A24 reverses The Backrooms copyright claims: takedowns were an error

A24 has pulled back its copyright claims after automated takedown notices wrongly swept up independent videos and games inspired by The Backrooms, the online horror myth that spread everywhere.

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A24 says the claims were caused by a mistake in an outsourced anti-piracy system. The studio also made clear that it doesn’t own the original 2019 4chan post, the broader yellow-wallpaper maze concept, or the community-made works built on that mythology. And that distinction matters. The Backrooms grew through YouTube videos, games, forum lore, and fan-made expansions, so this was never a typical studio franchise handed down from one owner.

Kane Parsons turned one version of The Backrooms into a viral YouTube hit, and that run eventually led to A24’s film. He said publicly that the strikes “should not be happening” and looked into the issue, which helped preserve goodwill with the same fan community that made his breakout adaptation possible in the first place. If you make or follow Backrooms-inspired work, here’s the line: nobody owns the basic idea, but Kane Parsons’ specific videos and A24’s film can still qualify as protected expression.

A24’s film was still a major success, reportedly making more than $382 million worldwide on a budget below $10 million, and Kane Parsons has reportedly attracted interest from Warner Bros., Universal, and Sony. This case will likely stick around as a warning to studios adapting internet culture.