YouTube channels Screen Culture and KH Studio have recently come under scrutiny for producing AI-generated movie trailers that blend official footage with artificial content. By creating trailers for upcoming films like “Superman” and “Jurassic World: Rebirth,” these channels gained significant followings; Screen Culture with 1.4 million subscribers and KH Studio with 683,000.
Both channels are suspended from the partner program. That means they can’t earn ad revenue or make money from the videos they post. However, they can appeal YouTube’s decision.
How studios monetize from AI
Major studios such as Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount and Sony Pictures chose to monetize these videos by redirecting ad revenue to themselves rather than issuing copyright strikes. This decision allowed the studios to profit from the content without addressing potential copyright infringements.
According to Dateline on this: “Our deep dive revealed that instead of protecting copyright on these videos, a handful of Hollywood studios — including Warner Bros. Discovery and Sony — are secretly asking YouTube to make sure the ad revenue from the AI-heavy videos flows their way. The studios declined to comment.”
The actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, criticized this approach, arguing that it prioritizes short-term financial gains over the protection of actors’ likenesses and creative rights. They stated that monetizing unauthorized AI-generated content incentivizes subpar creations and undermines genuine human artistry.
YouTube demonetizes the channels
In response to these developments, YouTube removed Screen Culture and KH Studio from its Partner Program, effectively demonetizing their content. The platform cited violations of its video monetization policies, which prohibit duplicative or misleading content. This action reflects YouTube’s ongoing efforts to manage the influx of AI-generated material on its platform.
Featured image: Screen Culture