Update.

American Idol has a trademark on that name, you can not make a show called American Idols or something to confuse people into believing the shows are somehow related. You can not even use American PopStar or something because it might seem as a deviation of the very same American Idol brand. This is hard to explain to people because they believe it might come across as unfair, but it is law and very rightfully so. If you're going to create a show similar to American Idol, you should at the very least have the decency to come up with your own name rather than ride on the popularity that said show has built up for their own brand.

This is hard to explain to people from just two guys behind the camera and it might put them in a terrible light since people can't be bothered listening to lengthy explanations. I understand why they chose to suggest to do your own research. Sitting down there pinpointing the exact details of their copyright as if telling people what is ok and what isn't can come across as unfathomably douchy.

Instead, rather than making a serie on YouTube called "Grandpas react to" and straight up ripping off everything TheFineBros has tried building up, you can use trademarks but in a descriptive manner, then no one can say anything, not even the copyright holder. So rather than having the title "Grandpas react to" and the whole premise of the video is to show Grandpas reacting to videos and then interviewing them afterwards and so on, straight up ripping FineBros format, name it "A grandpa reacting to x". Adding the 'a' puts all other words there solely for descriptive purposes and no other reason, and in that case FineBros has absolutely no say in things even if they wanted to take the video down. Additionally one can go with 'My grandpa reacting to x...' or 'Grandpas losing it over video x...' or just 'Video x triggering ppl' or whatever the hell. By refraining from ripping off TheFineBros branding you can release anything, but people are reluctant to do that because they believe they miss out on the popularity TheFineBros has built up, but it is immensely unfair from the copycats POV. No matter what you tell yourself, the only reason you are releasing a video called "X react to" is because TheFineBros has made that format popular. Abibas can claim they just wanted to name their brand Abibas, but it no longer matter, Adidas has the trademark, now think different.

Lengthy text but I feel like these fellas are getting a bad wrap. Trademark laws are perfectly fine on this and chasing down people who use their format is perfectly fine as well, they want to maintain and grow their own business and branding, now allow a bunch of freeloaders ride 100% on their video format and diluting the market with shit they can't work with anymore.

If they start taking down videos that legally adhere to the copyrights law, that is an entirely different thing. But so far I have not seen any of that.

Here's another example. Someone naming their talkshow "Late Show With Larry Page" or whatever, and sitting down talking to guests identically to David Letterman, gives Letterman a 100% legal right to sue. At least have the decency to use your own branding, even if the name seems to be generic. Late Show w X is associated with Letterman and using that name has you confusing people whether you are part of his show which you aren't, and that is freeloading on popularity he has worked hard on.

Change the name, have the decency to be at least a little creative and respect intellectual property rights and so long as the copyright holder is not a 100% massive douche, do not complain. The laws make sense on this and if you are a creator, you should be behind it if you understand anything.

/r/videos Thread Parent Link - youtu.be