Ethan Klein
American YouTuber and Internet personality
- Entries
- 14
- On the record
- 10
- Stories
- 1
- Latest entry
- Oct 23, 2026
The record
Ethan Klein makes the h3h3 YouTube channel and the H3 Podcast with Hila Klein. Court filings place the podcast and a second channel, Ethan and Hila, under Ted Entertainment, Inc., the company that appeared alongside the couple in court. Beyond the 2017 fair use win and the 2025 suits already on this file, the longest entry in his legal record is a copyright case over the April 17, 2021 Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren boxing broadcast.
Triller Fight Club II sued "The H3 Podcast" in federal court in Los Angeles on May 10, 2021, alleging an unlawful YouTube broadcast of the event and claiming damages of no less than $50 million. An amended complaint named Ethan and Hila Klein, Ted Entertainment and the clothing company Teddy Fresh. In September 2023 Judge John A. Kronstadt dismissed every claim against Ethan Klein, with leave to amend, while letting the core copyright and Federal Communications Act claims against Ted Entertainment proceed.
Triller amended again, and in January 2024 the judge declined to dismiss its rewritten alter-ego and vicarious infringement claims. Ted Entertainment then countersued, alleging Triller had falsely advertised that the H3 Podcast episode about the fight infringed its broadcast. On August 9, 2024 both sides told the court they had settled and would ask for dismissal of the whole case with prejudice once the terms were met. The notice did not state the terms.
Roles and honours on the record
- 2016-2017 Defendant with Hila Klein in Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, decided for the Kleins source
- 2021-2024 Defendant, Triller Fight Club II LLC v. The H3 Podcast et al., U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, No. 2:21-cv-03942-JAK-KS source
Every entry, newest first
- Reported
Hila Klein said on Instagram that she and Ethan had separated, October 23, 2026. Ethan Klein won fair use in 2017; now he sues reaction streamers
- Reported
Ethan Klein posted an Instagram Story saying the H3 Podcast would go on indefinite hiatus, October 22, 2026. Ethan Klein won fair use in 2017; now he sues reaction streamers
- Ruled
An order on a motion for judgment on the pleadings is docketed in Ted Entertainment v. Saber; the document is not readable, so the outcome and the June 5, 2026 Ethan Klein won fair use in 2017; now he sues reaction streamers
- Filed
A judge allowed Klein's lawyers to file a subpoena to unmask the r/h3snark Reddit and Discord moderators, July 31, 2025. Ethan Klein won fair use in 2017; now he sues reaction streamers
- Reported
Klein sued Twitch streamers Denims, Frogan and Kaceytron over their reaction videos to his Hasan Piker essay; the June 20, 2025 date is not stated in the source Ethan Klein won fair use in 2017; now he sues reaction streamers
- Filed
Triller's event company sued the Kleins' company for $50 million over the Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren fight footage, filed May 2021 in the Central District of Cali Ethan Klein won fair use in 2017; now he sues reaction streamers
- Reported
The Kleins announced the Fair Use Protection Account (FUPA) escrow, overseen by law firm Morrison/Lee; the exact date is not stated in the source. Ethan Klein won fair use in 2017; now he sues reaction streamers
- Filed
Hosseinzadeh v. Klein copyright complaint, filed April 26, 2016 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Ethan Klein won fair use in 2017; now he sues reaction streamers
Stories in this file
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The record, entry by entry
- 2021-05-10 Filed Triller Fight Club II sued "The H3 Podcast" over the Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren broadcast, alleging copyright infringement and other claims and seeking damages of no less than $50,000,000. Complaint, C.D. Cal. No. 2:21-cv-03942, Dkt. 1 (CourtListener)
- 2021-07-23 Filed Triller's second amended complaint named Ethan Klein, Hila Klein, Ted Entertainment, Inc. and Teddy Fresh Inc. as defendants, alleging copyright infringement, vicarious infringement and a Federal Communications Act violation. U.S. District Court, C.D. California, order of Sept. 15, 2023, Dkt. 32 (CourtListener)
- 2023-09-15 Ruled Judge John A. Kronstadt dismissed all claims against Ethan Klein, Hila Klein and Teddy Fresh without prejudice and with leave to amend, and denied dismissal of the copyright and Federal Communications Act claims against Ted Entertainment. U.S. District Court, C.D. California, order of Sept. 15, 2023, Dkt. 32 (CourtListener)
- 2024-01-08 Ruled After Triller filed a third amended complaint against all defendants, the court denied the defendants' motion to dismiss its amended alter-ego and vicarious infringement claims and ordered an answer within 14 days. U.S. District Court, C.D. California, order of Jan. 8, 2024, Dkt. 50 (CourtListener)
- 2024-01-23 Filed Ted Entertainment countersued Triller for false advertising, alleging its "amnesty program" falsely claimed that H3 Podcast episode #244 infringed the broadcast and that viewers of the episode had infringed its copyright. Ted Entertainment, Inc.'s countercomplaint, Dkt. 56 (CourtListener)
- 2024-08-09 Filed Triller, Ted Entertainment, Teddy Fresh and the Kleins filed a notice that they had settled, saying Triller and Ted Entertainment would request dismissal of the entire action with prejudice once the settlement terms were satisfied. Notice of settlement, Dkt. 71 (CourtListener)
Documents
- Triller Fight Club II's original complaint (May 10, 2021)
- Order on the motion to dismiss the second amended complaint (Sept. 15, 2023)
- Order on the motion to dismiss the third amended complaint (Jan. 8, 2024)
- Ted Entertainment, Inc.'s countercomplaint against Triller (Jan. 23, 2024)
- Notice of settlement (Aug. 9, 2024)
Sources behind this file
- Complex report on Hila Klein's divorce filing
- Variety report on Hila Klein's affair statement and H3 crew cutting ties
- Court Watch report on the r/h3snark subpoena fight
- Triller Fight Club II v. TED Entertainment notice of settlement
- Business Insider report on Triller's $50M suit over the Jake Paul fight
- TechCrunch report on the Hosseinzadeh v. Klein fair-use ruling
- Variety report on the H3H3 legal defense fund
- Time report on the Fair Use Protection Account