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Author Topic: Interview with KMOS CEO Garry Hare (25 Mar 04)  (Read 26323 times)

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Offline bhoggett

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Re: Interview with KMOS CEO Garry Hare (25 Mar 04)
« on: March 26, 2004, 05:27:57 PM »
I have no real problem with the business card explanation, having been convinced of its authenticity from the start (I saw two separate scans - Wayne's and Bill Buck's, I presume - and one of them had clearly captured what was a small pencil mark at the top of the card. It was unlikely that someone had faked that.)

What I'm less convinced about is the motivation behind the purchase, the reason for keeping it under wraps until now, and just who is involved in this whole thing. To me it still sounds very much like IP laundering is the only creditable motivation.

The explanation that the Amiga Inc investors were getting rid of non-core assets (supported by various individuals) is quite laughable. It's not so much a case of Amiga Inc getting rid of AmigaOS as AmigaOS getting rid of Amiga Inc.

As for Mr Hare, I will reserve judgement. Once upon a time I used to think that people should be given support unless they do something to lose it. Those days are gone. Now respect needs to be earned, and Mr Hare has his work cut out before he can say he has done that.
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Offline bhoggett

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Re: Interview with KMOS CEO Garry Hare (25 Mar 04)
« Reply #1 on: March 26, 2004, 05:30:04 PM »
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The 'side' thats perpetually secretive, patronising, condescending; the 'side' that deals with criticism first by first denying it then trying to turn it back and making out the accusers to be the bad ones.

Hehe. That sounds a heck of a lot like it would apply equally to both "sides" involved the recent "Amiga civil war".
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Offline bhoggett

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Re: Interview with KMOS CEO Garry Hare (25 Mar 04)
« Reply #2 on: March 26, 2004, 07:30:08 PM »
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Having said that, we only have one man to thank for causing so much trouble with the original fake story.

No, I don't mean Garry Hare. I mean the man who called the people who supported Hyperion, Morons.

Interesting. You appear to condone the attempted deception involved in creating a fake card, but condemn those who draw conclusions from the existence of said card?

The reality is that those who were adamant the card was a fake - and even Amiga Inc employees were coy about making such a definitive statement at the time - made no bones about who they thought faked the card: Genesi employees or their supporters.

No explanation was given as to why - if the card was fake - did Amiga Inc not publicly criticise Mr Hare for issuing it? Why did they not confirm that the card was issued by Mr Hare, that it was invalid, and that they addressed the matter with Mr Hare and made sure it would not be repeated?  No such statement was made despite Amiga Inc being given the express invitation to place the blame squarely where it belonged and condemn the issuer of the 'fake' card. Instead we had only suggestions and innuendo designed to put the blame for the incident on the Blue side, who admittedly made the most of the opportunity, but did not cause it.

As far as I'm concerned, I still regard KMOS with extreme suspicion despite this interview. Let's face it, when Amiga Inc bought the rights from Gateway, not that many people felt negative about that transaction, but look where is got us, so we all know the limited value of positive early interviews.
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Offline bhoggett

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Re: Interview with KMOS CEO Garry Hare (25 Mar 04)
« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2004, 07:45:04 PM »
@KennyR

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Not really a situation that reflects well on either man, and may well be a case of the devil and the deep blue sea.

Absolutely agreed. There is little doubt Buck made the most of the situation - and yes, he used Wayne for best effect - but equally there is little doubt that there is absolutely no excuse for handing out business cards with fraudulent information or making court declarations in anticipation of events that never happen. Garry Hare handed out cards that we are now told were essentially fakes. This is VERY unprofessional. Bill McEwen declared in court that he was NOT CEO of Amiga Inc. That was a lie. Neither can be explained away by saying that some form of deal was in the offing, but then fell through.

It's quite typical to see certain individuals being totally blinkered when it comes to criticising those they regard as "on their side", even in the face of freely admitted wrongdoings.
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Offline bhoggett

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Re: Interview with KMOS CEO Garry Hare (25 Mar 04)
« Reply #4 on: March 26, 2004, 08:10:35 PM »
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Incorrect information on a Business Card is not Fraudulent! The intent was not to defraud anyone. Hence it isn't a fraud.

It amounts to impersonation of a company official, which may not be fraudulent but is certainly illegal.

As for the intent behind the issuing of the cards, that remains a matter of debate until the persons who received those cards come out and verify Mr Hare's claim that he fully explained the situation to them.

Either way, irrespective of whether he did or did not explain it, handing out such cards was unprofessional in the extreme, as they contained untrue information. That he may have been considering a position with Amiga Inc at the time is no excuse.

You'd all be flaying Bill Buck alive if he did something like that, so why are you so prepared to defend Hare's actions?
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Offline bhoggett

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Re: Interview with KMOS CEO Garry Hare (25 Mar 04)
« Reply #5 on: March 26, 2004, 08:21:21 PM »
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and that KMOS was an IP offloading company. Not a peep about the fact that isn't the case eh? Silence! It's deafening.

