Studios Profit from Fake AI-Generated Movie Trailers, Angering Actors’ Union

The Rise of AI-Generated Content

Fan-made trailers have been around for a while, but AI video generators like OpenAI’s Sora and Google’s Veo have made it easier than ever for anyone to create artificially generated content. As a result, YouTube has become saturated with AI-generated content, including fake movie trailers.

The Problem with AI-Generated Trailers

The issue is that many of these fake trailers are being monetized by studios, who are redirecting ad revenue to themselves instead of enforcing copyright protections and shutting down the popular Screen Culture and KH Studio trailer accounts. This has left the SAG-AFTRA union fuming, as they believe studios are profiting from AI-generated content that uses actors’ likenesses without permission.

The Impact on the Film Industry

The SAG-AFTRA union has criticized the studios for their actions, stating that “just as SAG-AFTRA is aggressively bargaining contract terms and creating laws to protect and enforce our members’ voice and likeness rights, we expect our bargaining partners to aggressively enforce their IP from any, and all AI misappropriation.” The union believes that monetizing unauthorized uses of human-centered IP is a “race to the bottom” that incentivizes technology companies and short-term gains at the expense of lasting human creative endeavor.

The Current State of the Issue

According to Deadline, the accounts were suspended from YouTube’s partner program for violating its video monetization policies. Creators are not permitted to make videos that are “duplicative or repetitive” or made “for the sole purpose of getting views,” and have to make significant alterations to any material taken from other sources. YouTube’s misinformation policies also bar creators from manipulating content in a way that misleads viewers, which would include creating fake trailers that can intentionally be mistaken for officially produced videos.

Conclusion

The issue of AI-generated movie trailers is a complex one, and it’s clear that the studios are taking advantage of the situation to make a quick buck. However, it’s also important to consider the impact that this is having on the film industry as a whole, and the ways in which it could be used to exploit actors and their likenesses. As the SAG-AFTRA union so eloquently put it, “monetizing unauthorized, unwanted, and subpar uses of human-centered IP is a race to the bottom.” It’s time for the studios to take a stand and prioritize the rights of actors and their likenesses.