Note: If you purchased your BuddyBoss App, or have published a new build since June 25th 2024, you are not affected by this and can safely ignore this information.
We’d like to inform you of a minor issue that affects users of previous BuddyBoss App versions. A premium font file, initially included in early versions of our AppBoss product when we were building custom apps for clients, was bundled in the codebase. Although it was never intended for direct use in apps and isn’t visible in any front-end or backend elements of the BuddyBoss App, we discovered recently that this font file’s presence is technically in breach of its licensing terms. To rectify this issue, all you need to do is make sure your app is using the latest version and publish a new build to the App Stores.
Background on the Font File
This font was originally licensed by us for internal branding and used in the AppBoss version of our product several years ago. It was never meant for distribution or user-facing elements in BuddyBoss-powered apps. Over time, with the release of the BuddyBoss App, the font file became even more buried and despite still being referenced in the codebase, continues to be completely unused within the app. However, despite not being accessible to users, we recently identified the remnant reference to it in the code, which affects anyone who might still be using a previous version of the BuddyBoss App.
Why This Matters
The premium nature of the font means it shouldn’t have been distributed in products without each user holding their own license. We have proactively addressed this issue by removing all font references in new versions of the BuddyBoss App, but if you are still running an older version then you will need to update your app to remove the font from your codebase, purchase your own license, or else risk being in breach of the licencing agreement of the font. Unfortunately the license holder takes the view that each individual app owner is responsible for their own license and so it isn’t feasible for us to license the font for our whole customer base which would have allowed us to rectify this issue for you.
How to Resolve This
For those who wish to ensure compliance, we recommend the following two simple options:
Update Your App to the Latest Version: For the vast majority, simply updating to the latest version of the BuddyBoss App and then generating and publishing a new build will fully resolve this. This update removes all references to the font file, making the licensing requirements irrelevant.
Or, Purchase a License for the Font: If you don’t wish to update your app for whatever reason, you will need to purchase your own license for the font. This option is only relevant if you specifically want to use the font in your app, and do not wish to update to the latest version and remove it entirely.
Wrapping Up
We apologize for this inconvenience and wish there was an easier way for us to automatically do this on your behalf or that the license holder was more understanding of the situation. If you need assistance with updating your app, please feel free to contact our support team, who will be glad to help.
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