Recently, YouTube channel The Fine Bros. posted a video where they released details on creating their “React World,” while announcing their plans to license and trademark the video format of “react.” Receiving massive amounts of backlash from the public, the brothers, Benny and Rafi Fine, have posted an official apology on YouTube and removed all trademarks. Despite the apology, previous fans of the channel are against them and refuse to look past their mistake.

Originally, The Fine Bros. only planned to trademark their shows (i.e. “Kids React”, “Teens React”), brand symbol and design, which exist as assets to their channel, making them acceptable to claim as a trademark. The announcement in which they made this claim, however, communicated this intent terribly, leading the community to spread hate all across the internet and leave them losing thousands of subscribers. Because of this, they quickly removed the video and apologized, but their subscriber count continued to drop.

While their intentions may not have been as monopolizing as they seemed, the delivery of their proposition has been claimed as an attempt to restrict and diminish other people’s creativity. With a bad reputation for being unkind to other ‘react channels’ and a community reluctant to forgive, negative feelings and controversy surround the brothers and their videos. Even with a possibly great idea, a bad delivery can be detrimental to it all.