Félix Lengyel, also known as xQc, is a popular streamer known for playing games and doing reaction videos that garnered him millions of followers and about 54K average viewership. The streamer has been through many controversies, the latest being called out for “stealing” content for his reaction videos, according to YouTube lawyer LegalEagle. 

The debate that started it 

The situation on the matter started when Ethan Klein hosted a debate with the streamer on his H3 show. The debate revolved around “stolen content” and the ethics of making reaction videos and its fair use. 

xQc argued that his reaction videos give exposure to smaller creators, while Klein replied that using other creators’ content for personal gain is essentially theft. This argument led to the leakage of Twitter DMs between the two creators. 

LegalEagle calls out xQc

When it seemed like the issue between xQc and Klein had died down, a YouTube lawyer named Legal Eagle posted a video entitled ‘xQc Is Stealing Content (and So Are Most Reaction Streamers)’ where he extensively discussed the topic. 

After listing the streamer’s past controversies involving copyrighted content, Legal Eagle insisted, “It’s copyright infringement whether it takes place during a livestream or during a video-on-demand, or a re-upload. It doesn’t matter whether it’s live or not, it’s still copyright infringement.”

xQc is no stranger to copyright troubles. For example, he was once banned on Twitch for streaming the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee did not take the streaming lightly and insisted that the streamer infringed on its copyright. 

xQc, ironically, made a reaction video to LegalEagle as a response. According to him, “In civil law suits, if somebody doesn’t pursue you, right, well they just don’t. Nobody will enforce something that they don’t even care enough to pursue you for.” 

Copyright infringement and fair use have been part of larger conversations regarding ethical considerations in making content. There are many grey areas on the subject and has sparked more conversations on the matter. The general consensus is that uploading reaction videos that add little to no commentary without permission from the original creator isn’t ethical. Whether xQc falls into this camp isn’t clear, as it varies depending on the video, as is the case with many creators.

Image courtesy: LegalEagle

During the Made on YouTube event last Thursday, YouTube announced its new mobile editing app called YouTube Create. This tool is available for creators who want to edit their Shorts or long-form content. According to YouTube, this editing app aims to address the issues that content creators have been facing in terms of access to creative tools.

YouTube Create: Taking the wind out of CapCut’s sails

YouTube Create is clearly inspired by the viral TikTok-owned editing app, CapCut. TikTok released its own editing app to make it easier for its content creators to edit their TikToks. It’s proven to be quiet popular among TikTok creators. Since CapCut’s release, the editing and uploading videos become a much more seamless process for TikTok creators.

And now, CapCut’s success likely inspired YouTube to release its own mobile editing app.

What can you do with the new app?

With YouTube Create, creators can preview the splits and trim the clips while they’re editing their videos. The app also has a library of filters, effects and transitions. Its automatic captioning tool and voice-over editing capabilities will save creators a lot of time. Additionally, the app has access to royalty-free tracks, so creators can monetize their videos without worry of copyright strike. Similar to TikTok, the music could be synched with the video. The final product can be uploaded directly to YouTube. 

According to YouTube, “YouTube Create is free of charge and designed to make video production for Shorts or longer videos simpler and easier so creators can spend more energy on things they find creatively rewarding.” 

YouTube Create is available in beta for users in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Indonesia, India, Korea and Singapore. YouTube said it’s going to expand the features of the app over time. The company also added multiple AI-powered tools such as AI Insights, Dream Screen, Alou and Assistive Search in Creator Music.

Featured image courtesy: YouTube

YouTube announced that it’s adding four AI-powered tools: AI Insights, Dream Screen, Aloud and Assistive Search in Creator Music. These tools aim to make content creation on the platform simple and efficient. 

YouTube AI Insights for Creators

During a YouTube event, CEO Neal Mohan revealed AI Insights, an AI tool in YouTube studio that suggests video topics to the creators. This tool will use the data on what the audience is already watching, which makes brainstorming easier for the creators. 

Mohan cited YouTuber Mahna Ghafori, whose viewers are interested in getting ideas for their trips. In her research using the AI tool, the video idea suggests talking about Portugal’s history and visiting its historical places. 

“This insight is just a jumpstart to the creator’s process. Now, Mahna is freed up to think about all the ways she’ll make the video in her own style,” Mohan said. YouTube is currently testing this tool with select creators, and will make it available next year. 

