TikTok accused of "violating" OBS-related GPL agreements? Or get caught up in controversy over the new Live Studio streaming app

According to THEVERGE, the code for the new Live Studio Windows app released by TikTok late last week "doesn't comply with the terms of their respective open source licenses" because it uses apps from the Open Broadcaster Software project OBS Studio and other open source projects. ”, while being accused on Twitter.

On December 16, many users posted screenshots of suspected Live Studio code on Twitter, which also attracted a lot of attention on Twitter.

The programmer who originally took the screenshots claimed that the app was "an illegal OBS fork" and stated that "TikTok used OBS and then installed its own user interface on top of it."

Another Twitter user pointed out, "If TikTok does use OBS' code, the platform needs to release the source code under the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2. If TikTok fails to do so, OBS may take a Platform to take legal action”.

On December 17, Ben Torell, a related business developer at OBS, replied to this tweet with permission. Considering OBS's openness to working with TikTok, Torell tweeted: "We are committed to dealing with GPL violations in good faith, and for TikTok/ByteDance, as long as they comply with the license, we are happy to establish a friendly relationship with them. Working relations."

Meanwhile, Torell confirmed that its team found "clear evidence" of these breaches when contacted through the protocol. Torell said it had reached out to TikTok but has yet to receive a response.

It is reported that TikTok’s low-key release of the Live Studio application last week is a Windows-based application designed to help users create high-quality live streams.

TikTok has reportedly "quietly" tested Live Studio with a small group of users a few days ago. In its current state, Live Studio appears to be an "original bare-metal" streaming software that allows users to broadcast live through cameras, mobile phones, games, and programs. According to TikTok, the app is currently only available to thousands of users in a few markets.

OBS Studio is a popular app used by many live streamers. Many companies, including Reddit, also use OBS Studio Code to build their own livestreaming software. Under the terms of the GPL released by OBS Studio, these companies must also disclose any modified source code under the same license.

Just last month, OBS was embroiled in a "dispute" with Streamlabs, which also unfolded on Twitter. The cause of the incident: OBS admitted that it did not allow Streamlabs to use OBS on its own behalf, but Streamlabs used it anyway. Streamlabs then finally agreed to drop "OBS" from its name as popular streamers such as Pokimane "threatened" to stop using and promoting Streamlabs.

As we all know, if the project or code is open source, and if done properly, these kinds of breaches usually don't cause problems. OBS is also open source, but here, TikTok may have been suspected of failing to comply with OBS' licensing requirements, so it has attracted a lot of attention.

Of course, for this incident, Torell also said on Twitter that OBS software is trying to avoid legal conflicts. Therefore, we will continue to pay attention to the follow-up of this incident, and we also look forward to the follow-up news of friendly cooperation between the two companies.