Summary: YouTube revoked the monetization of several fake movie trailer channels. This decision followed the revelation that some studios were earning revenue from views instead of enforcing copyright laws.
It can be frustrating when a trailer for a movie you’ve been eagerly awaiting turns out to be fake, and YouTube seems to agree. The platform has disabled monetization for some channels known for this type of content after it was revealed that movie studios were making money from fake trailers.
YouTube has demonetized two major fake movie trailer channels
YouTube recently took action against major channels publishing such videos after reports that Hollywood studios were making money from fake AI-generated movie trailers. The platform removed Screen Culture (1.4 million subscribers) and KH Studio (685K subscribers) from the YouTube Partner Program. These channels can no longer earn ad revenue.
YouTube’s decision to stop monetization on these two major channels is based on reasons such as creating repetitive or duplicate videos and misleading content solely to get views. However, it seems the platform’s decision did not stop either channel from uploading new videos.
Screen Culture often makes new videos by combining AI-generated footage with existing movie and game trailers. For instance, a few days ago, the channel released a new trailer for the highly anticipated GTA 6 using AI-generated footage and clips from previous trailers. KH Studio, on the other hand, shares videos focusing on the concept of ‘what if’ scenarios, as stated by its founder.
The founders of the channels claim that such content is harmless
The founders of the fake movie trailer channels claimed their content was harmless and intended to explore creative possibilities rather than misrepresent real releases. They also said YouTube users were already aware the videos were not real.
Unlike the founders of these major channels, YouTube believes such content violates the YouTube Partner Program, at least for now. While the platform has not yet made a statement regarding the channels in question, this latest decision has made AI-generated videos on YouTube controversial.
