Though creators all over YouTube deal with overzealous copyright claims from rights holders, few formats are as susceptible to bad-faith claims as film reviews. For years, top critics have consistently found their videos under attack, even though they argue that their content is protected under the legal doctrine of fair use.
Now, one of YouTube’s most popular critics is calling out a specific studio that has been a particularly sharp thorn in his side. In a series of tweets, Chris Stuckmann excoriated Universal Studios for wielding its copyright-claim hammer too aggressively.
I’ve been chatting with a lot of creators/writers/reporters lately about @UniversalPics and their conduct when it comes to copyright-claiming EVERYTHING. They take almost every claim to the appeal process, forcing creators to sign tons of forms before acknowledging their rights. pic.twitter.com/oq8rptdIjJ
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— Chris Stuckmann (@Chris_Stuckmann) March 29, 2018
Stuckmann, whose YouTube channel has more than 1.2 million subscribers, typically draws several hundred thousand viewers to his detailed, thoughtful reviews. While some studios give him no trouble when he reuses footage from his films, Universal is often quick to file claims. As Stuckmann explained in his tweets, he currently has two active disputes with the studio, and expects those disagreements to be dragged out for as long as possible. “They take almost every claim to the appeal process,” wrote Stuckmann of Universal, “forcing creators to sign tons of forms before acknowledging their rights.”
This issue becomes worse, Stuckmann believes, when he pans Universal’s movies. He said his positive reviews of Lady Bird and Phantom Thread were released sooner than his more negative takes.
Universal’s claims have not resulted in the termination of Stuckmann’s channel because the critic’s reviews are protected by fair use, which lets non-rights holders share unlicensed, copyrighted material for purposes that include commentary and parody. Should the studio continue to dog him, he intimated that he may lawyer up and settle the issue in court. Fair use has been defended in numerous legal instances; last year, for example, the doctrine held up in a much-discussed case involving YouTube stars Ethan and Hila Klein of h3h3productions.
Several other critics have responded to Stuckmann tweets and noted their own dust-ups with Universal. By airing his grievances, Stuckmann hopes to bring this issue before YouTube and catalyze change. “Clearly, this is not just a problem one of us is having,” he wrote. “They’re harassing many other fine creators as well. Team YouTube, perk up those ears and do something.”
