So it seemed that sooner or later we’d have some problems with XennoBB stealing our work as they’re known to have done so in the past. (and continue to do so)
The developer of XennoBB, Marius Stanciu (aka Osgiliath and Kiefer Andrew Kale) popped up earlier this year with “Revo Forum” which was actually just a copy of PunBB with all of the copyrights changed. It was quickly spotted and BerliOS closed down the project. A few months later, XennoBB popped up with interestingly the same set of features, a developer with the same name, and still all of the internal copyrights changed to XennoBB.
Some of us, who support the GNU GPL and respect proper credit being given for peoples work, decided to take it upon ourselves to do something about this thief. Eventually the developer of XennoBB added back the respective copyrights to the forum package. Up until that point he had completely denied XennoBB was based on anything and claimed that it was entirely all of his work.
However as we dug deeper we also noticed that all he’d done to XennoBB was add in PunBB code modifications and plugins and continued to remove the copyright from them and claim the work all as his own. (Which he is currently also doing with his XennoCMS) He refused, once again, that he’d done this even though it was evident through simple code analysis procedures.
Things began getting full on, we contacted several developers of scripts such as phpMathPublisher, phpSpell for phpBB, and phpMultiSyn to notify them that they were being ripped off. Things slowly began to get back in to order and he began adding the copyrights back where they should have been.
But things didn’t stop there. The XennoBB Project Manager, Marius Stanciu began giving the MyBB and UseBB resource listings over at HotScripts invalid and low ratings. (and we suspect he is still doing so) He continued to rip other peoples work, deny it and fight back any claims. He also began insulting us, “MyCrappyBB”, “UnusableBB”, “NoOneCommune”, “Chris Bottom”, you get the point.
You can find a very interesting (and long) thread about all of what has been going on previously over on OneCommune - How to deal with content ripping? As well as OneCommune - Threads and problems from Xenno Group.
Now back to the point of this post, on 16/09/2006 I’d downloaded what was claimed to be “XennoBB 3.0 RC3″ and began analyzing the source to see which product was his next target to rip. Lo and behold, what should I find but the MyBB XML parser.
I wasn’t going to put up with this and his smart-ass little tactics. Immediately I contacted our legal representation who drafted him a nice letter to be sent via email and snail mail outlining that if the offending code wasn’t going to be removed then he’d be facing legal prosecution from us. Now obviously I can’t post the whole letter here but our code analysis identified the code as ours through:
- Consistent variable naming and default values ($collapse_dups, $index_numeric)
- Class constructor initializes and stores XML data
- Consistent function names (get_tree to Fetch_Tree, build_tag stays the same, get_children to Fetch_Children)
- Inner code workings and logic are exactly the same of the MyBB XML parser
- General code consistencies with removal of whitespace
- Clean_XML function is an exact replication of the kill_tags function, specifically designed for use with certain XML data types used by MyBB. Whitespace removed, minor variables renamed
- Code is missing copyright statement to Eric Pollman (http://eric.pollman.net/work/public_domain/) which the initial code was based off (a separate matter which will result in Mr. Eric Pollman being contacted)
2 days after he’d received the email (and probably even before the letter sent in the mail had arrived at his door stop), he’d released XennoBB 3.0 RC4 in which the offending code had been removed. Of course, rather than admit any of this to his users (well, his posse who tend to believe he hasn’t ripped anything or done anything wrong) he just explained it as being a bug fix release.
Obviously he didn’t think we’d find the offending code or when we did we wouldn’t have the kind of legal power to do anything about it (which he was completely wrong), or he just did it intentionally just to get to us.
Today I also discovered that this cheat, thief and liar had also decided that for XennoBB 3.0 RC5 he was going to take great inspiration from wtcBB. (his ‘inspiration’).
This is a continuing issue as he can’t seem get it through his head that what he is doing is illegal and is doing him more harm than good.
His response to us? We’re apparently doing it entirely because our software isn’t as successful as his. My ass. MyBB 1.2 is currently doing around 2,000 downloads PER DAY, resulting in over 11,000 downloads in the past week. With over 28,000 downloads combined from the MyBB site (25gb) so far this month, we’d be pulling at least three times as much traffic in a week than he pulls over a month.
If you want to read more on this idiot, his continual lying and theft of software at the following places:
Comments
Bobby (September 20th, 2006, 11:18 pm)
Ouch!
Dietrich (September 21st, 2006, 12:30 am)
Also see the following topic on wtcBB, an announcement made by the wtcBB developer: http://wtcbb.com/forums/index.php?file=thread&t=2091
Please, spread the word, he needs to be stopped after half a year of stealing.
So far, thanks to anyone for helping us.
Bobby (September 21st, 2006, 1:07 am)
We could always send him a virtual slap…
Eddie (September 21st, 2006, 4:38 am)
Hmmmm….
http://www.adminfusion.com/forums/showthread.php?p=91540#post91540
Tikitiki (September 21st, 2006, 9:52 am)
This guy needs to be chained up to a wall, stripped, and fed granola bars for the rest of his days.
