Streamlabs Rebrands After Twitch & Open Source Criticism

Streamlabs Faces Criticism from Twitch Community and OBS Project

A leading developer of streaming software is currently facing significant scrutiny following accusations from prominent Twitch streamers and the open-source initiative that initially supported its development.

Streamlabs, previously known as Streamlabs OBS, altered its branding on Wednesday in response to widespread criticism on Twitter regarding questionable business practices. The OBS Project, which stands for Open Broadcaster Software, originally supplied the open-source technical foundation for Streamlabs’ operations.

Origins of the Dispute

Despite Streamlabs’ inclusion of “OBS” in its name, a harmonious relationship between the company and the open-source project never materialized. The OBS Project had previously requested that Streamlabs refrain from using “OBS” in its branding upon initial launch.

This request was disregarded by Streamlabs, a decision that potentially misled many users into believing a close affiliation existed between the two entities. Further complicating the situation, Logitech acquired Streamlabs in 2019 for a sum of $89 million.

Allegations of Copying and Misrepresentation

The current controversy was ignited by the launch of Streamlabs Studio for Xbox, a new console Twitch streaming tool. Lightstream, a competing livestreaming software provider, brought attention to the remarkable similarities between Streamlabs’ promotional webpage for the new tool and its own.

Specifically, the user testimonials presented on both webpages were found to be word-for-word identical. Elgato, a manufacturer of capture cards, also contributed to the discussion on Twitter, indicating that they had experienced similar instances of product replication by Streamlabs.

Response from Twitch Streamers

Several highly influential Twitch streamers quickly voiced their concerns. These included Hasan Piker, a political commentator, and Pokimane (Imane Anys), one of the platform’s most popular personalities.

Pokimane publicly stated that Streamlabs must address the issues raised or she would remove her endorsement and seek an alternative donation platform. Within 24 hours, Streamlabs announced its intention to “immediately remove OBS from our name.”

The situation highlights the importance of transparency and ethical conduct within the streaming software industry.