Locksmith maker angered by lock-picking video viewed by 10 million people files lawsuit
A locksmith has filed a lawsuit against a YouTuber who posted a video showing how to easily open one of their locks. The locksmith claimed that the video 'tarnished their credibility,' but it has also been pointed out that the locksmith may have been at fault for provoking the other party.
10M people watched a YouTuber shim a lock; the lock company sued him. Bad idea. - Ars Technica
On March 3, 2025, lock manufacturer Proven Industries released a short video titled 'You guys keep telling me our latch pin locks are easy to break.' The video featured a man wearing a baseball cap threatening to 'silence a lot of the haters' and then attacking a $130 lock with a hammer and bolt cutters.
One user commented on the video, 'Trevor McNally's challenge,' a former Marine turned YouTuber who has posted numerous lock-opening videos and has garnered over 3 million subscribers.
Proven Industries responded by saying, 'McNally only likes cheap locks because they're easy and fast to break,' and claimed that their locks are made of stronger materials. These comments eventually caught McNally's attention, and he released the following video:
The video above shows McNally dangling his legs, drinking juice, and watching a promotional video for Proven Industries. He then approaches the Proven Industries lock and opens it using just a piece of metal cut from an aluminum can. Although McNally does not say a word in the video, it has become a hot topic on social media and has been viewed more than 10 million times.
Concerned about the negative impact on his business, Proven Industries owner Ron Lee attempted to calm the situation by sending threatening messages, including one that said, 'Mr. McNally will face personal retribution.' He also claimed that 'careful preparations had been made to create the metal fragments,' and that the lock could not be opened without lengthy preparation work and precise measurements.
Proven Industries also filed multiple DMCA takedown notices against McNally's videos, alleging that McNally's unauthorized use of promotional videos constituted copyright infringement.
Undaunted by the pressure, McNally uploaded several more videos of himself opening Proven Industries locks, including one in which he cuts an aluminum can freehand to open the lock, directly contradicting Proven Industries' claim that 'preparation is required.'
Proven Industries took the series of events seriously and filed a lawsuit against McNally in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, alleging copyright infringement, implied defamation, false advertising, violation of the Florida Unfair Trade Practices Act, interference with business, unjust enrichment, civil conspiracy, and business interference. The lawsuit was based on a video showing McNally's unlocking technique, in which he did not utter a single word.
Proven Industries argued that McNally's video was intended to humiliate the plaintiff, pointing out that he 'dangled his legs and sipped juice, making opening the plaintiff's lock seem easy and insignificant.'
He also expressed anger, saying that he was being bombarded with harassment from McNally's supporters, which made it difficult for him to continue business, and that personal attacks had also begun on the owner, Lee, and his family.
Judge Mary Scriven, who presided over the case, took a negative view of the claims of 'interference with business' and 'defamation by implication,' pointing out that 'even if criticizing a product may discourage customers from purchasing it, this does not constitute interference with business.'
In addition, the court rejected Proven Industries' claim of copyright infringement, pointing out that 'Mr. McNally's videos are transformative and critical, and therefore considered to be fair use .'
Ultimately, Judge Scriven offered an amicable settlement, saying, 'If all parties truly want this case, we will hear it to the end, but I hope it can be settled without so much procedural effort.' He ordered the parties to amend their complaints if necessary by a deadline. At that deadline, Proven Industries dismissed its lawsuit against McNally.
Ars Technica, which reported on the case, wrote, 'In the end, Proven Industries' lawsuit not only cost the company a lot of time and money, but also generated bad publicity and achieved little.'
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