H3h3Productions explained

h3h3Productions
Logo Alt:h3h3Productions channel logo
Channel Name:h3h3Productions
Channel Direct Url:@h3h3Productions
Creator:
Years Active:2011–2020
Subscribers:5.83 million
Views:1.36 billion
Silver Button:yes
Silver Year:2015
Gold Button:yes
Gold Year:2016
Stats Update:August 7, 2024
Diamond Button:n

h3h3Productions is a YouTube channel created and hosted by Ethan and Hila Klein, an American-Israeli husband-and-wife duo. Their content consists of reaction videos and sketch comedy in which they satirize internet culture. The H3 Podcast is their podcast channel that has been running since 2017 with the h3h3Productions now defunct, with its final video posted on August 5, 2020.[1]

History

h3h3Productions is a YouTube channel launched in 2011 by Ethan and Hila Klein, an American and Israeli husband and wife duo.[2] The primary format of videos uploaded to the channel involve the Kleins' critique and commentary reaction videos, with clips of a source video intermixed with commentary and absurd, a style which has been described as a cross between the works of comedy duo Tim & Eric and the comedic series Mystery Science Theater 3000.[3]

The channel has gained a reputation for critiquing internet trends and a range of online personalities[4] and several YouTube policies.[5] [6] [7] The Kleins have reacted to several online controversies, many of which result from poorly received, offensive commentary and prank videos which they host on their YouTube channel.[8] The Kleins have been noted for criticizing YouTube channels that entice young viewers to participate in online gambling related to the video game , mainly by trading skins for real-world currency.[9]

Controversies and lawsuits

Allegations against The Wall Street Journal

h3h3Productions, alongside several other channels, supported YouTube personality PewDiePie amid a 2017 controversy over jokes about Nazis in one of his videos from January.[10] On February 14, The Wall Street Journal ran a story about PewDiePie's previous references to Adolf Hitler, which brought nine other videos into the debate and elicited frequent discussions on whether media took them out of context.[11] When YouTube subsequently released tools to allow advertisers to avoid offensive videos, Ethan claimed that the tools were overly broad and negatively affected unrelated content, including his own channel.[12]

One of the authors of the Wall Street Journal piece, Jack Nicas, wrote another article on March 24 claiming YouTube did not go far enough to prevent advertising from displaying on videos that might contain racist content. Ethan accused the report of being written selectively to maximize outrage. The article showed a Coca-Cola advert playing on a video of the white supremacist country song "Alabama Nigger" by American musical group Trashy White Band. Upon seeing that the video was not contributing to the uploader's income, Ethan alleged that Nicas had used an altered screenshot. Hours later, he was informed that the video was indeed monetized, but on behalf of a copyright claim rather than at the choice or to the benefit of the uploader. He withdrew his accusation in response, and The Wall Street Journal released a statement that it stood by the authenticity of the screenshots.[13] [14]

Hosseinzadeh v. Klein

In April 2016, Matt Hosseinzadeh, an American YouTube personality who goes by "MattHossZone" and "Bold Guy", filed a civil action against the Kleins for copyright infringement in a video on the h3h3Productions channel.[15] [16] Hosseinzadeh claims that he initially contacted the Kleins "to politely ask them to remove [his] content from their video" but that they refused. His lawyer claimed that the video used more than 70% of his work "while contributing nothing substantive to it".[17] [18]

After a video on this was released by h3h3Productions the following month, fellow YouTuber Philip DeFranco started a fundraiser on GoFundMe to help raise money for the Kleins' legal fees, citing the need to protect fair use on YouTube.[19] On May 26, 2016, the Kleins announced that the $130,000 raised would go into an escrow account called the "Fair Use Protection Account" (FUPA), overseen by law firm Morrison & Lee LLP and to be used to help people defend fair use.[20]

The Kleins won the lawsuit, with U.S. District Judge Katherine B. Forrest ruling that their commentary video constituted "fair use as a matter of law" and describing it as "quintessential comment and criticism".[21] [22] The case is the first of its kind to receive a judgment; while not legally binding across the United States, it provided a significant and persuasive argument to be cited in future cases relating to fair use on YouTube.[23]

Legal disputes with Triller and Ryan Kavanaugh

In May 2021, Triller sued Ethan and Hila Klein, alleging they pirated the Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren fight on their H3 Podcast.[24] Despite attempts to settle, the Kleins faced additional legal actions as the feud intensified. Ryan Kavanaugh, co-founder of Triller, filed a separate defamation lawsuit, accusing Ethan of spreading false claims and maliciously targeting him through various platforms. The accusations included promoting damaging articles, creating a website comparing Kavanaugh to Harvey Weinstein, and allegedly paying Wikipedia editors to tarnish Kavanaugh’s online reputation. [25] [26]

