ManyCam: Difference between revisions - Consumer_Action

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ManyCam is a live video streaming software application. ManyCam.com ~~says~~ :

ManyCam is a live video streaming software application owned by [[Paltalk]], formerly known as [[AVM Software]]. ManyCam.com describes the application as:

{{quote | Manycam is an easy-to-use virtual camera and live streaming software that helps you deliver professional live videos on streaming platforms, video conferencing apps, and remote learning tools.}}

{{quote | [Manycam is] an easy-to-use virtual camera and live streaming software that helps you deliver professional live videos on streaming platforms, video conferencing apps, and remote learning tools.}}

== Controversies ==

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=== "Lifetime" Licenses Sold: Bait and Switch ===

Prior to ManyCam's acquisition by [[Paltalk]] in 2022, ManyCam ~~sold customers~~ "Lifetime" licenses ~~under the promise that~~ all future versions and upgrades ~~would be free~~.

Prior to ManyCam's acquisition by [[Paltalk]] in 2022, ManyCam offered "Lifetime" licenses which, for a one time payment, were advertised as including all future versions and upgrades.

The ManyCam website as of March 2022 stated: <ref name="ManyCam Knowledge Base: Will I get all future versions and updates of ManyCam for free?">~~{{cite web |~~https://web.archive.org/web/20220317113659/https://help.manycam.com/knowledge-base/manycam-devices-video-sources/ ~~|title=~~ManyCam Knowledge Base: Will I get all future versions and updates of ManyCam for free?}}</ref>

The ManyCam website as of March 2022 stated that <q> Any paid ManyCam Lifetime subscription allows you to upgrade the ManyCam software for free whenever a newer version of ManyCam is released </q> and that <q>ManyCam Lifetime subscription plans are a one-time payment, no renewal or other fees included</q> <ref name="ManyCam Knowledge Base: Will I get all future versions and updates of ManyCam for free?"> [https://web.archive.org/web/20220317113659/https://help.manycam.com/knowledge-base/manycam-devices-video-sources/ "ManyCam Knowledge Base: Will I get all future versions and updates of ManyCam for free?"] manycam.com via The Internet Archive </ref>

In June 2022, new owner of ManyCam [[Paltalk]] forced customers to upgrade to ManyCam 8 a version of the software with which the lifetime subscription licences did not work {{Citation needed}}.

~~<blockquote>~~

Presumably this was not properly communicated with many customers, as manyt expressed their surprise when their "lifetime" subscription licenses stopped working like they used to. One customer related their experience on the ManyCam Forums in a thread titled '''"Don't Upgrade to ManyCam 8!"''' <ref name="ManyCam Forums: Don't Upgrade to ManyCam 8!">[https://web.archive.org/web/20220705095408/https://forum.manycam.com/t/dont-upgrade-to-manycam-8/6440 "ManyCam Forums: Don't Upgrade to ManyCam 8!"] forum.manycam.com via The Internet Archive</ref>

'''ManyCam ~~Lifetime subscription plans~~'''

Any paid '''ManyCam Lifetime''' subscription allows you to upgrade the ManyCam software for free whenever a newer version of ManyCam is released, i.e. with ManyCam Lifetime, you will get lifetime access to all future versions and updates of the ManyCam application for free, which includes access to the paid ManyCam features available in your subscription plan (Standard, Studio, Premium, Enterprise, Education).

{{Quote box|quote=June 14, 2022, 4:48pm #1

~~ManyCam Lifetime subscription plans are a one-time payment, no renewal or other fees included.~~

~~</blockquote>~~

After June 2022, Paltalk stopped honoring their agreement with customers by forcing an upgrade to ManyCam 8. This caught many customers by surprise when their "lifetime" subscription licenses stopped working like they used to. One customer related their experience on the ManyCam Forums in a thread titled '''"Don't Upgrade to ManyCam 8!"''' <ref name="ManyCam Forums: Don't Upgrade to ManyCam 8!">{{~~cite web |https://web.archive.org/web/20220705095408/https://forum.manycam.com/t/dont-upgrade-to-manycam-8/6440~~

|~~title~~=~~ManyCam Forums: Don't Upgrade to ManyCam 8!}}</ref>~~

~~<blockquote>~~

June 14, 2022, 4:48pm #1

I was testing ManyCam 8 beta and today I have reallized that all my subscriptions DOESN’T WORK WITH ManyCam 8 (and I have 3, standard, studio and premium lifetime all of them). And what is most, there aren’t a lifetime subscription for ManyCam 8.

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Sorry but it seems unacceptable. Very disappointed.

