It's Tuesday and while TikTok Shop battles with Amazon and Whatnot, GameStop is making a $56 billion bid to buy eBay.

THE BIZ

The new tool: When it comes to dealing with copyright claims, the precision of YouTube’s Content ID technology has frustrated creators for years. There are numerous examples of videos that have been claimed because a copyrighted song is heard for just a few seconds in the background.

YouTube has responded to creators’ concerns by developing multiple solutions, including an Erase Song tool that strips copyrighted music without affecting the rest of the audio track.

Now, the platform is turning things up a notch. In YouTube Studio, an experimental new feature allows users to respond to a piece of claimed audio by generating a sound-alike, royalty-free track to replace the copyrighted music. The process is, at least in theory, pretty simple; a new “Create” button generates four pieces of instrumental music, and creators can then swap in the alternative track that best suits their video.

The instrumental track generator is currently available in the U.S. for desktop users. Longtime YouTube exec Rene Ritchie, who discussed the new “Create” button in a Creator Insider video, said the experimental option will roll out more widely “later this year.”

The impact: The ability to replace copyrighted audio with royalty-free music could go a long way towards easing the frustrations of individual creators. The big question, however, is how this change will affect companies that provide royalty-free music to creators.

As of now, YouTube will allow creators to generate tracks to avoid copyright claims. But what happens if it eventually lets creators generate free-to-use music for any purpose? Would that move upend the industry that’s currently centered around royalty-free tracks?

That scenario may never come to pass—but the possibility is an important reminder that social platforms have the ability to swiftly alter the fate of third-party companies that pop up around them. 

HEADLINES IN BRIEF 📰

COURT OF LAW

The update: You probably already know that Elon Musk is suing OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Now, if you’re interested in knowing more than that, you can listen to the entire trial live on YouTube.

That access comes as a result of a May 1 amendment to the Northern District of California’s Civil Local Rule 77-3, which now specifically allows judges to, “in their discretion, provide the public with remote video or audio access to court proceedings.”

The first judge to exercise this power is Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers (aka, the judge overseeing the Musk v Altman case). She’s decided to broadcast audio of the trial on the official US District Court Northern District of California YouTube channel, a non-monetized hub that currently has around 3.6K subscribers.

The case: The Altman v Musk case kicked off in court on April 28 and centers around Altman’s decision to give OpenAI a path to being for-profit despite alleged promises to remain nonprofit. In rebuttal to Musk’s accusations of “ill-gotten gains,” Altman claims the suit is designed to hinder OpenAI so Musk’s own AI company, xAI, can gain the upper hand.

Judge Rogers has already indicated she’s fed up with both participants, even asking Musk at one point, “How can we get things done without you making things worse outside the courtroom?”

The US District Court Northern District of California YouTube channel will stream audio of the trial Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pacific until the case’s conclusion. The district has clarified that “recording or rebroadcasting the audio livestream is strictly prohibited…regardless of platform or format.”

UP IN THE AIR

The crackdown: Every day, YouTubers review countless products—including expensive travel options like first-class flights. To experience those pricier adventures, millions of people live vicariously through YouTube aviation reviewers.

Their jobs, however, may be becoming more difficult.

As noted by UK Aviation News‘ Nick Harding, a growing number of airlines are implementing policies that restrict or ban recording on flights. British Airways, for example, recently prohibited filming or photographing crew members without their explicit consent. It also specifically bans livestreaming.

That rule is in line with changes from other aviation brands, reflecting what Harding calls “a broader industry shift towards tighter control of onboard filming.”

The impact: Aviation YouTuber Noel Philips told Harding he thinks these clampdowns are driven by a general increase in public recording, including “an upsurge of passengers recording ‘air rage’ incidents, perceived bad service or other onboard incidents to post online for clicks.” Philips said he doesn’t “necessarily think” the crackdown is “a bad thing,” but acknowledged how stricter guidelines could land creators in hot water.

We’re already seeing that issue come into play. Last June, for example, aviation reviewer Nonstop Dan posted a video about his first-class Kuwait Airlines flight from Bangkok to Kuwait. During the flight, a purser apparently told the creator that if he posted anything about the flight online, he “could not guarantee [Dan’s] safety when we land.”

Dan said he hadn’t broken any rules, wasn’t speaking while filming, and was paying attention to passengers’ privacy. Even so, the purser and captain got police involved once the plane touched down, and attempted to force Dan to delete his footage.

Dan was released and ultimately received a formal apology from Kuwait Airways’ Chairman and President, as well as a letter from Kuwait’s royal family—but if airlines continue tightening rules, creators could increasingly face similar run-ins with less ideal outcomes.

The AI channel: An AI-savvy YouTube hub called Dream Lags is using generated clips of fictional characters to tap into the enduring hype surrounding KPop Demon Hunters.

For previous generations, dress-up was the most immersive form of widely available idol worship. Now, generative AI offers immediate wish fulfillment for any young fan. Forget cosplay or fanfiction; viewers craving more KPop Demon Hunters content can simply tune into channels like Dream Lags to see their favorite characters act out new scenes, stories, and songs.

Offering up that kind of instant gratification has helped Dream Lags secure some big numbers. The Venezuelan channel added 360,000 new subscribers during the week that was, bringing its total sub count to nearly 4 million.

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Today's newsletter is from: Emily Burton, Drew Baldwin, Sam Gutelle, James Hale, and Josh Cohen.