The lawsuits became a focal point of discussion on the H3 Podcast, where Ethan Klein publicly criticized Kavanaugh’s motives, framing the legal battle as an attempt to suppress free speech.[27] [28] [29] As of August 2024, the parties have reached a settlement, but the terms have not been publicly disclosed .[30]

Notes and References

  1. Becoming THE ZUCC (ft idubbbz) . 2020-08-05 . h3h3Productions . 2024-07-22 . YouTube.
  2. Web site: Pellot . Emerald . June 11, 2021 . Who is Ethan Klein? The YouTuber is best known for h3h3 productions . live . April 8, 2023 . In The Know . . en-US . https://web.archive.org/web/20230408194615/https://www.intheknow.com/post/ethan-klein-h3/ . Apr 8, 2023 .
  3. Web site: Rich . Jacob . February 25, 2016 . Why the world needs h3h3Productions . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160226102558/https://www.michigandaily.com/section/arts/b-side-why-world-needs-h3h3productions . February 26, 2016 . June 17, 2021 . . en-US.
  4. Web site: Klima . Jeff . July 31, 2015 . Is h3h3 Productions the Most Negative Channel on YouTube? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170708170338/http://newmediarockstars.com/2015/07/is-h3h3-productions-the-most-negative-channel-on-youtube/ . July 8, 2017 . February 26, 2016 . New Media Rockstars.
  5. Web site: Hathaway . Jay . February 11, 2016 . The Latest YouTuber Controversy Reveals Facebook's Looming Video-Theft Problem . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160321224104/http://nymag.com/following/2016/02/prominent-youtuber-accused-of-video-theft.html . March 21, 2016 . April 14, 2016 . New York Magazine.
  6. Web site: Tamburro . Paul . December 16, 2015 . h3h3productions Exposes Facebook's Awful Approach to Stolen Videos . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170706034518/http://www.craveonline.com.au/design/934513-h3h3productions-exposes-facebooks-awful-approach-stolen-videos . July 6, 2017 . February 26, 2016 . CraveOnline.
  7. Web site: Meagan. Freeman. September 15, 2015. h3h3 Productions, Ethan Klein Creates Hilarious Videos and Huge Controversies. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170814101625/http://socialnewsdaily.com/57676/h3h3-productions-youtubers-create-hilarious-videos-and-huge-controversies/. August 14, 2017. February 26, 2016 . Social News Daily.
  8. Web site: Colombo . Charlotte . How controversial influencer Ethan Klein rose to fame, from feuds and Frenemies to being banned from YouTube for a week . April 8, 2023 . . en-US.
  9. Web site: July 4, 2016. h3h3productions Exposes the Dark Side of CS:GO Gambling. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160803184318/http://gameranx.com/updates/id/63014/article/csgo-gambling-takes-a-bad-turn/. August 3, 2016. July 30, 2016. Gameranx. en-US.
  10. Web site: Markum. Jeff. February 16, 2017. PewDiePie just responded to claims of anti-Semitism on YouTube and it's pretty intense. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170516163304/http://thoughtcatalog.com/jeff-markum/2017/02/pewdiepie-just-responded-to-claims-of-anti-semitism-on-youtube-and-its-pretty-intense/. May 16, 2017. April 13, 2017. Thought Catalog.
  11. Web site: Hernandez. Patricia. March 24, 2017. The PewDiePie Fiasco, One Month Later. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170817054348/http://kotaku.com/the-pewdiepie-fiasco-one-month-later-1793308126. August 17, 2017. April 13, 2017. Kotaku.
  12. Web site: Sloane. Garett. March 30, 2017. As YouTube tinkers with ad formula, its stars see their videos lose money. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803125626/http://adage.com/article/digital/youtube-feels-ad-squeeze-creators/308489/. August 3, 2017. April 13, 2017. Advertising Age.
  13. Web site: Kuchera. Ben. April 6, 2017. How a YouTuber's failed Wall Street Journal attack fed the right-wing hate machine. June 16, 2021. Polygon. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210421163359/https://www.polygon.com/2017/4/6/15196582/h3h3-productions-wall-street-journal-wsj-youtube. April 21, 2021. live.
  14. Web site: Tenbarge. Kat. May 23, 2020. YouTubers are reporting that Old Spice dropped its sponsorship of h3h3's Ethan Klein amid a brewing troll war with Keemstar. July 5, 2020. Business Insider. https://web.archive.org/web/20210131131210/https://www.businessinsider.com/ethan-klein-h3h3-keemstar-old-spice-sponsorship-productions-feud-2020-5. January 31, 2021. live.
