Hollywood studios are facing criticism from the actors' union, SAG-AFTRA, for profiting from fake AI-generated movie trailers on YouTube instead of taking action to shut them down. According to a report from Deadline, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount, and Sony Pictures have been redirecting ad revenue from these trailers to themselves, rather than enforcing copyright protections and protecting their members' likenesses.

The fake trailers, created using AI video generators like OpenAI's Sora and Google's Veo, have become increasingly popular on YouTube, with channels like Screen Culture and KH Studio amassing millions of subscribers and views. These trailers often combine short clips from real movies or TV shows with AI-generated content, making them appear authentic to unsuspecting viewers. Many of these trailers are based on real, unreleased movies that already have official trailers, while others masquerade as fictitious TV seasons, movie sequels, or big-screen adaptations of other popular franchises.

The SAG-AFTRA union has expressed outrage over the studios' decision to profit from these fake trailers, which use AI to exploit their members' likenesses without permission. In a statement to Deadline, the union emphasized the importance of protecting actors' voice and likeness rights, saying that "monetizing unauthorized, unwanted, and subpar uses of human-centered IP is a race to the bottom." The union is currently bargaining contract terms and creating laws to protect and enforce its members' rights, and expects its bargaining partners to aggressively enforce their intellectual property from AI misappropriation.

YouTubers who create these fake trailers are violating the platform's video monetization policies, which prohibit creators from making videos that are "duplicative or repetitive" or made "for the sole purpose of getting views." Additionally, YouTube's misinformation policies 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. Two days after Deadline published its investigation, YouTube stopped Screen Culture and KH Studio from being able to monetize their clickbait content, suspending them from its partner program for violating these policies.

The incident highlights the growing concern over AI-generated content and its impact on the entertainment industry. As AI technology continues to advance, it's becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between authentic and fake content. The lack of regulation and enforcement of copyright protections has created a Wild West scenario, where anyone can create and profit from fake content without consequences. The SAG-AFTRA union's criticism of the studios' actions is a warning shot across the bow, emphasizing the need for stricter regulations and greater accountability in the industry.

The incident also raises questions about YouTube's role in policing its platform and protecting its users from misinformation. While the platform has taken steps to address the issue, suspending the offending accounts and updating its policies, more needs to be done to prevent the spread of fake content. As the entertainment industry continues to grapple with the implications of AI-generated content, it's clear that stricter regulations, greater accountability, and more effective policing are needed to protect creators, actors, and users alike.