Dream Screen

For Shorts, YouTube is rolling out Dream Screen, an AI-powered tool that allows creators to make an AI-generated video or image background by typing a prompt. Once this feature expands, creators will be able to edit their content or remix existing videos to create something new. 

“With Dream Screen, creators will be able to generate new, fantastic settings for their Shorts that are only limited by what they can imagine,” the blog post reads. 

Aloud and Assistive Search in Creator Music

Two more AI tools, namely Aloud and Assistive Search in Creator Music, are also going to be added to the suite of AI tools on YouTube. Aloud is the platform’s dubbing tool that translates videos into different languages test-piloted by MrBeast. Assistive Search in Creator Music, on the other hand, is an assistive search tool that helps creators find the perfect soundtrack for their videos. 

All of these AI-powered tools make content creation more accessible. As top companies are introducing their own AI tools, YouTube is one of the leading content platforms to capitalize on the AI boom.

Featured image courtesy: YouTube

Electrify Video Partners, a start-up company specializing in investment partnerships, has successfully raised $85 million of funding from private equity fund Capital D. This funding will be utilized for further investments in growing YouTube channels, especially the ones creating long-form educational content. 

What is Electrify Video Partners

Electrify was founded in 2021 by Ian Shepherd, Owen Maher and Justin Reize. Using their combined experience in investments and finance, it was able to build a startup business that leverages successful YouTube channels as investment vehicles. Electrify aims to help creators expand their channel through business partnerships or channel sales. 

The company either acquires 50 percent to 80 percent of the business and works alongside the creator or takes 100 percent of the business and has full control of the channel. In an instance where a creator chooses the first option, the company provides the needed capital to expand the channel and secure additional sources of income. If the channel owner decides to sell the channel, Electrify pays the owner the value. It also offers a gradual transition period and assembles a team to take over the channel’s video production. 

As of the moment, Electrify has invested in Veritasium, Astrum, SpitBrix, Fizzy and Improvement Pill. These five channels combined have garnered over 30 million subscribers and 10 billion views. 

Capital D’s investment 

The $85 million from Capital D is the first institutional equity investment for Electrify. This milestone is a reflection of company’s growing success in its partnership ventures with YouTube channels. Capital D also acquired a “significant minority stake” in Electrify. This means it will continue to work with the company to acquire more channels and expand the business.

Featured image courtesy: Electrify Video Partners

Banning users is now becoming more efficient in Twitch as the platform adds two moderation tools. The new moderation tools include a feature that explains the reason why a user was banned and one that instantly blocks users if they use preset terms and phrases in chat.

How the two moderation feature works

Now, streamers can share their mod comments to another channel explaining how a specific individual was banned. For instance, if a user was using a slur, the mods of the channel that bans this user can share the context of the ban to another channel. 

Additionally, Twitch is adding Shield Mode into Mod View. Once this feature is activated, streamers can add terms and phrases to automatically ban users who use them. Streamers can then review the bans to make a decision whether to unban them, keep them banned or report them to Twitch.

This new feature will be integrated into Mod View so streamers can moderate their channel on one page. According to Twitch, this is an extra measure to keep communities safe as banned users keep on popping up on other channels while being banned on another. 

More blocking tools from Twitch

Aside from Shield Mode, Twitch also recently added a toggle to its blocking tools. When the toggle is on, streamers can ban users from watching their streams in real time, not just in chats. Overall, all these moderation features seem to be a great step in the right direction. However, many Twitch streamers are asking for stronger tools, such as IP blocking, to prevent further harassment and bullying. Despite being banned from channels, users can still watch streams by logging in and out of their accounts or making new accounts. Whether Twitch will roll out IP blocking, or is considering it, is unknown at this time.

Early this year, TikTok introduced the Creativity Program Beta as its new solution to the issues its Creator Fund faced. This monetization program aims to reward more creators with higher rewards. And just recently, TikTok announced that it’s expanding the program to Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, Korea and the United Kingdom. 

Who is eligible for the program?