Bobby (September 21st, 2006, 11:51 am)
This dude makes me laugh! The more he comments on the infringements we pick up, the more we can throw at him in a legal document!
Keep talking Osgiliath, were listening and reporting…
There are a couple of words that describe him..
John Anderton (September 21st, 2006, 1:25 pm)
lolnewb. He fails at stealing and sucks for not being enough of a man for accepting it
Bryce (September 21st, 2006, 1:57 pm)
I was fooled into believing it wasn’t pirated. I couldn’t tell. I did like the software though, and if it had the correct attribution would use it for my site. Looks like it’s back to MyBB
xiaozhu (September 21st, 2006, 9:54 pm)
Go for it!
Rippers should always be caught, especially if they do not admit their mistake nor learn from their mistakes.
Musicalmidget (September 21st, 2006, 10:25 pm)
This guy never ceases to amaze me. What exactly goes through his mind?
I’m glad he’s no longer ripping code from MyBB, although I do worry which product he will turn to next. I don’t doubt we’ll see more of him and his antics!
Eddie (September 22nd, 2006, 2:05 am)
Good stuff!
Now can we get some attention to this?
http://community.mybboard.net/showthread.php?tid=12546
Thanks.
Tikitiki (September 22nd, 2006, 4:03 pm)
mmm… thread doesn’t exist… (Don’t post your reply here, I give you permission to PM me, seeing as we’re getting off topic :P)
Hemi (September 25th, 2006, 2:43 am)
What a tool this guy is Chris, Maybe I should say a huge POS. My parents always told me however, “once a thief always a thief” it never ceases to amaze me how often that comment has held true.
Big Jim (September 27th, 2006, 12:07 pm)
Find out where he lives and email me an addrees, i’ll see to it that this guy is eating all his meals through a straw, i’ll also steal a few quid to cover travel expenses.
sTrEtCh (September 30th, 2006, 9:14 am)
hehehehe, just shows you what idiotic caracters are out there in the world. dont claim what is not yours and give credit where credit is due.
Hraefn (October 3rd, 2006, 4:55 pm)
I knew about XennoBB (through OpensourceCMS) before I even heard of MyBB. I admit to liking how XennoBB looked (it was sleek looking, you have to admit), but then I found out about the GPL ripping issue (thanks to Dietrich’s efforts on OSCMS). You could say that I dropped XennoBB like it was a hot platter immediately after learning that. The code ripping was bad enough, but what really put me off was seeing Osgiliath’s (Marius Stanciu) behaviour when confronted about it. It was shaming, really, and I wasn’t even involved with the software’s development… I just used it once.
It’s a pity that many of XennoBB’s users (at least the new ones) are unaware of its controversies. I guess it wouldn’t surprise you to learn that Osgiliath apparently sterilizes his forum since I saw no mention of this issue in there. I’ll definitely be doing what I can to spread the truth about XennoBB. In any case, I’m shifting to MyBB (which I discovered indirectly through XennoBB), which looks perfect for my needs.
Hey! I guess there’s reason to thank Osgiliath after all. =^^=
Tikitiki (October 9th, 2006, 3:52 pm)
You know what I just found out? http://search.securityfocus.com/swsearch?query=xennobb&sbm=/&submit=Search!&metaname=alldoc&sort=swishlastmodified
A whole ton of vulnerabilities discovered by Chris, and reported to xennon. You’d think they’d owe chris one for discovering and reporting them, but instead they rip MyBB? I think someone has been smoking the drugs up there a little too long.
Bryce (October 21st, 2006, 7:29 pm)
Just a follow up on this story, the Themes resource www.xenno themes.com has started with ripping an eXtreme Styles theme. God will these people never end. Although, I have to admit, it is a nice bunch of features *slaps myself*
Dane (November 12th, 2006, 8:09 pm)
I love how when registering on the Xenno Forums, they spelt “forum” as “form”. It looks like what it is…a complete rip. They suck. Any updates Chris?
RetroDude (December 8th, 2006, 11:09 pm)
Osgiliath has been kicked out of the development team. We have removed any sources of download of the old BB and CMS. We are starting afresh. From scrap with a new development team. OS has nothing to do with us anymore. We are trying to clear our name and i apologise for OS’s behaviour, although i do this myself not on behalf of anyone else even though i know they feel the same. I didnt know about this issue until 4 or 5 days ago, because of my inactivity on the forums.
Justin (February 14th, 2007, 9:41 am)
Did anyone notice, that his website is offline now???
Dietrich (February 17th, 2007, 10:55 am)
Yes, the team split and another project was created; XennoBB itself has been dead since, so seems Osgiliath to be too.
Community Wise « Community Wise (March 16th, 2007, 9:27 am)
[…] XennoBB It does not end there for XennoBB and the Xenno Project Manager (Os) Theres more.. […]