Filmora lifetime licenses terminated: Difference between revisions
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'''[[Wondershare]]''', the company behind '''[[Filmora]]''', changed its licensing policy, causing controversy among users. Originally, lifetime licenses promised unlimited access to future updates. However, Wondershare later restricted these licenses, requiring users to pay for major updates instead. | '''[[Wondershare]]''', the company behind '''[[Filmora]]''', changed its licensing policy, causing controversy among users. Originally, lifetime licenses promised unlimited access to future updates. However, Wondershare later restricted these licenses, requiring users to pay for major updates instead. | ||
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==Lawsuit== | ==Lawsuit== | ||
In February 2024, there was a related [[class action]] lawsuit filed, alleging that Wondershare lures consumers into automatically renewing subscriptions without making proper disclosures or obtaining customer consent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCroskey |first=Kelsey |date=26 February 2024 |title=Wondershare Hit with Lawsuit Over Alleged Subscription Auto-Renewal Practices |url=https://www.classaction.org/news/wondershare-hit-with-lawsuit-over-alleged-subscription-auto-renewal-practices |access-date=1 Mar 2025 |website=ClassAction.org}}</ref><ref>https://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/cacdce/2:2024cv01314/915366</ref> The court order established a 90-day window for settlement negotiations, and the case was dismissed subject to settlement consummation.<ref>https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/cacdce/2:2024cv01314/915366/42</ref> | In February 2024, there was a related [[class action]] lawsuit filed, alleging that Wondershare lures consumers into automatically renewing subscriptions without making proper disclosures or obtaining customer consent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCroskey |first=Kelsey |date=26 February 2024 |title=Wondershare Hit with Lawsuit Over Alleged Subscription Auto-Renewal Practices |url=https://www.classaction.org/news/wondershare-hit-with-lawsuit-over-alleged-subscription-auto-renewal-practices |access-date=1 Mar 2025 |website=ClassAction.org}}</ref><ref>https://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/cacdce/2:2024cv01314/915366</ref> The court order established a 90-day window for settlement negotiations, and the case was dismissed subject to settlement consummation.<ref>https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/cacdce/2:2024cv01314/915366/42</ref> | ||
The complaint alleged that Wondershare engaged in "misleading, false, unfair, and deceptive" practices, with customers seeking refunds and damages.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Feb 2024 |title=Plaintiff Sues Software Editing Firm for Violating Calif. Automatic Renewal Law |url=https://communicationslitigationtoday.com/article/2024/02/21/plaintiff-sues-software-editing-firm-for-violating-calif-automatic-renewal-law-2402200028 |access-date=1 Mar 2025 |website=Communications Litigation Today}}</ref> | |||
==Consumer response== | ==Consumer response== | ||
*'''Deceptive Advertising:''' Numerous users accused Wondershare of false advertising regarding the lifetime licenses. | *'''Deceptive Advertising:''' Numerous users accused Wondershare of false advertising regarding the lifetime licenses. Industry reporting indicated a widely held view that Wondershare's marketing had been unclear about license limitations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 Jan 2023 |title=Changing Rules of Lifetime Licenses Might Be Illegal |url=https://nofilmschool.com/lifetime-licenses-need-to-knows |access-date=1 Mar 2025 |website=NoFilmSchool.com}}</ref> | ||
*'''Erosion of Trust:''' Previous trust in Wondershare's products evaporated, leaving customers wary of future purchases from the company. | *'''Erosion of Trust:''' Previous trust in Wondershare's products evaporated, leaving customers wary of future purchases from the company. The blogger Ernie Smith described the license switch as "sneaky" in his coverage of the controversy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Ernie |date=3 Jan 2023 |title=Filmora lifetime license controvery |url=https://midrange.tedium.co/issues/filmora-lifetime-license-controversy/ |access-date=1 Mar 2025 |website=MidRange}}</ref> | ||
*'''Refund Requests:''' There was a significant demand for refunds from those who held "lifetime" licenses, claiming the product did not meet the expectations set by its marketing. | *'''Refund Requests:''' There was a significant demand for refunds from those who held "lifetime" licenses, claiming the product did not meet the expectations set by its marketing. Allegations from the class action lawsuit that Wondershare had been "luring" and "trapping" customers with deceptive license and subscription practices raised the profile of, and contributed to, this demand.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 Feb 2024 |title=Class Action Accuses Wondershare of Allegedly Misleading Customers into Auto-Renewal for Filmora |url=https://socalrecord.com/stories/654977105-class-action-accuses-wondershare-of-allegedly-misleading-customers-into-auto-renewal-for-filmora |access-date=1 Mar 2025 |website=SoCal Record}}</ref> | ||
==See Also== | |||
*'''Daniel Batal's coverage:''' | |||
**{{Cite web |last=Batal |first=Daniel |date=22 Dec 2022 |title=Filmora Just CANCELLED our Lifetime Licenses. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm90xW40c3A |via=YouTube |ref=Batal-video-1}} | |||
**{{Cite web |last=Batal |first=Daniel |date=31 Dec 2022 |title=Filmora Told YouTube To Remove My Video. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMIIwQZMFLE |via=YouTube |ref=Batal-video-2}} | |||
**{{Cite web |last=Batal |first=Daniel |date=2 Jan 2023 |title=Filmora Buckles Under Public Pressure! (but issues a threat) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy1HiWGchMg |via=YouTube |ref=Batal-video-3}} | |||
*'''Louis Rossmann's coverage:''' | |||
**{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2 Jan 2023 |title=Filmora/Wondershare is a bad company for more reasons than you think |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKX0LjGBBqo |via=YouTube}} | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||