Filmora lifetime licenses terminated: Difference between revisions

 

'''[[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.  

'''Filmora''' is a video editing software designed for content creators and videographers. The software initially offered lifetime licenses, which were priced at $59.99, $20 more than the $39.99/year subscription.<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> That meant that the lifetime license was cheaper than going for the yearly subscription twice.

 

In 2022, Wondershare altered its licensing terms, effectively invalidating the lifetime nature of these licenses. Instead of providing continuous updates, Wondershare restricted major upgrades (e.g., from Filmora 9 to Filmora 10) to users with subscription-based plans or those willing to pay an additional upgrade fee. This decision led to a significant backlash from customers who had purchased a lifetime license, believing they were entitled to all future versions at no extra cost.

 

Wondershare initially justified the change by claiming that the lifetime license only covered updates within the same major version (e.g., all updates within Filmora 9.x but not Filmora 10). However, this contradicted the original understanding many users had when purchasing the product.

===Wondershare's response===

The company directly addressed the users of the lifetime license users, putting out a statement with a public apology for the caused confusion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 Dec 2022 |title=Wondershare FINALLY makes things right for their old lifetime license users!! |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Filmora/comments/zzwczm/wondershare_finally_makes_things_right_for_their/ |archive-date= |access-date=1 Mar 2025 |via=Reddit}}</ref> In that same statement, two compensation options are offered. Customers get a free upgrade to the latest version, but it does not state about future updates. By the specific language used, in this case "upgrade", the earlier lifetime updating does not seem applicable anymore after this. In the case that customers had already payed, they could get a full refund if they responded within a month, otherwise the company assumes they opt for getting additional software (priced at $99) as a way of compensation.

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>

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[[Category:Filmora]]

[[Category:Articles based on videos]]