Streamlabs has promised to take away “OBS” from the title of its livestreaming software program, Streamlabs OBS, following backlash from streamers and the open-source livestreaming platform OBS Studio. OBS Studio says it requested Streamlabs to not use its title, which stands for “Open Broadcaster Software program,” solely to have the corporate accomplish that anyway. Streamlabs has additionally been accused of copying the web site of one other broadcasting software program, with all of the drama hashed out on Twitter.
The controversy began when Lightstream, one other livestreaming app maker, tweeted out screenshots of its web site proper beside Streamlabs’, saying, “Hey, can I copy your homework?” suggesting that Streamlabs copied Lightstream. Stu Grubbs, the CEO of Lightstream, later retweeted the image, stating, “The workforce at @streamlabs needs to be ashamed. Not glad sufficient to trip @OBSProject’s laborious work.”
We’re typically confronted with confused customers and even corporations who don’t perceive the distinction between the 2 apps.
Help volunteers are generally met with indignant customers demanding refunds. We have had interactions with a number of corporations who didn’t understand our apps have been separate.
— OBS (@OBSProject) November 17, 2021
Following Grubbs’ tweet, OBS acquired in on the motion — in a reply to Grubb, OBS alleges that Streamlabs’ title has confirmed problematic for the model. OBS says that prospects and different corporations have confused OBS and Streamlabs as a result of “OBS” abbreviation that Streamlabs tacks on its title.
OBS additionally claims it was approached by Streamlabs when the service first launched and requested if it might use “OBS” in its title. OBS says it “kindly requested them to not,” however Streamlabs nonetheless used the title anyway. “We’ve tried to kind this out in non-public and so they have been uncooperative at each flip,” OBS’s tweet says. OBS acknowledges that Streamlabs did every thing proper legally however as a substitute “repeatedly disregarded the spirit of open supply and of giving again.”
streamlabs higher resolve this complete thread of points or i’ll be asking them to take my face off the platform + look to make use of one other donation service. https://t.co/jfJoxIvc0y
— imane (@imane) November 17, 2021
Widespread streamers shortly caught onto the drama. Pokimane, one of the crucial well-known personalities on Twitch, threatened to cease representing and utilizing the platform if Streamlabs doesn’t resolve the difficulty.
Streamlabs later responded to the accusations in a tweet, stating that it’s going to take quick motion to take away “OBS” from its product title. It additionally notes that “Streamlabs OBS is constructed on high of the OBS open-source platform” and that its personal platform can be open-source. To me, this simply looks like Streamlabs’ weak justification for utilizing the title.
Streamlabs was probably confronted with no selection however to vary its title, particularly when a Twitch streamer with over 8 million followers threatens to cease representing the service. The complete drama does make you marvel if Streamlabs deliberately put OBS in its title to draw folks to its service. In spite of everything, mainly everybody on the planet of streaming is aware of OBS.
