Last Tuesday, the Fine Brothers sparked a great deal of controversy when they announced a licensing program called “React World”. As a result of the backlash, the Fine Brothers have since reversed their decision to move forward with the “React World” program and apologized for the controversy in a statement released earlier today.

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The Fine Brothers intend to rescind all of the “React” trademarks and applications, which include “React”, “Kids React”, and “Elders React”, as well as “release all past Content ID claims”.“React World” was a plan to trademark and license the “reaction video” format, as well as the word “React”, which many people objected to because so many people already make react videos. The Fine Brothers have built a successful business out of showing people, young and old, reacting to anything and everything. Their plan was to provide tools and assets for others to make react videos on their own channels.According to the BBC , the Fine Brothers clarified their licensing plan in a Facebook post that has since been taken down."We are in no way claiming reaction content in general is our intellectual property. We are not going after/shutting down/suing anyone who makes reaction-based content."Attorney Ryan Morrison expressed his concerns and took it upon himself to challenge the trademark filing.“If you make reaction videos, which a lot of YouTubers do, you are potentially in a lot of trouble. The public has 30 days to file an opposition. Had the Fine Bros kept quiet for another month, they almost certainly would have gotten this trademark, as no-one seemed to notice it. Instead, they announced their ridiculous licensing program and turned all eyes on them,” Morrison said.The Fine Brothers acknowledged the concerns over their attempt to create the “React World” licensing program.“We realize we built a system that could easily be used for wrong. We are fixing that. The reality that trademarks like these could be used to theoretically give companies (including ours) the power to police and control online video is a valid concern, and though we can assert our intentions are pure, there’s no way to prove them,” the Fine Brothers said.While the controversy over the program ended up costing The Fine Brothers over 200,000 subscribers on their YouTube channel, the Fine Brothers plan to continue making content and are “confident” their actions will “speak louder than words” as they move on from the debacle.

Michael Martin is a full-time freelance writer with way too many pop culture mash-up t-shirts to count. Follow him on Twitter @Bizarro_Mike