One hobby company flexed on a YouTube content creator this week, getting one of their videos taken down, and a copyright strike put on thier account. Was it all a misunderstanding?
As a natural part of the hobby, there are some folks out there that like to review products for painting, modeling, etc. While this serves a good purpose in the form of marketing for companies and motivation/ opportunity for hobbyists, sometimes miscommunication can cause problems.
Editor’s Note: We tried to present both sides of the issue as best as possible. We are not lawyers, and this is not a legal opinion. This feature is, however, a look at two very necessary sides to this hobby, Content Creators/ Influencers, and Manufacturers. We feel that it is the right of manufacturers to protect their ability to operate, as well as creators to well… create. Both bring a lot to the table for the hobby, and the issue has brought to light some of the gaps between these parties, but also the need for content creators in the space.
We spoke to both sides involved in the matter over the last several days, as well as other industry insiders and manufacturers as well. While we are glad that this issue has been resolved, we are publishing this story in the hopes that similar issues can be prevented in the future.
It is my opinion that the tabletop wargaming hobby is too small for conflict like this. We encourage both retailers and content creators alike to reach out to one another personally if they have an issue like this in the future to resolve it amicably.
If anyone would like assistance in the future contacting any content creator, manufacturer or just our own opinion on the business side of this hobby to which we have dedicated our life to, (or promotion opportunities on this site) please feel free to reach out to me via our support AT Spikeybits.com email address.
-Rob Baer, Founder and Managing Editor.
YouTube Takedown & Copyright Strike
YouTube channel Sword ‘n’ Steele
Essentially, Sword ‘n’ Steele reviewed Vallejo’s color-shifting paints, but their video was quickly removed for Copyright infringement. This came from the request of Green Stuff World essentially stating that the term “colorshift” was trademarked for their company only.
Sword ‘n’ Steele unknowingly reviewed a Vallejo paint that used the term “colorshift” on the label, which was later forced to change its name at the request of Greenstuff World for the same reason. In essence, Sword ‘n’ Steele had an older product with the original Vallejo paint label before legal action was made and the company had to alter the name of the paint.
Vallejo paint before the forced name change
Vallejo paint after the forced name change- The Shifters
Green Stuff World’s Apology
Green Stuff World might be viewed in a negative light by some hobbyists in the community. However, at the end of the day, businesses do have a right to protect themselves. As it turns out, it was never intended by Green Stuff World to have the entire video removed outright:
Taken from the video above, this is the response Green Stuff World gave the Naomi. In short, they only wanted to issue a warning and had no desire to have her video removed or hurt their channel.
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We also reached out to Green Stuff World on the topic and they had this to say:
We simply made the mistake of asking Youtube for a warning, and Youtube applied a huge punishment. Now, Youtube is governed by algorithms and bots. We made the mistake of thinking they were people. For our part, we’ve fixed the mistake, we’ve apologized publicly, and of course, we’ve learned our lesson. Happy New Year 2020
Later on, they also replied with:
Good morning, I just wanted to inform you that after hours of insisting and sending emails, Youtube has withdrawn the infringement on the video. We publicly apologize for the failure of Naomi’s channel and hope to restore peace of mind to the hobby world.
GSW also issued this statement on New Years:
YouTube Has a Bad Reputation For Automated Copyright Shenanigans
As said from the quote above, YouTube is run by algorithms and bots. Whenever someone raises a case on copyright infringement, a bot is tasked with reacting. NOT an actual person. You can check out the detailed policy on how YouTube handles these instances. Or watch the video, it slaps.
At the end of the day, the issue with Green Stuff World appears to have all been one misunderstanding by a company having the blameless right to protect their property as well as a less than optimal reactionary system to copyright claims on the part of YouTube. That, of course, is our opinion on the matter. Again we encourage manufacturers and content creators to be open to amicably resolving disputes such as this and only using litigation as a last (but sometimes necessary) recourse.
Be sure to subscribe to Sword ‘n’ Steele on YouTube, and check out all the amazing hobby products for sale (and in some cases developed by) Green Stuff World on their site as well.
What are your thoughts on YouTube’s copyright infringement handlings? Have you used Green Stuff World products in the past?
Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group, and sign up to get your free hobby updates newsletter (with discount coupon codes) each morning as well!
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
