The German YouTuber Gnu has become a victim of a thief: However, he did not break into her home but shamelessly stole her thumbnails and video content. Unfortunately, Gnu is not an exception, as many cases worldwide show.
What happened? The Spanish YouTuber Fredy (via YouTube.com) with over 4.5 million subscribers has been shamelessly using the thumbnails and content ideas of the German gaming YouTuber Gnu for several months. Among other things, he downloads her cover images, cuts out her face, and inserts his own visage.
German words simply remain in the thumbnail and are not translated. Gnu discovered this thanks to the YouTuber Mexify (via Twitter.com) and stated:
I have never seen something so shameless! A 4.5 million-subscriber YouTuber shamelessly uses all my thumbnails and slaps his face over them! Titles and co. are also copied. I spend 2 to 3 hours on my preview images, sometimes even several days! (…) We are no longer talking about inspiration.
Gnu via Twitter.com
Upon closer inspection, it also becomes clear: Fredy copies not only the thumbnails and titles but also the content itself. If Gnu plays a game where one impersonates a crazy plastic surgeon, Fredy does that too.
Here is the thumbnail from Gnu. (Source: YouTube.com) 
Here is the thumbnail from Fredy. (Source: YouTube.com)
Stolen Thumbnails, Titles, and Content: This is Everyday Life on YouTube
Unfortunately, Gnu is not the first YouTuber whose content and thumbnails are copied. However, the most recent and prominent example may be a case from overseas. The American creator Mr. Beast is also a victim of free riders.
As a reminder: Mr. Beast is known for crazy competitions where the winners can earn millions. His repertoire also includes saving the world by planting 20 million trees (via YouTube.com).
Recently, the YouTuber showed that he has competition from Belarus. The channel “A4” uses the thumbnails, the titles, the content, and even the same camera angles as Mr. Beast – so far, there have been no consequences. At this point, we could show countless examples. However, what is more interesting is: How can creators defend themselves against this?
What YouTubers Can Do Against CopyCats
If a creator encounters stolen content, there is only one way to report it effectively. He clicks on “Report”, selects that the video violates his copyright rights, and provides the URL of his own video. Additionally, a longer form must be filled out.
If YouTube acknowledges that the reported video contains stolen content, the creator can decide:
- Either he activates advertisements and earns money from the video
- Or the creator has it completely blocked.
Update: Gnu Explains the Current Situation
Update 23.9, 11:30 AM: In a recent video, Gnu talks about the measures she has taken and also criticizes the reaction of her own viewers. The Spanish YouTuber Fredy was urged by Gnu’s management to remove the thumbnails. However, he did not understand this due to the “language barrier” and merely painted over the thumbnails.
Accordingly, the case has been forwarded to YouTube, and further steps are currently pending.
As Gnu herself states in her video, Fredy’s behavior likely results in one or more strikes. Because not only her thumbnails were shamelessly copied, but also those of many other YouTubers around the world.
However, Gnu also criticizes some of her own viewers: Some of them have apparently written offensive comments. However, as she says, it would be better if no one comments or interacts with the videos. Otherwise, Fredy would only benefit from it.
Have you ever been a victim of copyright infringement, be it on YouTube or elsewhere? What experience did you have with the relevant support, and could reporting the copied content help you? Share this with us in the comments.
