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"Future Tech" vs KDE Developer

Once in awhile a story comes along that warrants mention just so that people know to be careful. Mosfet is a KDE coder (who has had tension with KDE in the past and left some ill will over there). He was hired by Future Technology to continue work on his Liquid KDE style and theme (my personal favorite). But they never paid him, so he removed their name and mentioned it in the Changelog. Now FT is threatening legal action to get the Changelog off the net. But it's more bizarre because MandrakeSoft is the host, and the site remains up. Keep reading if you're interested in a few more bits.

I've been a huge fan of Liquid for some time. I've been compiling releases and using on my laptop. The project isn't nearly as ambitious as Enlightenment, but it has some interesting UI ideas and it looks good. I was really pleased when I found out that Mosfet was going to have a shot at continuing the development of the program for FT under the KDE License. At this point, FT ("The Total Linux Company," according to their website) mentioned a few of the features in Liquid as being part of the benefits of FT's distribution. This was to set them apart from "Other" distributions, although even at the time I found it funny, as The final decision in selecting one RPM based distribution over another would rarely be tipped in favor of the one with translucent menus ;)

Anyway the Changelog contains the following line:

* Future Technologies' name has been removed. They hired me to do KDE development, but failed to pay me after promising to do so three times over the span of several months :( I still haven't seen any of the paychecks they said they would send me, and they even went as far as sending me a fake FedEx number. Now they are saying they can't afford to pay their employees.

And soon after Mosfet's website announced that he was leaving Linux and Liquid was dead. Unable to afford to develop Liquid for free, he was seeking work in the windows world.

According to the site, on 10/28, Dr. Giovanni asked Mandrakesoft, the host of Mosfet.org to take down the site, under threat of legal action. But since I see the site still there, it looks like they are standing their ground which is a good thing.

Anyway, I don't know what the moral of the story is, beyond a warning to keep both eyes open. There is a lot of questionable stuff that goes on in this world. Be careful.

(I've emailed Giovanni from FT but have yet to hear back from him.)

41 of 292 comments (clear)

  1. Huh,huh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    up yours, taco! i've got fr1st!

  2. Enlightenment link is wrong by carlivar · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    Enlightenment is here, not here.

    Also, who needs KDE or Gnome anyway? Enlightenment's all ya need. All those "features" just get in the way of doing stuff.

    Carl
    Vote Libertarian

    --
    Vote Libertarian
    1. Re:Enlightenment link is wrong by nmilford · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Very true... I would like to take your advocation for "E" to state that I personally enjoy BlackBox. It is small light weight and is GREAT for less powerful boxes (older sparcs). I love "E" on my workstation, but 4 open xterms in a BB session is ALL anyone needs, barebones. Sorry to turn the thread into an advocation-type echo, I am not denying "E," >8)

    2. Re:Enlightenment link is wrong by krogoth · · Score: 1, Offtopic

      "Enlightenment is here [enlightenment.org], not here [enlightenment.com]." (links not copied. Look at the parent to understand)

      No, I believe you're wrong. They were actually trying to link to Alex Chiu's site, not the Enlightenment Window Manager. They still got the wrong link, but you don't have the right one either.

      --

      They that quote Benjamin Franklin on liberty and safety deserve neither.
    3. Re:Enlightenment link is wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      jesus christ, as if your last post was so interesting: "yeah, taco got a link wrong"

      personally i found the "i like blackbox" comment at least somewhat informative (now i know that somebody likes blackbox) whereas your post was entirely devoid of content (i already knew that the link was wrong).

    4. Re:Enlightenment link is wrong by grammar+nazi · · Score: 0, Offtopic
      I don't assume identities of anonymous cowards. I was mostly kidding about my retalitory comment to nmilford. I was just a little upset that his nmilford's comment was above mine in the list.

      Where's the cabin at in the U.P.? Are you originally from Michigan? I am. I also love the U.P.

      --

      Keeping /. free of grammatical errors for ~5 years.
    5. Re:Enlightenment link is wrong by bonzoesc · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Don't be dissin' Alex Chiu - click my sig to get him to help you!

  3. Re:Mosfet is a cry baby by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    nice troll. not very good, but acceptable. keep up the work, kid.

  4. Re:Mosfet is a cry baby by Anti-You · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Shouldn't you be in bed?

  5. Beware by pete-classic · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    of companies with self-signed certificates!

    -Peter

  6. Re:Mosfet is a cry baby by Anti-You · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    My mother died in 1991. I didn't know you like fucking corpses.

  7. Re:Let me get this straight... by davidsmind · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Get some smarts dude, even the prez said get back to doing what you normally do. We can't stay in the past or we'll never get to the future, sure i'm a sad as the next guy 'bout what happend, but thats no reason for me to stop everything and mourn 24/7.

    --
    I'll Sig you!
  8. Your mom told me you were good in bed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Is that true?

    1. Re:Your mom told me you were good in bed by davidsmind · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      I dunno ask your sister.

      --
      I'll Sig you!
    2. Re:Your mom told me you were good in bed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      I asked her and she said you were a non-starter...something about not having suitable porn to get you aroused.

  9. Re:Mosfet is a cry baby by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Not nearly as good as watching your 16 year old sister lick the hobo juice off my infected penile.

  10. Re:Mechanic's lein by J.J. · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    It's a crime [quaker.org], not a war. If you want a reply, log in.

    "I owe you no apologies nor will I accept those apologies made for me by others. If you dislike me, you dislike me not for what I am but for what you are not. By my own sweat, I have created a lifestyle which I desire for all men. To the world I have shared my wealth and given my blood, not because of obligation -- but by my free will. I have fed the hungry of the world. Many bit my hand; I used the other hand. I defeated my enemies in battle, then pulled them up from the ashes of defeat. Once strong, they again attacked; I turned the other cheek. Though I am strong, I have never used my strength to rule others. But do not misjudge me. I will not allow the fear of my own strength to become my weakness. If you wish to rise, I will give you a helping hand. But by the grace of God, and I'll first be damned, if I'll let you drag me down...."

    -- D. Ault

    It *is* a crime - one wrought by an international organization of criminals. We have been tormented for years, yet have made no substantial response. We have stood tall, we have stood fast, only to be attacked yet again. The perpatrators of this havoc cannot be sought, tried and convicted by normal means. We are not at war - we are defending our freedom.

    The world will move on, and the American people will forget before this war will be done. But 5000 Americans will still be dead. There is nothing to stop it from happening again. Be glad you live in a country that has the strength and capability to try and change that.

    J.J.
  11. Re:Interesting... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    I assume you mean "RMS tells me that releasing software under the GPL can be a viable business platform"

    Or does RMS whisper sweet nothings to you and you alone?

  12. Re:Mosfet should sue FT!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    hernia = break in abdomen wall where intestine protrudes, making a buldge normally to the left or right side of the pelvis region.

    ie: hernia != hemoroides.

  13. Re:IANYL?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I Am Not (a) Yiddish Lawyer.

  14. Re:Let me get this straight... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Remember above when you were asking whether being called a troll was good or bad? You were just trolled. One of those comments gets posted to just about every story. You fell for it hook line and sinker.

    Better luck next time.

  15. The /. crowd worry me. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    A fairly open and shut case of a company being shitty to an employee, yet we have comments suggesting the owner of this company be brutally murdered. Does this kinda stuff scare anyone else?

  16. Don't forget to check that grammar, grammar nazi!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    [incorrect]
    Don't forget to check those links CmdrTaco!!

    [correct]
    Don't forget to check those links, CmdrTaco!!

  17. Re:Mechanic's lein by Glytch · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Ah, I see. So destroying civil rights is the best way to preserve them?

    Cattle like you deserve the police state you'll get. Mooooooo.

    By the way, I hear your freedom-loving government bombed another Red Cross station.

  18. Why would he want to work for them? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Why would he want to work for them in the first place? I certainly wouldn't work a company that has *that* kind of design/html on their front page. I mean come on. View the source guys.

    This is actually the worst html I have come across in some time now.

  19. Re:Interesting... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    That hairy fucker! Fucking cheating on me, is he?! I'll gut him like a fucking trout!

  20. Lawyers Stink anyway by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Lawyers are people who grew up without knowing any "humanity" skills and resort to solving simple problems with pathetic legal jargon and PRETENDING to be intellectually superior.

    Of the professions out there, medicals are much respected (except greedy HMO's), and lawyers are most despised.

    Lawyers are greedy of money, constantly threatening legal action and claiming that it's not a threat, and have poor logic skills. They make irrational judgements, policies, or advise. "Policy consultants" for tech companies are the very worst form, since they don't understand tech a single bit, and through in bunch of legal junk to suppress the end user rather than satisfying them.

    In God we trust, but in lawyers we don't! Mosfet, keep fighting, because principle will win!

  21. OT - was Re:Mechanic's lein by fanatic · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Witnesses stated that this Red Cross station exploded much more strongly than expected, implying that there was more there than wheat and blankets. Other sources state that the Taliban, have started using mosques, hospitals and NGO properties to hide in and store arms, to avoid bombing.

    --
    "that's not encryption - it's a new perl script that I'm working on..." - from some Matrix parody
  22. Re:Mechanic's lein by J.J. · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Cattle like you deserve the police state you'll get. Mooooooo

    The recent anti-terrorism bills that have been passed are the unfortunate result of patriotism. Folks the nation over are wishing to do whatever they can to help - everyone wants to do what they can to 'rebuild America'. Most Americans aren't in a position where they can do anything except wave the flag.

    Our Congressmen are no different - they wish to help, and to 'appear decisive and taking action to counter the threat of terrorism'. Unfortunately, they are in a position where they can do things - even when they shouldn't.

    Be patient - cooler heads will prevail, and things will return to a happy medium.

  23. Mods on crack by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    you give this guy a +4 interesting??? he said nothing that anyone with an IQ of 70 didn't know already. oh wait, maybe that is why you modded him the way you did.........

    1. Re:Mods on crack by Elbow+Macaroni · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      That's not off topic. You gave him a -1 for insulting you. LOL.

      --
      -------------------------------------
      Technically, we are beyond survival.
  24. Re:Your glasses! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    Thank you, eggtroll, that was all the inspiration that I needed! :-)
    Russ Nelson's Hidden Past?

    -- The_Messenger

  25. Re:Mechanic's lein by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    Wow, you sure know a lot about mechanics, Russ. I didn't see that movie, but I'll look next time. :-)
    Russ Nelson's Hidden Past?

    -- The_Messenger

  26. kde-look.org by Spy+Hunter · · Score: 2, Offtopic
    KDE-Look is a great site! It's got all sorts of great stuff, more than kde.themes.org ever had, and better too. The site has more features, a better interface, and it is updated more often than kde.themes.org, and it is here right now.

    I especially like the Noatun skin section, I had no idea that there were such cool skins out there that Noatun could use. Now if only Noatun would stop skipping and get more playlist features, it would be better than XMMS.

    Oh, and for a cool wallpaper no matter what desktop you are using, try this artful take on a crash :-)

    --
    main(c,r){for(r=32;r;) printf(++c>31?c=!r--,"\n":c<r?" ":~c&r?" `":" #");}
  27. Mod up parent!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    +1 Informative.

  28. Re:Your glasses! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    That is why I'll never post my true identity on Slashdot.

    - Tr0ll H4xx0r

  29. Re:URL to the total Linux(tm) company by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    man, you can get slash-AIDS, whoring that hard.

  30. Haha, you'll think this is funny. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    After seeing this naked piece of gossip, I clicked over to preferences to check CmdrTaco's box and keep his articles off my version of the home page. I noticed JonKatz was still there. I decided, ok, one at a time in the penalty box, so I unchecked JonKatz, and saved. When I clicked over to the home page again, I saw the first JonKatz article I have seen in, oh, I don't know how long - a year or more at least. It was his review of K-PAX, and the first paragraph was enough to send me back to preferences to uncheck Taco and check Katz again.

    I thought some of you would find that funny.

  31. Re:Lawyers Stink anyway (mod parent up) by KingKenny · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Hey, I like this post. It's just soooo true.

  32. Re:Mechanic's lein by sminra · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Lord, how I loathe these dopey, glassy-eyed, brainwashed nationalistic USian jingo robots.

    Please lift me up and cleanse me, dear lord, of the urge to smear poop in their faces.

    The world will move on, and the American people will forget before this war will be done.

    What kind of bullshit is this? American people will forget what exactlyForget WTC? Aah right. Before you rite sumthin reel smart, be shure to theenk carfulley if yer sentence makes eny sense. If it doesn't, you've just kaught yourself intellectually wanking. [bitch-slap] Shame on you.

    But 5000 Americans will still be dead. Oh come off it, duuuude. The Red Cross lists 2,600 dead, and all the employees lost by firms in the building total to about 2,500. The number of tourists and service workers is estimated at maximally 300.

    Now isn't it just FUNNY how most of America is still referring to 5-6,000 dead?

    There is nothing to stop it from happening again. Be glad you live in a country that has the strength and capability to try and change that.

    For a human to be able to write a sentence like this requires complete ignorance and/or denial of US foreign policy of the past 50+ years. I can understand that. In this case, ignorance is bliss. The truth hurts - and I'm guessing it's probably more than your shriveled spirit can handle. In the last twenty years, the USA has been the greatest promoter of global wholesale terror in the entire world. The USA has done more to cause ethnic violence, terror, torture and economic impoverishment than any other nation on the planet. You are, indeed, 'number one', you fat fucking chumps. The way to stop the small-scale (retail) terrorism we've seen from islamic fundamentalists is to stop the large-scale (wholesale) terrorism practiced by the USA and its surrogates.

    But I expect this message will go right over your head - possibly because it's wedged so deep in your remote-controlled Commander In Chiefs' ass that you can't hear anything above his flatulence. If you are wondering why GWB's farts smell like rotting Afghani children, I can give you a four word hint: Perfectly Preventable Plagues and Pestilence. The USA is quietly executing the greatest act of genocide of the new millenium. Since the advent of the bombing the number of Afghanis who have fled in terror and/or are starving and cut-off from food relief by US bombing has increased to 7 to 8 MILLION. Tens of thousands of innocent people are starving to death, and the USA is pursuing an illegal unilateral military invasion designed to remind the world who's #1 in the new milennium. Refugee camps have been mysteriously plagued by diseases not previously known to the country.

  33. OT: Number one cause of terror. by Convergence · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Yes, if your reasoning is twisted enough, the US is the number one cause of terrorism, and no matter what it does, it cannot escape that position.

    As the worlds most powerful nation, it can be blamed for anything and everything, for doing actions, for not doing actions, for each and every action of commerce or trade it does or doesn't do.

    Those who do no such trade, those who have no power are few lucky people who cannot be blamed for being terrorists. Because of their powerlessness.

    IE, those with power are also the ones with the greatest percentage of international interactions, even if they have a lower percentage of 'evil interactions', they may still end up responsible for a great share of international strife. Not because of their innate evilness but just because they are involved in so many places and so many ways.

    As for random other statistics, a couple of thousand Afghan *infants* die a week, even before this recent hell. (Computed from population, birth rate and infant mortality rate statistics taken from CIA world factbook.)

    Are we terrorists for not helping to save the poor children. Do keep in mind that we've been sending enough aid to account for .5-2% of their GDP *yearly*.

    The US sucks, and screws up, but don't fall into the trap of automatically blaming the powerful for all deeds by confusing the 'rate of misdeeds' (#misdeeds/#interactions) with the 'absolute number of misdeeds'. For example, there are more airplane crashes a year, even though the accident rate is slowly falling, based soley on the number of flights increasing.

    If you argue that the US is responsible for a the largest share of misdeeds, I could believe it.

    I won't believe without more evidence a claim that we have a high rate of misdeeds. There are too many petty dictators destroying their populations, or their neighbors populations for me to believe that the US is anywhere near the top of that list.

    It is fallacious reasoning to blame the US for everything just because it is involved in everything. A big fish makes a lot more eddies swimming gently than a sperm swimming frantically. :)

    Scott

    PS: got a reference on the statistic of only being 2500 deaths?

    PPS: And, better take this to email.