Creators from the mentioned countries above who are 18 years old with authentic 100K videos in the last 30 days and at least 10K followers are eligible to join the program. TikTok also said that creators who post high-quality content that’s longer than one minute have higher chances of earning 20 times more compared to Creator Fund earnings. Watch time is a key factor in the creator’s earnings in this program, so making original, high-quality videos is encouraged. 

Once creators enroll in the Creativity Program, they cannot revert to the Creator Fund. There is no news yet on whether TikTok is scrapping the Creator Fund. However, the Creativity Program offers more earnings, so this monetization tool is definitely better for creators. 

“We are committed to fostering new ways for creators to feel valued and rewarded as they continue to inspire and engage our community,” TikTok said. 

More monetization programs

Aside from LIVE subscriptions and TikTok Pulse, the Byte-Dance-owned company has Effect Creator Rewards and TikTok Series in its suite of monetization programs. Effect Creator Rewards pay creators of the app’s popular filters and effects. TikTok Series allows creators to post premium content behind paywalls. Back in June, TikTok also added the Creative Challenge, where creators can make ads for different brands, and they are rewarded based on clicks and conversions. 

Calling all creators with dream projects they can’t do because they lack funding: Artlist, a subscription-based platform with a library of licensable assets, announced a new 100K fund. This grant program gives an opportunity to creators to showcase their dream video ideas for a chance to win $100K in the process.

Artlist offers up $100k

Artlist says only one creator gets to win the six-figure reward. So, when making the pitch, the platform encourages the creators to make the “edgiest, craziest, most over-the-top idea.” 

“What would you create with $100k?” Artlist asked in its video announcement. “Perhaps it’s a video idea so over-the-top that you’ve never imagined you can finance it. Or maybe it’s an entire YouTube channel you’ve always dreamed of launching,” Artlist adds. 

To get a better chance of winning the grant, Artlists says they are looking for a pitch with a strong hook, a clear concept and a visual style that showcases your dream project. 

How to submit to the $100K fund

Both individuals and groups can submit. The only catch is you’re limited to just one proposal video. However, on the plus side, it doesn’t matter if you’re an Artlist subscriber or not; you can submit. Each pitch video should be no longer than 90-second. To be eligible for this grant, the video should be uploaded to social media and tag @artlist.io with the hashtag #Artlist100KFund. Fill out the form on Artlist website to complete your application process. 

Creators have until October 5th to submit their applications. Artlist will then make a list of finalists who will be given a chance to submit pitches to the company and get interviewed by the platform’s team. The winner of the $100k fund will be announced in November. 

Video editing could get time-consuming and slow down the process of content creation. To make the lives of editors and content creators easier, Adobe is introducing a series of AI tools to Premiere Pro, After Effects and Frame.io, which aim to make video editing more efficient for all creators. 

Adobe Premiere Pro’s new features

Adobe Premiere Pro adds the Enhance Speech feature that automatically detects and removes background noises. This AI-powered tool, according to Adobe, makes the quality of the audio sound as if it’s “recorded in a professional studio.” Users are provided with a mix slider to control how much enhancement they want to apply. The best thing about this feature is that users can continue editing while the speech is being enhanced in the background. 

Additionally, Adobe is adding a feature to its Text-Based Editing tool. The filler word detection detects fillers or verbal pauses such as “ums,” “hmm” and “uhs.” It automatically identifies and deletes these fillers both in audio and transcriptions. So if you’re editing multiple takes or highlights from a long stream, you can edit out all the “ums” from your edit.

More updates to After Effects and Frame.io

Aside from the updates for Premiere Pro, Adobe is also adding the true 3D workspace in After Effects, which allows users to use image-based lighting that makes the 3D image appear natural. Users can now also import 3D model files in OBJ, GLTF and GLB formats and render them in the same 3D space as native After Effects cameras, lights and other 3D layers. 

Lastly, Frame.io made updates to its comparison viewer. Users can now view video, audio, photo, design files and PDF assets side-by-side, allowing them to compare and annotate more efficiently. So, if you’re working with your creative team or other creators, these updates will help speed up the process.

Faster workflow for editors and creators

Overall, these new features aim to make the workflow of editors and creators more efficient. Removing background noises, long pauses and fillers will take a fraction of the time in Premiere Pro. And, with the Enhance Speech and Text-Based Editing tool, editors can focus on other aspects of editing while the tools automate the process for them.