X reacts to X" videos predated Fine Bros.

Which is irrelevant because, as I said, they didn't try to trademark reactions.

Even if they utilize the words in each of their videos, that doesn't mean that they get a claim on them.

Like how McDonalds doesn't get to trademark the name McDonalds because they didn't invent burgers.

Oh, wait, no, they totally do get to trademark that name.

McDonald's is a name that is the specific property of that corporation, and it doesn't at all relate to what I'm saying. Unless there were restaurants dotting the US called McDonald's serving the exact same food that they did that the company proceeded to sue, the two are completely unrelated.

[Eol Sha]

Heard about this on TYT. They and I are decidedly split on the issue. On the one hand, being copied can be quite frustrating and damaging to one's bottom line. On the other hand, it doesn't seem right to trademark a pretty simple style of video.

BobSamurai did a funny parody of this, though.

[The Rich Port]

I read the whole post. I also pointed out how "X reacts to X" videos predated Fine Bros.

Which is irrelevant because, as I said, they didn't try to trademark reactions.

Even if they utilize the words in each of their videos, that doesn't mean that they get a claim on them.

Like how McDonalds doesn't get to trademark the name McDonalds because they didn't invent burgers.

Oh, wait, no, they totally do get to trademark that name.

"McDonald's" is a brand. It represents a business entity... The name McDonald, however, is not a brand. It is a surname. Just because you are called McDonald does not mean McDonald's owns the name, they own a brand called "McDonald's".

If someone tried to make money off the McDonald's brand and name, sure, they can sue. For example, you probably can't open up a burger chain called "McDonald's".

The Fine Bros. 1.) already have a brand name (Fine Bros. Entertainment) and 2.) "react" is a common word used in English. It's like McDonald's trying to copyright the dish "hamburger" or the word "dish".

No offense, Iffy, but brush up on copyright law...

[Fanosolia]

They didn't try to trademark reactions. They tried to trademark the word "React". And duh, why wouldn't they? "Some People React" videos are quite clearly their thing, and anyone making similarly titled videos would obviously be trying to make money off the Fine Bros' fame.

Can they even do that? Because this would seem to me more like trying to trademark the word "Cola," "Let's play," or "Saga" than a brand name like Pepsi.

[Ifreann]

Which is irrelevant because, as I said, they didn't try to trademark reactions.

Like how McDonalds doesn't get to trademark the name McDonalds because they didn't invent burgers.

Oh, wait, no, they totally do get to trademark that name.

McDonald's is a name that is the specific property of that corporation, and it doesn't at all relate to what I'm saying. Unless there were restaurants dotting the US called McDonald's serving the exact same food that they did that the company proceeded to sue, the two are completely unrelated.

That's what trademarks fucking are! That is 100% the point! Keeping people from stealing your business by ripping off your name, or your logo, or whatever by registering it as being the mark of your trade. Fine Bros trying to trademark the word 'react' doesn't mean they want to own the word, or own the very concept of reaction videos, it means they don't want someone making reaction videos using the same style of name as they use for all their video series, just like McDonald's don't want some smart arse opening a bunch of fast food restaurants and calling them "McDonalb's".

[The Rich Port]

The Marine Corps beat them to the idea by several years. They have more of a claim than they do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doZnJSojBtw

Also... You seriously want to pay the Fine Bros. every time you write the word "React"? That's even worse.

From what I understand, copyrighting or trademarking things like words is no longer legal, according to Plagiarism Today... Especially if it's an extremely common word used in everyday speech.

It would seriously make more sense to trademark the genre or idea, but those cannot be copyrighted either according to Plagiarism Today.

Your insistence on confusing trademarks and copyrights is absolutely infuriating.

Calm down, geez... OK, fine...

http://www.lawmart.com/forms/difference.htm

... Now that I know the difference, it makes even LESS sense they tried to trademark the word "react".

A trademark is a word, name, symbol or device which is used in trade with goods to indicate the source of the goods and to distinguish them from the goods of others. A servicemark is the same as a trademark except that it identifies and distinguishes the source of a service rather than a product. The terms "trademark" and "mark" are commonly used to refer to both trademarks and servicemarks.

Trademark rights may be used to prevent others from using a confusingly similar mark, but not to prevent others from making the same goods or from selling the same goods or services under a clearly different mark. Trademarks which are used in interstate or foreign commerce may be registered with the Patent and Trademark Office. The registration procedure for trademarks and general information concerning trademarks is described in a separate pamphlet entitled "Basic Facts about Trademarks".

On this note... You should be infuriated at yourself. Or, preferably, not infuriated at all.

Then again... I've been noticing a lot of people are ridiculously pissed off about this.

I'm more disappointed and confused than... Angry.

Then again, I suppose it is rather annoying they tried this knowing they probably wouldn't succeed.

They definitely did "Screw up".

[Jazz Commies and Sexy Astrophysicists]

McDonald's is a name that is the specific property of that corporation, and it doesn't at all relate to what I'm saying. Unless there were restaurants dotting the US called McDonald's serving the exact same food that they did that the company proceeded to sue, the two are completely unrelated.

That's what trademarks fucking are! That is 100% the point! Keeping people from stealing your business by ripping off your name, or your logo, or whatever by registering it as being the mark of your trade. Fine Bros trying to trademark the word 'react' doesn't mean they want to own the word, or own the very concept of reaction videos, it means they don't want someone making reaction videos using the same style of name as they use for all their video series, just like McDonald's don't want some smart arse opening a bunch of fast food restaurants and calling them "McDonalb's".

Hey now, no need to react that way.

But seriously, it seems like FineBros would be their trademark if you're going to define it like that. And they can scarcely try to prevent people from making videos in "their style", since that style doesn't deviate from the existing videos that are of the same nature that predate them.