[NAME REDACTED]

-[NAME REDACTED]

~~</blockquote>~~

}}

~~Later, on~~ July 1st 2022, a "Guest Writer" who was posting under the guise of Visicom Media, the previous owner, made a ~~web~~ blog post on the official ManyCam.com website: <ref name="ManyCam Blog: Update for ManyCam Lifetime Subscriptions">~~{{cite web |~~https://web.archive.org/web/20230531011812/https://manycam.com/blog/update-for-manycam-lifetime-subscriptions/

On July 1st 2022, a "Guest Writer" who was posting under the guise of Visicom Media, the previous owner, made a blog post on the official ManyCam.com website: <ref name="ManyCam Blog: Update for ManyCam Lifetime Subscriptions">[ https://web.archive.org/web/20230531011812/https://manycam.com/blog/update-for-manycam-lifetime-subscriptions/ "ManyCam Blog: Update for ManyCam Lifetime Subscriptions"] manycam.com via The Interner Archive</ref>

~~|title=~~ManyCam Blog: Update for ManyCam Lifetime Subscriptions}}</ref>

~~<blockquote>~~

{{Quote box|quote=

ManyCam is now under new ownership. The new owner does not offer Lifetime subscriptions. Some Lifetime customers have been concerned about their ability to use their subscription in the future. The intent was never to interfere with that ability of current Lifetime customers.

Visicom Media stands by the Lifetime customers and will continue to support them by arranging with the new owner for a total of two years of free subscription. This offer can be claimed in the ManyCam account on the webpage. At the user’s request, and upon the expiration of the two-year free subscription, Visicom Media will offer an upgrade to any current Lifetime customers who continue to need such access.

~~</blockquote>~~

}}

As a result of [[Paltalk]]'s actions, many users who relied on this video software throughout the COVID-19 pandemic were caught in a situation where the software was inoperable, despite having paid for a "Lifetime" license.

Another user created a post on their personal web blog, describing the situation:

<ref name="Amazing CTO (Blog): ManyCam dishonored my lifetime license">~~{{cite web |~~https://web.archive.org/web/20230413205720/https://www.amazingcto.com/beware-manycam-licensing-pricing/

<ref name="Amazing CTO (Blog): ManyCam dishonored my lifetime license">[ https://web.archive.org/web/20230413205720/https://www.amazingcto.com/beware-manycam-licensing-pricing/ "ManyCam dishonored my lifetime license"] amazingcto.com via The Internet Archive</ref>

