MAn, what a read..... :-o
First off, I'm no lawyer, but my best friend is a DA here in Texas. He had some interesting things to say.
If AI does go bust, as it seems, they have to liquidate. All contracts would be null and void, so we have to start over. (again). Debts are paid first, then investors. Easiest way to pay off a bankruptcy is to sell off IPs. (a la Commowhore and Escom) Since they don't own them, they sell the licenses. Chump change, even with the new IPs added with the 'DE'.
Wouldn't be enough to pull their arses out of the fire.
Also, Hyperion, be it Ben, Thomas, or Hans-Jorg, stated somewhere that they added a clause in their contract that should AI pop, they retain all IPs *THEY* have created. I didn't understand this at first, but Shannon cleared it up a bit for me.
Even if AI croaks, which seems to be likely, Hyperion still owns the rights to their own IPs on the new OS design codes. Even though they're using the original code, it's STILL their IP; their code. It works the same ways as MorphOS. It's based off Amiga design and runs on Amiga hardware, but it's NOT amiga. (Before I get flamed by everyone, most of you should know that I only speak when I feel there is a need to say something. I am impartial to all. I have UAE and Amithlon and I'd like to get a Peg as well as an A1, but unless I win the lotto, it isn't going to happen. Besides, if I win the lotto, I'll use the money to bail AI *OUT* of the frying pan and into fire, but only if Bill steps down as CEO, if anything just to stop the damned 'God Bless' crap at the end of every pathetic piece of news AI calls an 'executive update.' I used to respect McEwen, but we all know hes a fop and a waste of breathable amiga air. Regardless of what people say, he's done nothing to save Amiga, other than buying the IP license from Gateway. IMO, he's no better than Medi Ahli (sp), but at least that bag of #### jumped ship before it sunk. McEwan's gonna run this baby on shore and scuttle it.)
Hyperion made a good choice when writing the terms of their contract. They can still release OS4, though it won't have the Amiga name and more than likely, will be forced to run on the A1 boxes only.
If McEwan was smart, he'd let Thendic have the DE and drop the frivilous lawsuits. (We all know DE is complete ####, can't do what was claimed (Thank you TAO) and is nothing but vapor, which is what you can expect from *ANY* company with the name 'AMIGA'.) :-?
OS4 should have never been pulled from BPlan, but McEwan had to bitch about MorphOS. For what it is, it's good and it has hell of a lot more support from developers and consumers than Amiga Inc. Thendic talks alot of #### and flames ALL over, but it's obvious they care about what few users are left in Amiga-Land, but the same goes for Eyetech and Hyperion.
Eyetech invested alot of their own money on the A1 project and I respect them for that. I also respect Hyperion for their devotion to a dead and, I'm sorry if I offend anyone, dated OS worthy only of emulation. I think it's ####ed up that they have to take side work and credit lines to fuel their project, when the parent company they're coding for doesn't support them in the slightest.
You know, it wouldnt' have hurt McEwen to show up to CeBit. Even if they didn't have much to show, even if it was only a few 'emulated' PPC modules, at least it would show that Amiga was still *ALIVE*. No, he had to play games and #### with people's beliefs, steal their money and never defend himself when charged with 'dubious' methods, except with 'It's not true.'
Are any of you the least bit suprised?? You all act as though you didn't see this coming?? I have no faith in Amiga Inc. I have no faith in the 'Amiga' name. I have *NO* faith in the people that haven't paid their employees in a year (if that indeed is the case). I have even less for Bill Buck, if anything for his pathetic attempts to stir more support from an already bleagured group of resistors.
But I do have faith in Hyperion and Eyetech.
Regardless of if AI pukes on its own words and ends up where it belongs, in the 'we could have made it' businesses, Hyperion will follow through on their word. It maybe Hyperion OS1 or whatever, but they'll get it out. At least they're honest about the dates. They don't say anything. If it's pushed back, they apologize, but also say, 'believe in us, it's worth the wait.' For some reason, that holds more for me than anything Mr. God Bless has to say.
That's why I'm waiting for OS4. I don't care about AI or ALLC. I care about Hyperion. They *ARE* Amiga.
Now if you will excuse me, Raistlin, the rest of his party and I have a date with Mangar in his tower, not to mention, I have a lottery ticket to go buy.
:-D
You know, it's funny. Never once did I think that buying a lottery ticket was worth it (to me, it's simply and 'idiot tax'.), but after reading this thread, it seems so much more worth it. :cry:
