5 ms·

ZX Spectrum devs claim missing royalties from Elite Systems

116 points by wozname 13y ago

deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
awjr 13y ago
This came about because of this thread: http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/showthread.php?t=46365 http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/showthread.php?t=46365
- ZenoArrow 13y ago
  Seems to be down at the moment, does anyone know of a cached version? Haven't managed to find one myself.
  - timthorn 13y ago
    Still up, just slow.
    - ZenoArrow 13y ago
      It's been stuck 'Connecting...' for quite a while. I suppose I should've expected such a response from a community used to 16 minute loading times (my first computer was a ZX Spectrum). ;-)
      - timthorn 13y ago
        Does your browser have a flashing border at the moment? :)
  - Mithrandir 13y ago
    Here's the whole thread (it's paginated differently than the original link): Page 1: https://archive.is/b0H9K https://archive.is/b0H9K Page 2: https://archive.is/Np2K5 https://archive.is/Np2K5 Page 3: https://archive.is/oPnmq https://archive.is/oPnmq
- deelowe 13y ago
  This link is particularly humorous: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ZX_Spectrum&oldid=488801011 http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ZX_Spectrum&oldid=... The comically large banner ad at the top is certainly a nice touch. Not at all out of place on wikipedia.
ama729 13y ago
Here I think is the specific comment hilighting the issue: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/952953995/bluetooth-zx-spectrum-recreating-the-sinclair-zx-s/comments?cursor=5779913#comment-5779912 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/952953995/bluetooth-zx-... Apparently, they vandalized wikipedia to put an ad for their app. Unbelievable. edit: This is the first comment talking about the issue apparently: https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/1066578103 https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/1066578103
- ghughes 13y ago
  Another post from a dev who got scammed by this company: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/952953995/bluetooth-zx-spectrum-recreating-the-sinclair-zx-s/comments?cursor=5786604#comment-5786603 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/952953995/bluetooth-zx-...
simias 13y ago
Why don't they simply sue him?
- bencollier49 13y ago
  Agreed. This is one for small claims court. Although I'm not sure if small claims can make him prove how much he's sold of what, if he's already stopped sending statements of royalties to the developers.
- ghughes 13y ago
  According to one of the forum posts linked elsewhere in this thread [1] his company's accounts are in the red, so even if someone were to sue and win, they aren't going to see any money. [1] http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/showpost.php?p=750206&postcount=36 http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/showpost.php?p=750206&...
- aplummer 13y ago
  Maybe they show kickstart some money to send him into bankruptcy...
Pinckney 13y ago
Sounds a bit like the mess that is the Up Front reprint: http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/160421/item/2750333#item2750333 http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/160421/item/2750333#item27...
deletes 13y ago
Now they got backed, I don't see the reason why would they not make the keyboard. But if their business partners are getting paid is another story.
- ZenoArrow 13y ago
  The fundraising period hasn't ended yet, at the time of writing this there's 12 hours to go, and judging by the Kickstarter comments people who have already backed the project are starting to reduce/remove their backing. I wonder if this is the first time there's a chance a project that reaches its target on Kickstarter ends up under the target by the end?
  - interstitial 13y ago
    A kickstarter project cannot go under funding goal in the last 24 hours if it has already reached its goal. You can back out if you contribution doesn't bring the project below goal. Part of the anti-trolling rules.
    - masklinn 13y ago
      > You can back out if you contribution doesn't bring the project below goal. Part of the anti-trolling rules. What about reducing the contribution?
    - ZenoArrow 13y ago
      That's interesting, did not know that. However, from what I've read it seems you are entitled to a refund on your backing at any time, so even if technically the funding goal is reached the real funds may be a different amount.
    - iand 13y ago
      People aren't backing out, they are reducing their pledge. Do same anti-trolling measures deal with that?
      - 13y ago
bencollier49 13y ago
No-one seems to have pointed out that this is likely to be a trademark violation: "All rights reserved. 'Elite', the Elite logo, the Elite: Dangerous logo, 'Frontier' and the Frontier logo are registered trademarks of Frontier Developments plc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and copyright are acknowledged as the property of their respective owners." In this case, unauthorised use of their trademark in the same trademark category (computer games), is going to damage Frontier's reputation. Could someone get David Braben to contact Kickstarter UK?
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
- jamespo 13y ago
  Elite Systems have been around a long time too http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Systems http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Systems
  - mpclark 13y ago
    Yes, Elite was a triple-A player and a very well respected UK games publisher back in the 80s.
    - bencollier49 13y ago
      Oh, them! Strange, there seem to be relatively few studios like that which didn't either get merged into something larger or fade away completely. Superior Software is another example. Mind you, if what these developers is saying is true, then they would do with improving one or two things.
AndyJ1972 13y ago
The amount pledged is indeed going down. It appears people are being true to their word. Be interesting if it dips below the £60k required.
- _delirium 13y ago
  I believe Kickstarter actually won't let you withdraw a pledge if doing so would drop a funded project below its funding threshold. edit: found the rule (https://www.kickstarter.com/terms-of-use https://www.kickstarter.com/terms-of-use), Backers may increase, decrease, or cancel their pledge at any time during the fundraising campaign, except that they may not cancel or reduce their pledge if the campaign is in its final 24 hours and the cancellation or reduction would drop the campaign below its goal.

116 points by wozname 13y ago

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

awjr 13y ago

This came about because of this thread: http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/showthread.php?t=46365 http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/showthread.php?t=46365

ZenoArrow 13y ago
Seems to be down at the moment, does anyone know of a cached version? Haven't managed to find one myself.
- timthorn 13y ago
  Still up, just slow.
  - ZenoArrow 13y ago
    It's been stuck 'Connecting...' for quite a while. I suppose I should've expected such a response from a community used to 16 minute loading times (my first computer was a ZX Spectrum). ;-)
    - timthorn 13y ago
      Does your browser have a flashing border at the moment? :)
- Mithrandir 13y ago
  Here's the whole thread (it's paginated differently than the original link): Page 1: https://archive.is/b0H9K https://archive.is/b0H9K Page 2: https://archive.is/Np2K5 https://archive.is/Np2K5 Page 3: https://archive.is/oPnmq https://archive.is/oPnmq
deelowe 13y ago
This link is particularly humorous: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ZX_Spectrum&oldid=488801011 http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ZX_Spectrum&oldid=... The comically large banner ad at the top is certainly a nice touch. Not at all out of place on wikipedia.

ama729 13y ago

Here I think is the specific comment hilighting the issue: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/952953995/bluetooth-zx-spectrum-recreating-the-sinclair-zx-s/comments?cursor=5779913#comment-5779912 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/952953995/bluetooth-zx-... Apparently, they vandalized wikipedia to put an ad for their app. Unbelievable. edit: This is the first comment talking about the issue apparently: https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/1066578103 https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/1066578103

ghughes 13y ago
Another post from a dev who got scammed by this company: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/952953995/bluetooth-zx-spectrum-recreating-the-sinclair-zx-s/comments?cursor=5786604#comment-5786603 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/952953995/bluetooth-zx-...

simias 13y ago

Why don't they simply sue him?

bencollier49 13y ago
Agreed. This is one for small claims court. Although I'm not sure if small claims can make him prove how much he's sold of what, if he's already stopped sending statements of royalties to the developers.
ghughes 13y ago
According to one of the forum posts linked elsewhere in this thread [1] his company's accounts are in the red, so even if someone were to sue and win, they aren't going to see any money. [1] http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/showpost.php?p=750206&postcount=36 http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/showpost.php?p=750206&...
aplummer 13y ago
Maybe they show kickstart some money to send him into bankruptcy...

Pinckney 13y ago

Sounds a bit like the mess that is the Up Front reprint: http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/160421/item/2750333#item2750333 http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/160421/item/2750333#item27...

deletes 13y ago

Now they got backed, I don't see the reason why would they not make the keyboard. But if their business partners are getting paid is another story.

ZenoArrow 13y ago
The fundraising period hasn't ended yet, at the time of writing this there's 12 hours to go, and judging by the Kickstarter comments people who have already backed the project are starting to reduce/remove their backing. I wonder if this is the first time there's a chance a project that reaches its target on Kickstarter ends up under the target by the end?
- interstitial 13y ago
  A kickstarter project cannot go under funding goal in the last 24 hours if it has already reached its goal. You can back out if you contribution doesn't bring the project below goal. Part of the anti-trolling rules.
  - masklinn 13y ago
    > You can back out if you contribution doesn't bring the project below goal. Part of the anti-trolling rules. What about reducing the contribution?
  - ZenoArrow 13y ago
    That's interesting, did not know that. However, from what I've read it seems you are entitled to a refund on your backing at any time, so even if technically the funding goal is reached the real funds may be a different amount.
  - iand 13y ago
    People aren't backing out, they are reducing their pledge. Do same anti-trolling measures deal with that?
    - 13y ago

bencollier49 13y ago

No-one seems to have pointed out that this is likely to be a trademark violation: "All rights reserved. 'Elite', the Elite logo, the Elite: Dangerous logo, 'Frontier' and the Frontier logo are registered trademarks of Frontier Developments plc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and copyright are acknowledged as the property of their respective owners." In this case, unauthorised use of their trademark in the same trademark category (computer games), is going to damage Frontier's reputation. Could someone get David Braben to contact Kickstarter UK?

deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
jamespo 13y ago
Elite Systems have been around a long time too http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Systems http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Systems
- mpclark 13y ago
  Yes, Elite was a triple-A player and a very well respected UK games publisher back in the 80s.
  - bencollier49 13y ago
    Oh, them! Strange, there seem to be relatively few studios like that which didn't either get merged into something larger or fade away completely. Superior Software is another example. Mind you, if what these developers is saying is true, then they would do with improving one or two things.

AndyJ1972 13y ago

The amount pledged is indeed going down. It appears people are being true to their word. Be interesting if it dips below the £60k required.

_delirium 13y ago
I believe Kickstarter actually won't let you withdraw a pledge if doing so would drop a funded project below its funding threshold. edit: found the rule (https://www.kickstarter.com/terms-of-use https://www.kickstarter.com/terms-of-use), Backers may increase, decrease, or cancel their pledge at any time during the fundraising campaign, except that they may not cancel or reduce their pledge if the campaign is in its final 24 hours and the cancellation or reduction would drop the campaign below its goal.