‘This is Khorosho,’ the Russian YouTube channel that reviewed viral videos for 16 years, is shutting down after copyright disputes

After 16 years, the popular Russian YouTube channel “This is Khorosho” (also translated as “This Is Good”) is set to cease operations due to ongoing copyright disputes. The channel's creator, Stas Davydov, announced the decision to shut down, citing the constant legal battles over the use of viral videos in the show's episodes. With the passing of the era, viewers can expect to see fewer reviews from “This is Khorosho” on YouTube.

Some entities that acquired rights to viral videos from their creators had already been pocketing ad revenue from the channel's old episodes, despite the fact that only one video in each episode was owned by them. Furthermore, these entities often purchased the videos after they had already been featured on “This is Khorosho,” as long as they could demonstrate to YouTube's system that they had secured the rights.

ViralHog, an American company, was particularly active in filing claims against the channel, which led to the deletion of hundreds of episodes. Davydov expressed frustration with the ongoing disputes, stating that the channel's staff was "tired of fighting for its existence." The channel, which began on YouTube in 2010, has garnered a substantial following, boasting over 6.3 million subscribers and 1,800 videos.

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