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TikTok streaming software is an illegal fork of OBS

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Re: TikTok streaming software is an illegal fork of OBS

#491
post #24

So people that have ripped off OBS so far and violated GPL include TikTok, StreamLabs (Logitech), and StreamElements. Any other people I missed?

Hopefully this is high profile enough to incur some consequences. GPL is ironclad on paper, but the sad reality is unscrupulous/international companies can and do just copy code directly off github into their products with no repercussions

Is there an organization that sues on behalf of OpenSource/GPL software? FSF? EFF Maybe?

Re: TikTok streaming software is an illegal fork of OBS

#492

Chinas whole economy is built on illegal copying amd stealing ideas, who is surprised? Not me.

American economy with the likes of youtube and facebook are built on copying and stealing copyrighted video and audio. That's literally how youtube captured all the users: become the go-to place for anyone to upload videos, also spreading copies of music videos.

Facebook captures a lot of video viewers by not controlling video sources either in a similar way.

Re: TikTok streaming software is an illegal fork of OBS

#493

People are misunderstanding this and claiming it's not problematic. Ben Torrell (an OBS developer) notes later in the thread that there is indeed GPL code compiled into TikTok's executables; since source is not available and they have not got another license, it is unlicensed and hence illegal.

To be fair, OP is a garbage tweet and not an explanation of the situation.

Re: TikTok streaming software is an illegal fork of OBS

#494
post #173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The GPL requires that any derivative work of GPL licensed code must also be licensed under the same (or compatible) license as the original GPL'd code. This is the "viral" aspect of the license. It applies even if the only interface between your code and the GPL code is dynamic linking, and not a single line of the GPL'd code is in your application. There are acceptable ways to bundle GPL code with closed source soft…

And why is it important for GPL to be honoured in this case? Like.. what protection is GPL providing here and to whom exactly?

It's important to honor the GPL here because these are the terms that the code was licensed to TikTok under. By violating the terms of the license, TikTok forfeits their right to use the code.

This is intended to protect the freedoms of the whole world, more or less. The GPL is intended to make software free and open for everyone, regardless of what their purpose of using the software for is. Free, Libre, Open Source Software is very valuable at this point, and the GPL generally mandates that you contribute back to the pool of FLOSS if you seek to benefit from it, making FLOSS even more valuable for everyone.

There is nothing forcing a company like TikTok to use GPL'd code in their software. Lord knows they have enough money to engineer a similar solution from the ground up, but they chose to use GPL'd code so they need to play by GPL rules.

Re: TikTok streaming software is an illegal fork of OBS

#496
post #451

China doesn't give a flying f*ck about your software license LOL

LOL neither did Cisco, until they got sued by the FSF

Cisco is an American company that follows American law. Chinese companies don't give a damn about American law, especially intellectual property law.

Re: TikTok streaming software is an illegal fork of OBS

#498

Chinas whole economy is built on illegal copying amd stealing ideas, who is surprised? Not me.

American economy with the likes of youtube and facebook are built on copying and stealing copyrighted video and audio. That's literally how youtube captured all the users: become the go-to place for anyone to upload videos, also spreading copies of music videos. Facebook captures a lot of video viewers by not controlling video sources either in a similar way.

There’s no evidence that they are doing that intentionally or deliberately. Sure some creators do that.

Re: TikTok streaming software is an illegal fork of OBS

#499
post #295

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gatekeeping in the software industry is a surefire way to slow down innovation. Software would stop eating the world, or only take a bite every couple of decades.

Sure because there is no innovation across the engineering fields.

The best of innovators have the same thing to offer regardless of formal credentials.

A big difference is whether or not this is well recognized, and by whom and/or at their own peril.

Re: TikTok streaming software is an illegal fork of OBS

#500

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is not how it works. Courts do not care that it's a beta.

Courts care about "equity" (restoring fairness). So the scope of the breach determines what is a fair remedy to make the plaintiff whole. A breach in a beta release (with lower circulation) would seem to be lower impact than a breach in a production release in that context.

Are you saying this based on actual knowledge of how this stuff works? I ask, because the person you're responding to definitely is (and also I like to keep track of who the lawyers are on HN.)
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