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, | '''[[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. | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
'' | '''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. | ||
== | ==Terminating lifetime licenses== | ||
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. | |||
==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> | |||
=== | 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== | |||
=== | *'''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> | ||
''The | *'''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. 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== | ||
<references /> | |||
[ | [[Category:Filmora]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Articles based on videos]] | ||
Latest revision as of 18:48, 17 May 2025
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.
Background[edit | edit source]
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.[1] That meant that the lifetime license was cheaper than going for the yearly subscription twice.
Terminating lifetime licenses[edit | edit source]
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.
[edit | edit source]
The company directly addressed the users of the lifetime license users, putting out a statement with a public apology for the caused confusion.[2] 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.
Lawsuit[edit | edit source]
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.[3][4] The court order established a 90-day window for settlement negotiations, and the case was dismissed subject to settlement consummation.[5]
The complaint alleged that Wondershare engaged in "misleading, false, unfair, and deceptive" practices, with customers seeking refunds and damages.[6]
Consumer response[edit | edit source]
- 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.[7]
- 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.[8]
- 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.[9]
See Also[edit | edit source]
- Daniel Batal's coverage:
- Batal, Daniel (22 Dec 2022). "Filmora Just CANCELLED our Lifetime Licenses" – via YouTube.
- Batal, Daniel (31 Dec 2022). "Filmora Told YouTube To Remove My Video" – via YouTube.
- Batal, Daniel (2 Jan 2023). "Filmora Buckles Under Public Pressure! (but issues a threat)" – via YouTube.
- Louis Rossmann's coverage:
- Rossmann, Louis (2 Jan 2023). "Filmora/Wondershare is a bad company for more reasons than you think" – via YouTube.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Smith, Ernie (3 Jan 2023). "Filmora lifetime license controvery". MidRange. Retrieved 1 Mar 2025.
- ↑ "Wondershare FINALLY makes things right for their old lifetime license users!!". 31 Dec 2022. Retrieved 1 Mar 2025 – via Reddit.
- ↑ McCroskey, Kelsey (26 February 2024). "Wondershare Hit with Lawsuit Over Alleged Subscription Auto-Renewal Practices". ClassAction.org. Retrieved 1 Mar 2025.
- ↑ https://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/cacdce/2:2024cv01314/915366
- ↑ https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/cacdce/2:2024cv01314/915366/42
- ↑ "Plaintiff Sues Software Editing Firm for Violating Calif. Automatic Renewal Law". Communications Litigation Today. 21 Feb 2024. Retrieved 1 Mar 2025.
- ↑ "Changing Rules of Lifetime Licenses Might Be Illegal". NoFilmSchool.com. 30 Jan 2023. Retrieved 1 Mar 2025.
- ↑ Smith, Ernie (3 Jan 2023). "Filmora lifetime license controvery". MidRange. Retrieved 1 Mar 2025.
- ↑ "Class Action Accuses Wondershare of Allegedly Misleading Customers into Auto-Renewal for Filmora". SoCal Record. 26 Feb 2024. Retrieved 1 Mar 2025.