:H3h3Productions

h3h3Productions, alongside several other channels, supported YouTube personality PewDiePie amid a 2017 controversy over jokes about Nazis in one of his videos from January.{{Cite web|last=Markum|first=Jeff|date=February 16, 2017|title=PewDiePie just responded to claims of anti-Semitism on YouTube and it's pretty intense|url=http://thoughtcatalog.com/jeff-markum/2017/02/pewdiepie-just-responded-to-claims-of-anti-semitism-on-youtube-and-its-pretty-intense/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516163304/http://thoughtcatalog.com/jeff-markum/2017/02/pewdiepie-just-responded-to-claims-of-anti-semitism-on-youtube-and-its-pretty-intense/|archive-date=May 16, 2017|access-date=April 13, 2017|publisher=Thought Catalog}} On February 14, The Wall Street Journal ran a story about PewDiePie's previous references to Adolf Hitler, which brought nine other videos into the debate and elicited frequent discussions on whether media took them out of context.{{Cite web|last=Hernandez|first=Patricia|date=March 24, 2017|title=The PewDiePie Fiasco, One Month Later|url=http://kotaku.com/the-pewdiepie-fiasco-one-month-later-1793308126|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817054348/http://kotaku.com/the-pewdiepie-fiasco-one-month-later-1793308126|archive-date=August 17, 2017|access-date=April 13, 2017|publisher=Kotaku}} When YouTube subsequently released tools to allow advertisers to avoid offensive videos, Ethan claimed that the tools were overly broad and negatively affected unrelated content, including his own channel.{{Cite web|last=Sloane|first=Garett|date=March 30, 2017|title=As YouTube tinkers with ad formula, its stars see their videos lose money|url=http://adage.com/article/digital/youtube-feels-ad-squeeze-creators/308489/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803125626/http://adage.com/article/digital/youtube-feels-ad-squeeze-creators/308489/|archive-date=August 3, 2017|access-date=April 13, 2017|publisher=Advertising Age}}

One of the authors of the Wall Street Journal piece, Jack Nicas, wrote another article on March 24 claiming YouTube did not go far enough to prevent advertising from displaying on videos that might contain racist content. Ethan accused the report of being written selectively to maximize outrage. The article showed a Coca-Cola advert playing on a video of the white supremacist country song "Alabama Nigger" by American musical group Trashy White Band.{{Citation |title=Trashy White Band – Alabama Nigger |year=1984 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/5395897-Trashy-White-Band-Alabama-Nigger |language=en |access-date=February 15, 2023}} Upon seeing that the video was not contributing to the uploader's income, Ethan alleged that Nicas had used an altered screenshot. Hours later, he was informed that the video was indeed monetized, but on behalf of a copyright claim rather than at the choice or to the benefit of the uploader. He withdrew his accusation in response, and The Wall Street Journal released a statement that it stood by the authenticity of the screenshots.{{Cite web|last=Kuchera|first=Ben|date=April 6, 2017|title=How a YouTuber's failed Wall Street Journal attack fed the right-wing hate machine|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/4/6/15196582/h3h3-productions-wall-street-journal-wsj-youtube|access-date=June 16, 2021|website=Polygon|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421163359/https://www.polygon.com/2017/4/6/15196582/h3h3-productions-wall-street-journal-wsj-youtube|archive-date=April 21, 2021|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Tenbarge|first=Kat|date=May 23, 2020|title=YouTubers are reporting that Old Spice dropped its sponsorship of h3h3's Ethan Klein amid a brewing troll war with Keemstar|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ethan-klein-h3h3-keemstar-old-spice-sponsorship-productions-feud-2020-5|access-date=July 5, 2020|website=Business Insider|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131131210/https://www.businessinsider.com/ethan-klein-h3h3-keemstar-old-spice-sponsorship-productions-feud-2020-5|archive-date=January 31, 2021|url-status=live}}

In April 2016, Matt Hosseinzadeh, an American YouTube personality who goes by "MattHossZone" and "Bold Guy", filed a civil action against the Kleins for copyright infringement in a video on the h3h3Productions channel.{{Cite web|last=Gerckens|first=Kelsey|date=June 2, 2021|title=YouTuber Star From Ventura Fighting Copyright Infringement Lawsuit|url=http://www.keyt.com/news/youtuber-star-from-ventura-fighting-copyright-infringement-lawsuit/39875152|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604134105/http://www.keyt.com/news/youtuber-star-from-ventura-fighting-copyright-infringement-lawsuit/39875152|archive-date=June 4, 2016|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=KEYT-TV|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Foxx|first=Chris|date=August 24, 2017|title=YouTube stars win fair use legal battle|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-41043209|access-date=June 22, 2021|website=BBC News|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504042350/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-41043209|archive-date=May 4, 2021}} Hosseinzadeh claims that he initially contacted the Kleins "to politely ask them to remove [his] content from their video" but that they refused. His lawyer claimed that the video used more than 70% of his work "while contributing nothing substantive to it".{{Cite web|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=May 27, 2016|title=Legal Fund for YouTube's H3H3 Raises More Than $145,000 to Fight MattHoss Copyright Lawsuit|url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/h3h3-ethan-hila-matthoss-lawsuit-1201784349/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729181518/http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/h3h3-ethan-hila-matthoss-lawsuit-1201784349/|archive-date=July 29, 2017|access-date=May 31, 2016|website=Variety|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=YouTube stars Matt Hoss, h3h3 in copyright battle over 'Bold Guy'|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/amp/entertainment/youtube-stars-matt-hoss-h3h3-copyright-battle-bold-guy-article-1.2656345#|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604062545/http://www.nydailynews.com/amp/entertainment/youtube-stars-matt-hoss-h3h3-copyright-battle-bold-guy-article-1.2656345|archive-date=June 4, 2016|access-date=June 1, 2016|website=New York Daily News}}