Silence?

Absolutely not. I see nothing at all to dissuade me from my belief that the KMOS/Itec AmigaOS deal is nothing more than IP laundering. None of the questions regarding WHY it was first bought by Itec then KMOS have been answered, or what value was put on the IP, or what the actual plans for it were. Nor has an explanation been given for the many supposed months of secrecy, or why Amiga Inc employees were allowed to represent themselves as people with control over the future development of AmigaOS4.

In short, there is nothing to indicate that  this is not primarily an attempt to divorce AmigaOS from the liabilities of Amiga Inc.
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Offline bhoggett

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Re: Interview with KMOS CEO Garry Hare (25 Mar 04)
« Reply #6 on: March 26, 2004, 08:34:39 PM »
@restore2003

As I said on ANN: "If a tree falls in the forest but there is no one to hear it, does it make no noise?"

It is an issue, because it reflects (no pun intended) on the character and honesty of Mr Hare and consequently that of the new owners of AmigaOS.

We had enough half-truths and dissembling from Fleecy and Co. Are you now prepared to swallow more of the same?

Let all the facts come out, properly verified as such. Then - and only then - will people be in a legitimate position to pledge their support or not.

Why am I not surprised that those who are most adamant that this is a trivial matter are the same ones who would mount a huge campaign to "expose" Bill Buck if he was guilty of the same. What is trivial from one side would be inexcusable from the opposition, isn't that right?

Wake up, drop the emotional investment and take a step back before considering which are facts, which are claims, and what does and does not make sense in the cold light of a business environment.
Bill Hoggett
 

Offline bhoggett

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Re: Interview with KMOS CEO Garry Hare (25 Mar 04)
« Reply #7 on: March 26, 2004, 09:04:39 PM »
@Hattig

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Until then, YOU have no right or need to know.

Says who?

I have the exclusive right to decide what I need to know or not, not you. I may not be able to extract information others are not prepared to divulge, but that being the case I have every right to draw my conclusions on the basis of the information I do have, and no one, specially you, is in a position to prevent me.

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It is down to Garry Hare's word against Bill Buck's. I know who I certainly don't believe out of these two!

So? I don't believe either. Are you saying your belief carries more weight than mine? What makes you superior, hmmm?
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Offline bhoggett

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Re: Interview with KMOS CEO Garry Hare (25 Mar 04)
« Reply #8 on: March 26, 2004, 10:28:14 PM »
@SirLancelotDuLac

You have a good point there, but the questions still remain. You see, Itec's position does not explain why they would acquire AmigaOS, particularly at that time, or why no announcement to the effect of the sale was ever made at the time. If Itec is Amiga's Senior Secured Creditor, then they would get first dibs in case of bankrupcy anyway, so there would be no need to acquire the assets in advance.

Also, the description of KMOS as a successful company etc. is a bit suspect considering their formation date and what appears to be a complete blank when it comes to track record, partnerships or other products.

Of course, my impression that we are looking at IP laundering is purely speculation on my part - given what evidence is available to me - but while it is true that the Feds have not found anything to complain about, it is equally true that they haven't looked.

Sooner or later Amiga Inc will go to the wall, and then I assume there will be an investigation in the deals carried out for a set period prior to bankruptcy. I don't know about the US, but in the UK when a company goes into administration there is a compulsory investigation into its dealing for the three previous years, with all persons who held a directorial post over that period being obliged to make themselves available to the investigation. Any of the directors found to have knowingly acted against the interests of the company can be declared "unfit to hold a directorship" (or something to that effect) and barred from holding such a position in future. Presumably any such "bad" deal would also be investigated to check that it was legal. I expect something similar would be in effect in the US.

Now, looking at the Itec deal, that could be seen as suspect, because it transfers assets to one creditor therefore reducing payments to others. Even as Senior Secured Creditor, it is not clear if Itec are the sole creditor to hold that position, or if that entitles them to transfer assets to themselves without the agreement of the other creditors prior to bankruptcy proceedings.

The other potential motive involves the fairly reliable rumour that Ben Hermans of Hyperion was instrumental in securing Amiga Inc's original capital investment. Now, with Itec being original investors, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that there may be a connection between Mr Hermans and Itec. Since Hyperion have a strong motive for divorcing AmigaOS from the trouble of Amiga Inc, I don't think I need spell out the possible conspiracy theories.

Now, with KMOS having no trading record and there being no evidence of considerable amounts of money having changed hands, one cannot help but wonder if this isn't just another step in distancing the IP from the Amiga company. (In fact, didn't the amiga.com announcemnt state that KMOS acquired Itec? Mr Hare says there is no formal relationship between KMOS and Itec. One of them would seem to be wrong...)

