I’ve been creating paranormal investigation and ghost hunting style videos for years now, exploring haunted cemeteries, abandoned forts, and haunted forests with dark histories and much more across Europe. Like many of you, I put in long hours, travel, and editing to share these ghost hunts with you. We won’t even talk about the expenses (OMG). But recently, more and more reaction and debunking channels have started taking other people’s videos, copying the most important parts, and then mocking or “debunking” them while making money off it.
This post (and the video below) isn’t about whether ghosts are real. It’s about copyright, fair use, and creator rights — the laws that protect paranormal YouTubers, ghost hunters, and investigators when someone takes their content without permission. If you’ve ever wondered, “Can someone really just steal my video and call it fair use?” this is for you.
👉 Watch the full video here:
Why This Matters for Paranormal Creators
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Fair Use Myths: Many debunking or reaction channels say their work is “fair use.” In plain words, they claim the law gives them permission to reuse your video. But courts look at whether they copied the heart of your work, mocked it, or hurt your audience and income potential. If they did, fair use probably won’t save them.
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The Berne Convention: This is an international treaty signed by 181 countries. In simple terms, your video is protected worldwide, not just in your home country. It also gives creators “moral rights,” like being named as the author and not having their work twisted, mocked, or misrepresented.
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Likeness and Privacy: Using your face, your voice, information, or even your style without permission is more than copyright theft. It can also break privacy, publicity, and data laws, which can be especially strict.
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Market Harm: When reaction channels brag about “getting more views” than you, or when viewers stop watching your channel because of their videos, that’s direct harm. That’s not fair use — it’s damaging your channel. A lot of debunkers like to brag about what they do; well, that’s good because that’s evidence.
What Paranormal Creators Can Do
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Know Your Rights: You don’t have to let it slide. Copyright law, likeness rights, and privacy protections are on your side.
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Keep Records: If someone takes your video, screenshot it, save the link, and keep notes. This can help if you ever need to act.
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Take Action: Platforms allow takedown requests, and in serious cases, legal options exist. You are not powerless. Check the faq and help of whatever platform is being used.
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Keep Creating: The best protection is to know your rights so you can focus on ghost hunting, investigations, and storytelling without fear of being undermined.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t about whether the paranormal is real. It’s about respecting creator rights. There is no loophole that allows reaction or debunking channels to take your work, profit from it, and damage your reputation.
The truth is clear: it’s not the original paranormal investigators at risk — it’s the debunkers and reaction creators who are at legal risk.
Watch the full video above to learn how you can protect and defend your paranormal content.
Disclaimer: This blog post and the video it features share my personal views and general information for fellow creators. It is not legal advice. If you have specific concerns, always consult a qualified attorney.