After a video on this was released by h3h3Productions the following month, fellow YouTuber Philip DeFranco started a fundraiser on GoFundMe to help raise money for the Kleins' legal fees, citing the need to protect fair use on YouTube.{{Cite web|title=YouTube War: Philip DeFranco's GoFundMe Raises $60,000 As 'Bold Guy' Matt 'Hoss' Sues Ethan And Hila Of H3H3|first=Paula|last=Mooney|date=May 26, 2016|url=http://www.inquisitr.com/3134227/youtube-war-philip-defrancos-gofundme-raises-60000-as-bold-guy-matt-hoss-sues-ethan-and-hila-of-h3h3/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729175714/http://www.inquisitr.com/3134227/youtube-war-philip-defrancos-gofundme-raises-60000-as-bold-guy-matt-hoss-sues-ethan-and-hila-of-h3h3/|archive-date=July 29, 2017|access-date=May 26, 2016|website=Inquisitr}} On May 26, 2016, the Kleins announced that the $130,000 raised would go into an escrow account called the "Fair Use Protection Account" (FUPA), overseen by law firm Morrison & Lee LLP and to be used to help people defend fair use.{{Cite magazine|date=May 27, 2016|last=Chan|first=Melissa|title=This YouTube Star Got Sued, Raised $130,000, and Wants to Change the Site Forever|url=https://time.com/4349864/ethan-klein-h3h3productions-fair-use-protection-account-fupa/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527194308/http://time.com/4349864/ethan-klein-h3h3productions-fair-use-protection-account-fupa/|archive-date=May 27, 2016|access-date=May 28, 2016|magazine=Time}}

The Kleins won the lawsuit, with U.S. District Judge Katherine B. Forrest ruling that their commentary video constituted "fair use as a matter of law" and describing it as "quintessential comment and criticism".{{Cite web|date=August 24, 2017|last=Ha|first=Anthony|title=Judge sides with YouTubers Ethan and Hila Klein in copyright lawsuit|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/23/judge-sides-with-youtubers-ethan-and-hila-klein-in-copyright-lawsuit/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825000209/https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/23/judge-sides-with-youtubers-ethan-and-hila-klein-in-copyright-lawsuit/|archive-date=August 25, 2017|access-date=August 25, 2017|publisher=TechCrunch}}{{Cite web|title=Docket for Hosseinzadeh v. Klein|url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4356997/hosseinzadeh-v-klein/#entry-116|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827012617/https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4356997/hosseinzadeh-v-klein/#entry-116|archive-date=August 27, 2017|access-date=August 25, 2017|website=CourtListener.com|language=en}} The case is the first of its kind to receive a judgment; while not legally binding across the United States, it provided a significant and persuasive argument to be cited in future cases relating to fair use on YouTube.{{Cite news|last=Graves|first=Franklin|date=August 23, 2017|title=YouTubers Ethan and Hila Klein Win Copyright Case, Court Says h3h3Productions' Use Of Video Is Fair Use|work=Tubefilter|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2017/08/23/h3h3productions-copyright-case-fair-use-ethan-hila-klein/|access-date=May 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125224109/https://www.tubefilter.com/2017/08/23/h3h3productions-copyright-case-fair-use-ethan-hila-klein/|archive-date=November 25, 2020|url-status=live}}

In May 2021, the company Triller sued Ethan and Hila Klein, alleging the pair had pirated the Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren fight on their H3 Podcast.{{Cite web |last=Cullins |first=Ashley |date=2022-01-14 |title=Triller's Suit Against Podcasters Over "Troll" Reviews Tossed by Judge |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/triller-troll-reviews-suit-tossed-by-judge-1235075271/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} Despite attempts to settle, the Kleins faced additional legal actions as the feud intensified. Ryan Kavanaugh, co-founder of Triller, filed a separate defamation lawsuit, accusing Ethan of spreading false claims and maliciously targeting him through various platforms. The accusations included promoting damaging articles, creating a website comparing Kavanaugh to Harvey Weinstein, and allegedly paying Wikipedia editors to tarnish Kavanaugh’s online reputation.{{Cite web |title="Harvey Weinstein?": Ryan Kavanaugh trolled as Ethan Klein drama intensifies over 3rd lawsuit |date=December 2021 |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/harvey-weinstein-ryan-kavanaugh-trolled-ethan-klein-drama-intensifies-3rd-lawsuit}}{{Cite web |last=Kavanaugh |first=Ryan |date=2021-11-30 |title=The Dark Side of the Power of Social Media - CSQ {{!}} C-Suite Quarterly |url=https://csq.com/2021/11/c-suite-contributor-ryan-kavanaugh-the-dark-side-of-the-power-of-social-media/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=CSQ {{!}} C-Suite Quarterly - The Voice of the C-Suite |language=en}}

As of August 2024, the parties have reached a settlement, but the terms have not been publicly disclosed.{{Cite web |title=NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT |url=https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cacd.820177/gov.uscourts.cacd.820177.71.0.pdf}}

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