[Jazz Commies and Sexy Astrophysicists]

Hey now, no need to react that way.

I'm not going to lie, I'm a little proud of this.

[The Rich Port]

McDonald's is a name that is the specific property of that corporation, and it doesn't at all relate to what I'm saying. Unless there were restaurants dotting the US called McDonald's serving the exact same food that they did that the company proceeded to sue, the two are completely unrelated.

That's what trademarks fucking are! That is 100% the point! Keeping people from stealing your business by ripping off your name, or your logo, or whatever by registering it as being the mark of your trade. Fine Bros trying to trademark the word 'react' doesn't mean they want to own the word, or own the very concept of reaction videos, it means they don't want someone making reaction videos using the same style of name as they use for all their video series, just like McDonald's don't want some smart arse opening a bunch of fast food restaurants and calling them "McDonalb's".

... So, yeah, them trademarking the word "react" makes no sense.

They already have a trademarked YouTube channel and probably a website.

As some people have mentioned, it would be like trying to trademark "Let's Plays".

It is COMMON PARLANCE and a GENRE.

Can people trademark genres now? No? Then "react videos" can't be trademarked, or at the very least SHOULD NOT be trademarked. It would be a miscarriage of the law.

Again, that would be like trademarking the sentence "X and Y React To 2 Girls 1 Cup" or the sentence fragment "Let's Play X!" You would have to pay them for that.

Iffy. Come on. What's up? What's confusing you here?

[The Rich Port]

Hey now, no need to react that way.

I'm not going to lie, I'm a little proud of this.

Han Solo would like to have a word with you.

Also, "cocky" and "cocks" is now my trademark.

My latest video is "I Cock Lara Croft: Tomb Raider".

[Jazz Commies and Sexy Astrophysicists]

I'm not going to lie, I'm a little proud of this.

Han Solo would like to have a word with you.

Also, "cocky" and "cocks" is now my trademark.

My latest video is "I Cock Lara Croft: Tomb Raider".

I feel like you could fit more Cocks in there if you really tried.

[Rathikov]

It should be noted they've been assholes about this before.
For example, going after Ellen - and telling fans to harass her - for having children on her show look at and react to old technology.

https://i.imgur.com/idasVMZ.jpg

They also stole the concept of Elder's React from another channel, stillcosmo, after having issued take-down notices against them, at least if reddit can be trusted.

[The Republic of American Freedom]

It should be noted they've been assholes about this before.
For example, going after Ellen - and telling fans to harass her - for having children on her show look at and react to old technology.

https://i.imgur.com/idasVMZ.jpg

They also stole the concept of Elder's React from another channel, stillcosmo, after having issued take-down notices against them, at least if reddit can be trusted.

Channels that do Reaction videos (H3H3 is the only good one) are nothing but thieves.

[The Republic of American Freedom]

It should be noted they've been assholes about this before.
For example, going after Ellen - and telling fans to harass her - for having children on her show look at and react to old technology.

https://i.imgur.com/idasVMZ.jpg

They also stole the concept of Elder's React from another channel, stillcosmo, after having issued take-down notices against them, at least if reddit can be trusted.

Here's proof of the Fine Bro$ stealing Elder's React http://youtu.be/vSbOD_WHn6k

[The New Sea Territory]

Fuck them.

On the one hand, being copied can be quite frustrating and damaging to one's bottom line.

Who cares?

Giving people monopolies on ideas is outrageously stupid.

[Byzantine Bithynia]

Even if they managed by some nonsense to trademark the word 'react' they likely wouldn't be able to ever actually get anything from it. Something like this happened When Rebellion Studios filed a lawsuit against Ironclad games back in 2012 because one of their games had 'Rebellion' in the title. Needless to say, the case was dropped because it was classed as expressive speech and is protected by the first amendment. I'd imagine the same would happen here if the F*ck Bros* tried to do get anything from such a trademark.

Honestly, I'm amazed anyone actually thought this would A: Be a good idea, and B: work. I think it's pretty obvious to anyone with more than two brain cells that this is quite silly of them.

*Not their actual name...it should be though.

And also, reaction channels and prank channels are pretty much the Cancer of the internet.

[Ifreann]

Which is irrelevant because, as I said, they didn't try to trademark reactions.

Like how McDonalds doesn't get to trademark the name McDonalds because they didn't invent burgers.

Oh, wait, no, they totally do get to trademark that name.

"McDonald's" is a brand. It represents a business entity... The name McDonald, however, is not a brand. It is a surname. Just because you are called McDonald does not mean McDonald's owns the name, they own a brand called "McDonald's".

If someone tried to make money off the McDonald's brand and name, sure, they can sue. For example, you probably can't open up a burger chain called "McDonald's".

The Fine Bros. 1.) already have a brand name (Fine Bros. Entertainment) and 2.) "react" is a common word used in English. It's like McDonald's trying to copyright the dish "hamburger" or the word "dish".

No offense, Iffy, but brush up on copyright law...

Trademarks and copyrights are not the same thing. Further, trademarks are not solely applied to the name of a business or brand. The golden arches stylised M is also a registered trademark of theirs. That's what the ® symbol means.

---

They didn't try to trademark reactions. They tried to trademark the word "React". And duh, why wouldn't they? "Some People React" videos are quite clearly their thing, and anyone making similarly titled videos would obviously be trying to make money off the Fine Bros' fame.

Can they even do that? Because this would seem to me more like trying to trademark the word "Cola," "Let's play," or "Saga" than a brand name like Pepsi.

I doubt they can, but it's hardly unreasonable of them to try. All they're doing is trying to ensure that the hard work they put in to making their brand pays off for them and not for every Tom, Dick, and Harry who can think of a group the Fine Bros haven't made a react series of yet.