Hbomberguy’s 4-hour YouTube video about plagiarism set social media abuzz
It's quite common to see long, extended videos appearing in your YouTube recommendations. I've seen hours-long takedowns of obscure foreign shows I've never seen before. One particular video, lasting just under four hours, has launched on the platform and is a hot topic of discussion on social media. Plagiarism and you(Tube)by Harry 'Hbomberguy' Brewis, delves into several important topics: comment content, AI-generated media summaries, and of course, plagiarism.
In the YouTube video, Brewis discusses not only the definition of plagiarism and examples of it on popular channels, but also the incentives that drive creators to take content from other sources and quote it extensively without attribution. These include ad revenue, lucrative sponsorships, and platforms like Patreon, which encourage fast and consistent video production.
The video is very good and well worth a watch if you can find the time. Many people can't or won't do that, so they won't discover the twist at the center of the video: a collaborative takedown from James Somerton, a YouTuber and filmmaker who focuses on queer content and media interpretations. Brewis systematically goes through Somerton's content and cites several instances where he plagiarizes – or heavily lifts, without proper credit – authors from other media, academics and documentaries.
Brewis wasn't the only YouTuber to vet Somerton's content. Music channel Todd in the Shadows, run by Todd Nathanson, posted a video that lasts an hour and 42 minutes. Nathanson focuses on rigorously vetting Somerton's content, scouring his video essays to debunk claims about Nazi Germany and aesthetics, gay discrimination, and critical responses to the media.
These videos raise questions about YouTube standards, the modern perception of plagiarism, and the collective debt creators owe to those who came before. Brewis' video is also an excellent complement to another video he posted a year ago in which he explores the origins of the Roblox 'oof' soundand eventually discovers a similarly questionable situation surrounding video game composer Tommy Tallarico and his history of tall tales.
Polygon has contacted Somerton for comment and will update this article if we receive a response.