Hey folks, let’s talk about something pretty controversial in the streaming world: TikTok’s streaming software. If you’re into streaming or follow tech news, you might have heard the buzz about TikTok Live Studio allegedly being an illegal fork of the popular open-source software OBS (Open Broadcaster Software). This drama has been brewing for a while, and I’m here to break it down for you.
So, what’s the deal? Back in late 2021, TikTok released a beta version of TikTok Live Studio, a new software for streaming directly to TikTok from your PC. Sounds cool, right? Well, it turns out that TikTok didn’t play by the rules. OBS, which is a free and open-source software, has a license that allows its use and modification as long as certain conditions are met. TikTok, however, allegedly used OBS code without following these rules.
The Allegations
OBS is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), which means anyone can use and modify the software, but they must keep the same license and share their changes publicly. This keeps things transparent and fair. But when TikTok Live Studio hit the scene, some sharp-eyed developers noticed something fishy. They reverse-engineered TikTok’s software and found that it was using OBS code without proper attribution or sharing the modified source code. Not cool, TikTok!
Community Reaction
The OBS team and the open-source community were understandably upset. One notable tweet by @Naaackers brought this issue to light, saying, “Remember yesterday’s news about TikTok releasing a go live platform? Turns out it’s a fork of @OBSProject. STOP STEALING FROM OBS JESUS.” This sparked a lot of discussions and criticism from the community. The gist was that TikTok was benefiting from OBS’s hard work without giving back.
Legal and Ethical Issues
Technically, using parts of OBS code isn’t illegal if you follow the GPL’s rules. But TikTok didn’t do that, making their actions legally and ethically questionable. The GPL requires users to credit the original creators and share any modifications. By not doing this, TikTok violated the license, which is a big no-no in the open-source world.
Ben Torell, an OBS developer, mentioned that TikTok wasn’t just a fork but was using OBS code under the hood without being a full fork. Still, the GPL applies, and TikTok needed to comply. The OBS team expressed a willingness to resolve the issue amicably if TikTok adhered to the license.
Why It Matters
Why should you care? Well, this isn’t just about legal mumbo-jumbo. It’s about respecting the open-source community. Projects like OBS thrive because people contribute and share openly. When big companies like TikTok (or Bytedance, their parent company) ignore these rules, it undermines the whole ecosystem.
For streamers, this also means that the software they rely on might be compromised. If TikTok isn’t following the rules with OBS, what else are they cutting corners on? It’s a matter of trust and integrity in the tech world.
In the end, TikTok’s move to use OBS code without proper compliance was a major misstep. The open-source community has rules for a reason, and respecting these rules ensures everyone benefits fairly. So next time you fire up your streaming software, give a nod to the folks behind OBS who make it all possible and remember the importance of playing fair in the world of tech.
