ManyCam: Difference between revisions
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ManyCam is a live video streaming software application owned by [[Paltalk]], formerly known as [[AVM Software]]. | ManyCam is a live video-streaming software application owned by [[Paltalk]], formerly known as [[AVM Software]]. ManyCam.com describes the application as | ||
<blockquote>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.</blockquote> | |||
== Controversies == | == Controversies == | ||
=== | === Lifetime licenses === | ||
Prior to ManyCam's acquisition by [[Paltalk]] in 2022, ManyCam offered | Prior to ManyCam's acquisition by [[Paltalk]] in 2022, ManyCam offered lifetime licenses which were advertised as including all future versions and upgrades for a one-time payment. | ||
The ManyCam website | The ManyCam website prior to 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> | ||
After acquiring ManyCam in June 2022, Paltalk released an update out for customers to upgrade to ManyCam 8.0.0, a version of the software with which the lifetime licenses did not work. <ref name="ManyCam Forum: Activation many cam 8 and many cam lite - 2022-07-05"> [https://web.archive.org/web/20220705084722/https://forum.manycam.com/t/activation-many-cam-8-and-many-cam-lite/6448 "ManyCam Forum: Activation many cam 8 and many cam lite"] manycam.com via The Internet Archive on July 5th, 2022</ref> | |||
ManyCam 7 was configured by default to notify users of any new versions available for upgrades under the "lifetime" license. | |||
[[File:ManyCam 7 Lifetime Studio notifies of updates by default.png|alt=A screenshot of ManyCam 7 with Lifetime Studio with default settings. The "Notify me about new ManyCam versions" setting is enabled by default.|thumb|A screenshot of ManyCam 7 Lifetime Studio with default settings. The "Notify me about new ManyCam versions" setting is enabled by default.]] | [[File:ManyCam 7 Lifetime Studio notifies of updates by default.png|alt=A screenshot of ManyCam 7 with Lifetime Studio with default settings. The "Notify me about new ManyCam versions" setting is enabled by default.|thumb|A screenshot of ManyCam 7 Lifetime Studio with default settings. The "Notify me about new ManyCam versions" setting is enabled by default.]] | ||
Many users followed the usual upgrade path to ManyCam 8, and were unable to activate their "lifetime" license as usual. One user posted: <ref name="ManyCam Forum: Activation many cam 8 and many cam lite - 2022-07-05" /><blockquote> | Many users followed the usual upgrade path to ManyCam 8, and were unable to activate their "lifetime" license as usual. One user posted: <ref name="ManyCam Forum: Activation many cam 8 and many cam lite - 2022-07-05" /><blockquote> | ||
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Presumably this was not properly communicated with many customers, as many expressed their surprise when their | Presumably this was not properly communicated with many customers, as many expressed their surprise when their lifetime 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! - 2022-07-05">[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 on July 5th, 2022</ref> | ||
{{Quote box|quote=June 14, 2022, 4:48pm #1 | {{Quote box|quote=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. | I was testing ManyCam 8 beta and today I have reallized [sic] that all my subscriptions DOESN’T [sic] WORK WITH ManyCam 8 (and I have 3, standard, studio and premium lifetime all of them). And what is most, there aren’t [sic] a lifetime subscription for ManyCam 8. | ||
So, why do you offer me a “lifetime” subscription if it doesn’t work with new versions. | So, why do you offer me a “lifetime” subscription if it doesn’t work with new versions. | ||
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}} | }} | ||
As a result of | 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: | Another user created a post on their personal web blog, describing the situation: | ||
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</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
As is evident from the above posts, many customers were unhappy about being placed in the situation that | As is evident from the above posts, many customers were unhappy about being placed in the situation that Paltalk put them in, and felt that [[Paltalk]] was being dishonest because their actions constituted a classic [[bait and switch|bait-and-switch]] tactic. Other users agreed with this assessment, saying that they were "'disgusted'": <ref name="ManyCam Forums: Lifetime Sub no longer valid">[https://web.archive.org/web/20231024221248/https://forum.manycam.com/t/lifetime-sub-no-longer-valid-manycam-8/6456 "ManyCam Forums: Lifetime Sub no longer valid"] forum.manycam.com via The Internet Archive</ref> | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
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</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
Paying customers were driven away from ManyCam | Paying customers were driven away from ManyCam because of Paltalk's actions. Understandably, those paying customers were very unhappy when their "lifetime" license no longer worked, as it had for all other versions prior to ManyCam version 8. One customer related their experiences with previous upgrades to compare and contrast with the new situation and highlight their perception of the company's dishonest behavior: <ref name="ManyCam Forums: Lifetime Sub no longer valid"></ref> | ||
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Another customer agreed with the "AmazingCTO"'s assessment and proposal that | Another customer agreed with the "AmazingCTO"'s assessment and proposal that Paltalk should honor their previous customers' Lifetime licenses by grandfathering them in: <ref name="ManyCam Forums: Lifetime Sub no longer valid"></ref> | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
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</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
Indeed, most human beings would concur that a "lifetime" is a span of time much greater than one year. As such, these customers perceived | Indeed, most human beings would concur that a "lifetime" is a span of time much greater than one year. As such, these customers perceived Paltalk to be disingenuous by not honoring the "lifetime" license agreement. | ||
Later, on around June | Later, on around June 18, 2022, Paltalk modified the ManyCam Knowledge Base webpage to change the stated terms regarding the ManyCam Lifetime subscription plans (emphasis added on):<ref name="ManyCam Knowledge Base (Modified by Paltalk): Will I get all future versions and updates of ManyCam for free?">[https://web.archive.org/web/20220618021632/https://help.manycam.com/knowledge-base/manycam-devices-video-sources/ " Will I get all future versions and updates of ManyCam for free?"] manycam.com via The Internet Archive ''After being aquired by Patatalk'' </ref> | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||