Yes, it's all just a conspiracy theory, but they sometimes turn out to be right. Certainly it is not a scenario that can be dsicounted out of hand without more evidence than is available to us now.
Bill Hoggett
 

Offline bhoggett

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Re: Interview with KMOS CEO Garry Hare (25 Mar 04)
« Reply #9 on: March 27, 2004, 12:23:15 AM »
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That's not the case here iirc, I can go around saying I'm the CEO of blahblah, and unless blahblah charges me for impersonation, nothing will happen. It's not illegal if they don't mind, so to speak.

Not true. Whether something is legal or not does not depend on whether the target for the impersonation minds or not. Impersonating the CEO of a company is no more legal than impersonating a police officer or a doctor.

Don't confuse being legal with lack of prosecution. A lot of minor but nevertheless illegal acts go unpunished every day because they are often not worth prosecuting, but that does not make them legal or the perpetrators innocent.

I suspect T_Bone might be right and Hare did genuinely consider himself CEO when he produced and handed out the cards. However, I also suspect that what happened next is so murky that Hare and Amiga Inc would rather explain it away with some vague misdemeanour rather than admit the truth.

Just how much of this Buck knew about is questionable. There is no proof (except Hare's word) that Buck knew about it all in advance, OTOH I doubt that knowing about it would have stopped Mr Buck anyway.

Trust Hare, McEwen, Buck, Moss & co.? I think I'd rather roast my balls over a slow fire. I see no evidence of an honest man amongst them.
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Offline bhoggett

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Re: Interview with KMOS CEO Garry Hare (25 Mar 04)
« Reply #10 on: March 27, 2004, 01:59:09 AM »
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This categorically untrue.

OK. The rumour comes from someone who has always passed himself off as an ardent Amiga Inc supporter with close ties to McEwen and Co., so I had no reason to doubt him.

You, I have every reason to doubt, but let's say I accept your word on this occasion.

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Quite frankly Bill, it's time for you to start making your own way in life.

Frankly, my life is none of your business and I'm not trying to sell you anything either, so kindly butt out!

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What I am seeing is a lot of criticism on people like Garry Hare with proven track records outside the Amiga community.

I'm not questioning his past track record. I'm questioning his current involvement.

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What have YOU ever accomplished?

What degrees do you hold?

What positions have you held?

What job are you in now?

Being a pundit spreading nonsense on Amiga related sites is a rather poor substitute for a career.

It's not a career. It's a hobby. Irritating pompous arrogant individuals who think they own the community and resort offensive remarks is a bonus.


 :-D
Bill Hoggett
 

Offline bhoggett

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Re: Interview with KMOS CEO Garry Hare (25 Mar 04)
« Reply #11 on: March 27, 2004, 02:00:42 AM »
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Right now, if I were Rory Bremner, I'd be quaking in my boots.

LOL!  :lol:
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Offline bhoggett

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Re: Interview with KMOS CEO Garry Hare (25 Mar 04)
« Reply #12 on: March 27, 2004, 02:15:28 AM »
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You, Bill Hoggett, seem to judge him before hand, not even knowing what happened. Innocent until proven guilty? Doesn't look like it.

Sorry, I've exhausted all the "good faith" and "benefit of the doubt" when it comes to things Amiga. After more than a decade of ****, can you blame me?

If I thought the explanations were comprehensive and  entirely credible, I'd have said nothing and waited. But the stories are incomplete, and there is conflicting evidence everywhere, so I stay suspicious. Frankly, if you don't like it, bite me!  :-D

BTW, does anyone know who this naughty Australian ex-Amiga employee is supposed to be? I didn't even know Amiga Inc had Australian employees involved with classic AmigaOS development, never mind someone who sold IP for profit. (There was a suggestion on the Bunny, but that was so silly I think I'd better discount it before I do Mr Hare an injustice)  :-P
Bill Hoggett
 

Offline bhoggett

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Re: Interview with KMOS CEO Garry Hare (25 Mar 04)
« Reply #13 on: March 27, 2004, 02:44:34 AM »
@T_Bone

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Do business cards count?

 :lol:

What's really funny is that Mr Hermans' little attempt at belittling my opinions is almost a carbon copy of Mr Buck's. I always thought the two were much more similar than they'd like to admit.
 ;-)
Bill Hoggett
 

Offline bhoggett

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Re: Shame
« Reply #14 on: March 27, 2004, 03:08:49 AM »
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I am probably wrong, but quite a few people seem to have lost any interest in the 'Amiga' and only hang around to pick at the corpse and score a few points.

Less of a case of losing interest and more of a case of losing faith and hope. One can only hang around waiting for that which never arrives for so long.

The interest is rapidly turning more into morbid fascination. It's like watching a bad wreck and wondering how many more ways the victim will find to hurt themselves.

We may be seeing a change in the cast, but they're still acting from the same script.
Bill Hoggett