~~|title=Amazing CTO (Blog):~~ ManyCam dishonored my lifetime license}}</ref>

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-ManyCam is a live video streaming software application.  ManyCam.com says :
+ManyCam is a live video streaming software application owned by [[Paltalk]], formerly known as [[AVM Software]].  ManyCam.com describes the application as:
-{{quote | Manycam is an easy-to-use virtual camera and live streaming software that helps you deliver professional live videos on streaming platforms, video conferencing apps, and remote learning tools.}}
+{{quote | [Manycam is] an easy-to-use virtual camera and live streaming software that helps you deliver professional live videos on streaming platforms, video conferencing apps, and remote learning tools.}}
 == Controversies ==
@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 === "Lifetime" Licenses Sold: Bait and Switch ===
-Prior to ManyCam's acquisition by [[Paltalk]] in 2022, ManyCam sold customers "Lifetime" licenses under the promise that all future versions and upgrades would be free.
+Prior to ManyCam's acquisition by [[Paltalk]] in 2022, ManyCam offered "Lifetime" licenses which, for a one time payment, were advertised as including all future versions and upgrades.
-The ManyCam website as of March 2022 stated: <ref name="ManyCam Knowledge Base: Will I get all future versions and updates of ManyCam for free?">{{cite web |https://web.archive.org/web/20220317113659/https://help.manycam.com/knowledge-base/manycam-devices-video-sources/ |title=ManyCam Knowledge Base: Will I get all future versions and updates of ManyCam for free?}}</ref>
+The ManyCam website as of March 2022 stated that <q> Any paid ManyCam Lifetime subscription allows you to upgrade the ManyCam software for free whenever a newer version of ManyCam is released </q> and that <q>ManyCam Lifetime subscription plans are a one-time payment, no renewal or other fees included</q> <ref name="ManyCam Knowledge Base: Will I get all future versions and updates of ManyCam for free?"> [https://web.archive.org/web/20220317113659/https://help.manycam.com/knowledge-base/manycam-devices-video-sources/ "ManyCam Knowledge Base: Will I get all future versions and updates of ManyCam for free?"] manycam.com via The Internet Archive </ref>
+In June 2022, new owner of ManyCam [[Paltalk]] forced customers to upgrade to ManyCam 8 a version of the software with which the lifetime subscription licences did not work {{Citation needed}}.
-<blockquote>
+Presumably this was not properly communicated with many customers, as manyt expressed their surprise when their "lifetime" subscription licenses stopped working like they used to.  One customer related their experience on the ManyCam Forums in a thread titled '''"Don't Upgrade to ManyCam 8!"''' <ref name="ManyCam Forums: Don't Upgrade to ManyCam 8!">[https://web.archive.org/web/20220705095408/https://forum.manycam.com/t/dont-upgrade-to-manycam-8/6440 "ManyCam Forums: Don't Upgrade to ManyCam 8!"] forum.manycam.com via The Internet Archive</ref>
-'''ManyCam Lifetime subscription plans'''
-Any paid '''ManyCam Lifetime''' subscription allows you to upgrade the ManyCam software for free whenever a newer version of ManyCam is released, i.e. with ManyCam Lifetime, you will get lifetime access to all future versions and updates of the ManyCam application for free, which includes access to the paid ManyCam features available in your subscription plan (Standard, Studio, Premium, Enterprise, Education).
+{{Quote box|quote=June 14, 2022, 4:48pm #1
-ManyCam Lifetime subscription plans are a one-time payment, no renewal or other fees included.
-</blockquote>
-After June 2022, Paltalk stopped honoring their agreement with customers by forcing an upgrade to ManyCam 8.  This caught many customers by surprise when their "lifetime" subscription licenses stopped working like they used to.  One customer related their experience on the ManyCam Forums in a thread titled '''"Don't Upgrade to ManyCam 8!"''' <ref name="ManyCam Forums: Don't Upgrade to ManyCam 8!">{{cite web |https://web.archive.org/web/20220705095408/https://forum.manycam.com/t/dont-upgrade-to-manycam-8/6440
- |title=ManyCam Forums: Don't Upgrade to ManyCam 8!}}</ref>
-<blockquote>
-June 14, 2022, 4:48pm #1
 I was testing ManyCam 8 beta and today I have reallized that all my subscriptions DOESN’T WORK WITH ManyCam 8 (and I have 3, standard, studio and premium lifetime all of them). And what is most, there aren’t a lifetime subscription for ManyCam 8.
@@ Line 31: / Line 22: @@
 Sorry but it seems unacceptable. Very disappointed.
-[NAME REDACTED]
+-[NAME REDACTED]
-</blockquote>
+}}
-Later, on July 1st 2022, a "Guest Writer" who was posting under the guise of Visicom Media, the previous owner, made a web blog post on the official ManyCam.com website: <ref name="ManyCam Blog: Update for ManyCam Lifetime Subscriptions">{{cite web |https://web.archive.org/web/20230531011812/https://manycam.com/blog/update-for-manycam-lifetime-subscriptions/
+On July 1st 2022, a "Guest Writer" who was posting under the guise of Visicom Media, the previous owner, made a blog post on the official ManyCam.com website: <ref name="ManyCam Blog: Update for ManyCam Lifetime Subscriptions">[ https://web.archive.org/web/20230531011812/https://manycam.com/blog/update-for-manycam-lifetime-subscriptions/ "ManyCam Blog: Update for ManyCam Lifetime Subscriptions"] manycam.com via The Interner Archive</ref>
- |title=ManyCam Blog: Update for ManyCam Lifetime Subscriptions}}</ref>
-<blockquote>
+{{Quote box|quote=
 ManyCam is now under new ownership. The new owner does not offer Lifetime subscriptions. Some Lifetime customers have been concerned about their ability to use their subscription in the future. The intent was never to interfere with that ability of current Lifetime customers.
 Visicom Media stands by the Lifetime customers and will continue to support them by arranging with the new owner for a total of two years of free subscription. This offer can be claimed in the ManyCam account on the webpage. At the user’s request, and upon the expiration of the two-year free subscription, Visicom Media will offer an upgrade to any current Lifetime customers who continue to need such access.
-</blockquote>
+}}
 As a result of [[Paltalk]]'s actions, many users who relied on this video software throughout the COVID-19 pandemic were caught in a situation where the software was inoperable, despite having paid for a "Lifetime" license.
 Another user created a post on their personal web blog, describing the situation:
-<ref name="Amazing CTO (Blog): ManyCam dishonored my lifetime license">{{cite web |https://web.archive.org/web/20230413205720/https://www.amazingcto.com/beware-manycam-licensing-pricing/
+<ref name="Amazing CTO (Blog): ManyCam dishonored my lifetime license">[ https://web.archive.org/web/20230413205720/https://www.amazingcto.com/beware-manycam-licensing-pricing/ "ManyCam dishonored my lifetime license"] amazingcto.com via The Internet Archive</ref>
- |title=Amazing CTO (Blog): ManyCam dishonored my lifetime license}}</ref>
 <blockquote>