YouTube demonetizes AI-generated fake movie trailer accounts
YouTube demonetized two channels that produced AI-generated fake movie trailers after reports that major Hollywood studios were redirecting ad revenue from the videos instead of removing them. The channels had millions of subscribers and were reportedly exploiting actors' likenesses without permission through AI video generation.
What happened
Two YouTube channels, Screen Culture (1.4 million subscribers, 1.4 billion views) and KH Studio (683,000 subscribers, 560 million views), created AI-generated fake movie trailers by fusing clips from real movies and TV shows with AI-generated content.
According to Deadline, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount, and Sony Pictures redirected ad revenue from these videos to themselves instead of issuing copyright strikes to shut down the accounts.
Two days after Deadline published its investigation on March 31, 2025, YouTube demonetized both Screen Culture and KH Studio, suspending them from YouTube's partner program for violating monetization policies.
Reported impact
The SAG-AFTRA union criticized the studios for profiting off videos that use AI to exploit their members' likenesses without permission.
The fake trailers, which masquerade as real upcoming films like Superman and Jurassic World: Rebirth or fictitious TV seasons and movie sequels, were shared across social media and potentially misled viewers.
Index analysis
AI video generators like OpenAI's Sora and Google's Veo have made it easier to create artificially generated content, contributing to YouTube becoming saturated with AI-generated material.
Governance controls
YouTube's partner program policy prohibits monetizing content that violates its video monetization policies, leading to the suspension of both channels.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.