CommodoreUSA CEO Interview Answers

[number6]

@Barry Altman (just so you know where I got this idea from)


My question from the interview:

Given the expressed desire to progress from being a licensee to an owner of both Commodore and Amiga IP, is there any progress on either of those fronts?

Barry's answer:

I can't recall ever(y) publically making that statement

True. This was stated by @redrumloa after his initial visit with Barry. It was quite clear, but I suppose you could say "not public"?

While Commodore USA is currently a licensee for the Commodore and Amiga name, the intention is to own these companies outright one day and to be a publicly traded company on a major exchange.

last paragraph

#6

[number6]

I assume that THIS in the question was a link to something interesting. What was THIS?

Hi Bill,

I found the link in the original thread asking for questions to be submitted:

at bottom of post

#6

[number6]

I wondered about this myself. Ad agencies aren't typically in the business of shoveling over money for the client to spend, if anything it's the other way round. Oh well, the fun continues!

some more info about that here

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[number6]

Thanks! Although the first and second links are actually the same and make no mention of the "projected budget". No need to try to track it down - the money isn't there, and doesn't appear to have ever been there, whatever the reason or whose fault it may be.

Apparently the thread is locked, so I can't correct my errant link. Thanks for pointing that out.
Here is the link to the initial news story I had intended to post:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/09/15/idUS189820+15-Sep-2010+PRN20100915

#6

[number6]

Oh yes.  And they didn't even piss off Amiga users.  Plus their prices were cheaper and included a Windows OS.

Let's be careful about heaping any praise upon Commodore Gaming as a "company", simply based on what you saw as value for the money.
Remember that they tried to pass themselves off as licensor of the Commodore IP:

Altman was then contacted by Taco van Sambeek, who represents the Netherlands-based Commodore Gaming, a company founded in 2005 with the intention of "re-launching the classic Commodore 64 experience on various platforms."

 Altman and van Sambeek both tell us they attempted to negotiate a deal that would license the Commodore name to Altman's Commodore USA. But although Altman seemed to indicate he had secured the rights last month, this was not the case.

 Commodore Gaming doesn't actually own the rights. It has merely licensed the right to use the name for gaming ventures, and though the company apparently has the power to pass a similar right to a third party, it can't license the name for more general purposes.

Note to those unaware: They are defunct.

#6

[number6]

Okay, Hyperion is threatening to sue if Commodore USA uses an Amiga OS alike. They can either use MorphOS or AROS with Natami and call Hyperion's bluff (And it absolutely is a bluff; by now all patents on AmigaOS Calls have expired, and documentation on any hypothetically copyright infringing code is trivially simple to verify or disporve) or they can build the computer Jay Miner would have built if he were around today, and without even looking at anything at Intel.

This has nothing to do with patent. It has to do with a settlement agreement between Amiga Inc. and Hyperion VOF (now a CVBA).
And although it is called a "settlement agreement", it is actually a "stipulated judgment", which you can research on Justia:
http://www.justia.com/dictionary/stipulated-judgment.html

Once the stipulated judgment is signed by the judge, it becomes the judgment in your case.

So, any conjecture about why not change the settlement agreement is just nonsense.

#6

[number6]

C= went to Tulip,

Not really.

some interesting history and links

One day the real history of this reported "sale" may become public. Let's just say neither of the participants had the best motives at heart. Heh.

#6

[number6]

Thanks for that info.  Very interesting.  It seems the industry is crawling with opportunists.  Mind you, for what C-USA wants, C-Gaming might have been within their rights to sub-license to them.

No idea, but it was a moot point, since Ben van Wijhe (Asiarim) raised it's head at that point, and the rest of the licensing story between Asiarim and CUSA is history.
Now the case to determine the true licensor is in the courts, hopefully for the last time.

#6

[number6]

Yep, that would have worked a treat.  Amithlon, Bernielon, AmigaXL...  The major stumbling block seems to be them having to pay someone to do some work.

The major stumbling block would be running headlong into the AI/Hyperion settlement agreement once again.

#6

[number6]

Not if you make some agreement / partnership with Hyperion that allows you to do so. So its not Hyperion that is "evil" but CUSA that knows or dont knows (by first AROS announcement) the limits of ther licence, and anyway dont want to invest and develop, which leaves them to just what they offer, and that is mostly overpriced what we all already have or can have (x86 with Linux and AF)

You might want to read how Bernie describes the situation

in his own words

[number6]

I know I'm getting old, but I don't remember saying that.  URL?

Perhaps it was this?

Total sales (C64x series[including barebone model]and VIC series) is well over 100,000 units. Right now you can drop by different computer shops around the world and purchase a custom built C64x or Vics. C=USA has a new site under construction at http://www.commodore.net and in the coming weeks will be finished and ready for business.

source

#6

[number6]

Alright, I'm getting old.

Thanks

Welcome. btw, same thread you said:

I am so glad Ben blew off Barry, I really am.

Yet in the Q/A, we have official confirmation that no talks took place.
I'm guessing your source at the time was probably not Barry. Heh.

#6

[number6]

Mods lock this thread. Lets agree to have no more inverviews on this forum about CommodoreUSA. No more discussing them exceptmfor within the designated subforums.
Ok.

Again Mods, lock this thread.

see the problem?

Apparently, BillP, TeddG, and Karlos all have differing ideas on how to administer this topic.


#6

[number6]

Show me the very post this whole issue began. Not just thos thread but from when this whole animosity and issue began. Show me that.

Barry Altman's first post in the community:

read the exchanges that follow...you decide

Personally, I think this is counter productive to your desire to leave this in the past, but you asked...

#6