The OBS project has accused Streamlabs of copying their name and trademark
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Re: The OBS project has accused Streamlabs of copying their name and trademark
#2This is why it is important to trademark names in your FOSS projects
Re: The OBS project has accused Streamlabs of copying their name and trademark
#3This is why it is important to trademark names in your FOSS projects
For example, when someone would bundle OBS with a virus and create a fake website with OBS logo and everything, one could sue them for c̶o̶p̶y̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ trademark infringement. They would still be allowed to do that with FOSS software, but would need to create their own reputation.
Edit: Not copyright -> trademark
Re: The OBS project has accused Streamlabs of copying their name and trademark
#4This is why it is important to trademark names in your FOSS projects
For example, when someone would bundle OBS with a virus and create a fake website with OBS logo and everything, one could sue them for c̶o̶p̶y̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ trademark infringement. They would still be allowed to do that with FOSS software, but would need to create their own reputation. Edit: Not copyright -> trademark
I think you mean suing for trademark infringement (because FOSS has permissive copyright), or am I just confused?
Re: The OBS project has accused Streamlabs of copying their name and trademark
#5Earlier quoted context omitted.
For example, when someone would bundle OBS with a virus and create a fake website with OBS logo and everything, one could sue them for c̶o̶p̶y̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ trademark infringement. They would still be allowed to do that with FOSS software, but would need to create their own reputation. Edit: Not copyright -> trademark
I think you mean suing for trademark infringement (because FOSS has permissive copyright), or am I just confused?
Yes thanks, I fixed it :)
Re: The OBS project has accused Streamlabs of copying their name and trademark
#6This is why it is important to trademark names in your FOSS projects
Very few non-corporate FOSS projects would have the funds to file a trademark, especially an international one considering one can be infringed from anywhere around the world. And time spent on filing would be time not advancing the actual project, unless a lawyer is hired, which makes it even more expensive.
Even fewer would have the resources to actually pursue legal action if the trademark is infringed upon.
This is probably not a realistic suggestion for all but a few hundred projects.
Re: The OBS project has accused Streamlabs of copying their name and trademark
#7Streamlabs is also almost exactly copying pages from the OBS project website:
https://twitter.com/StuV2/status/1460710778462482440
Nearly identical titles, nearly identical general page layout, similar graphics.
They even verbatim copied the user testimonial text.
My guess is that they're going to Google Adwords themselves to the top of every relevant google search, and trick even people who have been to the correct OBS Project site into thinking "oh yeah, this is it, I'm in the right place!" and downloading streamlabs-obs.
The OBS pages are copyrighted, so it seems to me like OBS Project should be able to hit Streamlabs' web providers with some DMCA complaints.
Re: The OBS project has accused Streamlabs of copying their name and trademark
#8This is kind of an amazing implosion all at once on Twitter. The OBS Project accused Streamlabs of this after another streaming company, Lightstream, noted that Streamlabs had copy-and-pasted a marketing page from their product to use for Streamlabs' product, down to word-for-word copies of the "user" recommendations.
https://twitter.com/Lightstream/status/1460709404609757185
And, also in that thread, El Gato -- makers of the hardware Stream Deck -- chimed in with a wry "know that feel," showing that "Streamlabs Stream Deck" was, let's say, strongly reminiscent of their product.
Re: The OBS project has accused Streamlabs of copying their name and trademark
#9Streamlabs is also almost exactly copying pages from the OBS project website: https://twitter.com/StuV2/status/1460710778462482440 Nearly identical titles, nearly identical general page layout, similar graphics. They even verbatim copied the user testimonial text. My guess is that they're going to Google Adwords themselves to the top of every relevant google search, and trick even people who have been to the correct…
That site have nothing to do with OBS really that is a separate project.
Re: The OBS project has accused Streamlabs of copying their name and trademark
#10This is why it is important to trademark names in your FOSS projects
It’s not that easy, it only takes a few overzealous lawyers to end up with the drama we had with Firefox and Iceweazel.
The point of open source is that you can modify it. But can you modify it and still call it the same name? If so, how much can you modify it?