  15. Web site: Gerckens. Kelsey. June 2, 2021. YouTuber Star From Ventura Fighting Copyright Infringement Lawsuit. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160604134105/http://www.keyt.com/news/youtuber-star-from-ventura-fighting-copyright-infringement-lawsuit/39875152. June 4, 2016. June 17, 2021. KEYT-TV. en-US.
  16. Web site: Foxx. Chris. August 24, 2017. YouTube stars win fair use legal battle. June 22, 2021. BBC News. en-US. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210504042350/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-41043209. May 4, 2021.
  17. Web site: Spangler. Todd. May 27, 2016. Legal Fund for YouTube's H3H3 Raises More Than $145,000 to Fight MattHoss Copyright Lawsuit. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170729181518/http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/h3h3-ethan-hila-matthoss-lawsuit-1201784349/. July 29, 2017. May 31, 2016. Variety. en-US.
  18. Web site: YouTube stars Matt Hoss, h3h3 in copyright battle over 'Bold Guy'. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160604062545/http://www.nydailynews.com/amp/entertainment/youtube-stars-matt-hoss-h3h3-copyright-battle-bold-guy-article-1.2656345. June 4, 2016. June 1, 2016. New York Daily News.
  19. Web site: YouTube War: Philip DeFranco's GoFundMe Raises $60,000 As 'Bold Guy' Matt 'Hoss' Sues Ethan And Hila Of H3H3. Paula. Mooney. May 26, 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170729175714/http://www.inquisitr.com/3134227/youtube-war-philip-defrancos-gofundme-raises-60000-as-bold-guy-matt-hoss-sues-ethan-and-hila-of-h3h3/. July 29, 2017. May 26, 2016. Inquisitr.
  20. May 27, 2016. Chan. Melissa. This YouTube Star Got Sued, Raised $130,000, and Wants to Change the Site Forever. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160527194308/http://time.com/4349864/ethan-klein-h3h3productions-fair-use-protection-account-fupa/. May 27, 2016. May 28, 2016. Time.
  21. Web site: August 24, 2017. Ha. Anthony. Judge sides with YouTubers Ethan and Hila Klein in copyright lawsuit. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170825000209/https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/23/judge-sides-with-youtubers-ethan-and-hila-klein-in-copyright-lawsuit/. August 25, 2017. August 25, 2017. TechCrunch.
  22. Web site: Docket for Hosseinzadeh v. Klein. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170827012617/https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4356997/hosseinzadeh-v-klein/#entry-116. August 27, 2017. August 25, 2017. CourtListener.com. en.
  23. News: Graves. Franklin. August 23, 2017. YouTubers Ethan and Hila Klein Win Copyright Case, Court Says h3h3Productions' Use Of Video Is Fair Use. Tubefilter. May 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201125224109/https://www.tubefilter.com/2017/08/23/h3h3productions-copyright-case-fair-use-ethan-hila-klein/. November 25, 2020. live.
  24. Web site: Cullins . Ashley . 2022-01-14 . Triller’s Suit Against Podcasters Over “Troll” Reviews Tossed by Judge . 2024-08-12 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
  25. Web site: "Harvey Weinstein?": Ryan Kavanaugh trolled as Ethan Klein drama intensifies over 3rd lawsuit .
  26. Web site: Kavanaugh . Ryan . 2021-11-30 . The Dark Side of the Power of Social Media - CSQ C-Suite Quarterly . 2024-08-12 . CSQ C-Suite Quarterly - The Voice of the C-Suite . en.
  27. Web site: technology . Education . Communication . 2021-12-02 . "This is legal harassment:" Podcaster Ethan Klein sued yet again, this time for defamation . 2024-08-12 . InvenGlobal . en.
  28. Web site: 2021-07-31 . H3H3 claims Triller founder Ryan Kavanaugh needs to “get a life” amid new lawsuit . 2024-08-12 . Dexerto . en.
  29. Web site: Gardner . Eriq . 2021-11-30 . Ryan Kavanaugh’s New Mind Bender: When Is a Lawsuit Not a Lawsuit? . 2024-08-12 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
  30. Web site: NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT .
  31. Jarvey. Natalie. August 22, 2017. The 7th Annual Streamy Awards: Rihanna, The Rock and Ryan Reynolds Among The Nominees. June 16, 2021. Billboard. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210611084722/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7940865/streamy-awards-2017-nominees. June 11, 2021. live.

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