Hall of shame: Fake LosslessCut clones 👎

[mifi]

Apparently this is a problem with a lot of open source projects like OBS Studio, Avidemux, Captura, PhotoDemon etc.

I'm not really surprised because LosslessCut is open source so everyone is legally allowed to do almost whatever they want with it. However it could be illegal is if they removed copyright notices etc, but I don't always bothered to purchase it to check. Ethically I'm still a bit puzzled by why people would do this, and why Microsoft Store allows such blatant copies of existing software in the store (or outside), even with the same name! To me this seems like the quality of the Microsoft Store and its approval process is quite low and I don't even know if users can even trust the apps found in their store. This seems like a stark contrast against the Apple Store which is known to have very strict verification and approval requirements.

I just want to make it clear that I did not create any of these clones, and who knows what code they put into them. The original LosslessCut is still located here and will always be sourced directly from the code here on github by me (after being well tested.) I will probably update readme to state this.

Store Policies state:

10.1.1 - All aspects of your product should accurately describe the functions, features and any important limitations of your product, including required or supported input devices. The value proposition of your product must be clear during the first run experience. Your product may not use a name or icon similar to that of other products, and may not claim to be from a company, government body, or other entity if you do not have permission to make that representation. Products submitted as web apps must be published by the domain or website owner.

Source code availability

LosslessCut is GPL from 16.aug 2021 and any projects based off it has to be open source too.

Fake clones in the wild

Pazu Video Cutter aka. Wecsoft Video Cutter 🛑 FAKE

See more

BoilSoft Video Splitter 🛑 FAKE

From v8.0 BoilSoft Video Splitter seems to have based their codebase off of LosslessCut's code and they are selling it for $34.95. Their UI has many of the exact same elements but modified with new elements. I cannot find LosslessCut's copyright statement (which AFAIK is required by all projects based on MIT code), and I cannot find any statement saying that the app is a fork/clone of LosslessCut.

Images:

• interface1
• equal-time
• screenshot

Thanks @taozi1996 for informing.

Microsoft Store

Here’s a list of currently illegal and/or ripoff copies of LosslessCut that have not yet been removed by Microsoft from the Store.

Previous apps

Videocut : Precision Video and Audio Editing ✅ Removed

Store ID: 5708FloraStudio.VideocutVideoEditing_1.0.2.0_x64__jprq9mmeef8hg

Videocut : Precision Video and Audio Editing is a shameless clone of LosslessCut by Flora Studio. They have also done the same with Shotcut.

Video Editor - support 4K video and DSLR photos ✅ Removed

Store ID: 48092WHNC.VideoEditor-support4KvideoandDSLRphotos_1.1.0.0_x64__f0j4wf5e3p8j2

4K Movie Maker Pro X by Cstudios‬ ✅ Removed

Some kind person reported that this app is also a clone. Name and screenshots are different, but once installed it is actually LosslessCut but I have not been able to verify that yet. Update: Seems Microsoft removed the fake app. Thanks Microsoft

LosslessCut Pro ✅ Removed

Seems like a blatant copy. Update: Seems Microsoft removed the fake app. Thanks Microsoft

Lossless Cut video audio editing ✅ Removed

I can see that someone is selling a rip off version of LosslessCut on the Microsoft Store. It's made by this github user. Update: Seems Microsoft removed the fake app. Thanks Microsoft!

Video Editor LosslessCut ✅ Removed

This app has the same name and even uses the same screenshot. Reported to MS. Update: Seems Microsoft removed the fake app. Thanks Microsoft!

Media Converter+ (screenshot) ✅ Removed

They didn't even bother to change the "contact us" email address, so I got a support email from their customer with a complaint about their app: https://twitter.com/LosslessCut/status/1608796222298677251

Update: Seems Microsoft removed the fake app. Thanks Microsoft!

Microsoft Copyright infringement form

Sample text for my reference:

This app is a clone of the real LosslessCut app, of which I am the copyright holder (https://github.com/mifi/lossless-cut/blob/master/LICENSE). It violates LosslessCut's GPLv2 license as well the other open source dependencies LosslessCut uses by not giving credit to any of these projects (from LosslessCut's GPLv2 license: "The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software."). It also does not provide a way to download source code, which also violates LosslessCut's GPLv2 license. I have proof that they have copied the complete source code of my app, because their app connects to my server upon startup (just like my app LosslessCut does), and I can therefore identify their app id INSERT_APP_ID from my server's logs.
Their app also has exactly the same UI as LosslessCut, see screenshots.

Links

• https://www.ghacks.net/2019/06/17/fake-commercial-versions-of-open-source-applications-on-the-microsoft-store/
• https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/open-source-clones-unofficially-sold-on-the-microsoft-store/
• https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-violation.en.html
• https://gpl-violations.org/faq/legal-faq/

[mifi]

Someone kind person reported that this app 4K Movie Maker Pro X by Cstudios‬ is also a clone. Name and screenshots are different, but once installed it is actually LosslessCut but I have not been able to verify that yet.

I think you can find your name as author of the exe file in the app package.

[taozi1996]

Boilsoft video splitter also plagiarize losslesscut.
https://www.boilsoft.com/download.html

er

[mifi]

Hi, thanks for reporting. I'm not sure if it's really plagiarism though. I mean I see that they may have stolen certain UI elements like the keyframe buttons, and export/screenshot buttons position and style. Other than that it looks like a different app IMO. I don't know how it works with regards to functionality though...

[taozi1996]

Hi, thanks for reporting. I'm not sure if it's really plagiarism though. I mean I see that they may have stolen certain UI elements like the keyframe buttons, and export/screenshot buttons position and style. Other than that it looks like a different app IMO. I don't know how it works with regards to functionality though...

Its UI, shortcut keys, functions ,translations in different languages are the same as losslesscut.And The UI of the Boilsoft video splitter before 8.0 is very different from the current version, and there was only a windows version at that time.I confirm it's really plagiarism.

[mifi]

Thanks. I saw on their webpage a few more screenshots (added them above) and I'm now also convinced that they based the new version off LosslessCut's codebase. This is legal but they need to include losslesscut's MIT license which I don't see.

Fun fact: they even have an exact same "report an error" in the help menu but it doesn't work as they were too lazy to implement it, but just disabled the code:

I also inspected the app bundle and it is indeed an electron app and it uses most of the same libraries as losslesscut does.

[mifi]

Some kind person reported that this app is a shameless copy of LosslessCut, even the name and screenshot: Video Editor LosslessCut

Ive reported here, hopefully MS will remove it:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/intellectualproperty/infringement

Update: Now removed. Thanks MS!

[mifi]

@kubalav reported Pazusoft Pazu Video Cutter - thank you!

It does look like a shameless clone. And I don't see the GPL license statement anywhere so it could be an illegal GPL violation.

Update: I checked out their minifed source code, and it does indeed contain most of losslesscut's code, however seems like they most likely copied the code before the relicense to GPL, so back then LosslessCut was MIT. Meaning they are allowed to use the code as they want without publishing the code, however I cannot find the MIT license statement anywhere

Notice how they copied most of UI elements and even the text "Done! Note: Cutting points may be inaccurate. Make sure you test the output files in your desired player/editor before you delete the source. If output does not look right, try to toggle "Keyframe cut" or try a different format."

• Contact link
• Domain info