Adam Hinkley Chat Transcript - Part 1 of 2 From Monday, August 17th, 1998 @ 7:00 PM Central At the LIME Hotline Server: hotline://lime.mindvision.com/ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mach (Msg Que: get ready people! J. Stewart: Heya Adam. MakNet (Msg. : Told 'ya he'd be here... hinks: hellloooo all! Mach (Msg Que: Ok people: Hinks is in the buidling! prosthetic he: yay Bugg´: welcome adam! =) hinks: thx Mach (Msg Que: Ok before we get started... Mach (Msg Que: Guest chat is off. MakNet (Msg. : Leave it on for another 5 min. MakNet (Msg. : If Adam doesn't mind hinks: fine with me Agasthya (Msg: ON! Taliesin: how's the weather in australia? hinks: it's overcast but not too cold here today hinks: next q? MakNet (Msg. : Does it get cold there? Rud´(Question: adam> can you send me a kangaroo? MakNet (Msg. : It's winter now, right? hinks: yes it's winter, but doesn't get cold, doesn't snow MakNet (Msg. : Cool Agasthya (Msg: Guest chat off hinks: rudy - sure, I'll lend you my kangaroo that I ride to work on every day MakNet (Msg. : Well...now this is quaint. MakNet (Msg. : Message us your questions then MakNet (Msg. : Do you live in the city or not? What kinds of animals do you have roaming in your backyard? And wallabies or tarantulas? MakNet (Msg. : And = any... Mach (Msg Que: Alright before we get started hinks: I live in the suburbs, but it's not too far to drive to the city center hinks: contrary to what most people think, australia is not crawling with wallabies and kangaroos :) MakNet (Msg. : And animals in yoru backyard? What kinds? MakNet (Msg. : Ok... hinks: the only animals roaming the backyard are birds Mach (Msg Que: We'd like to welcome Hinks (hi). Guest chat is off. PLease no name changing. Ready Adam? hinks: yep MakNet (Msg. : From the extremely practical, to the completely nonsensical, we'll ask them to Mr. Hinkley tonight... MakNet (Msg. : First question MakNet (Msg. : More of an ice-breaker... MakNet (Msg. : Are beers in Australia anything like those "Foster's" commercials on American TV? (i.e. are they huge?) Mach (Msg Que: Yes. I have a can/ hinks: we have fosters here, but let me assure you it's not like Crocodile Dundee :) zarf (Msg. Qu: I have a PC why is it that when i am on the tracker looking around,Why is it that the PC users get like this blue screen on the comp..What is that all about.. MakNet (Msg. : Noah asks if you drink real aussie beer like Cooper's rather than fake aussie beer like Foster's? :-) hinks: the blue screen is a crash *** hinks is not much of a beer fan actually Agasthya (Msg: what's hinks's version of the story about why he's no longer at hotline? MakNet (Msg. : that's pretty much the biggie right there Mach (Msg Que: when did you leave? why? etc.. hinks: ok, that's a big question I'm sure everyone wants to know hinks: yeah hinks: Well, basically I was naive and got sucked into signing a bad deal hinks: and now I've lost control of Hotline Mach (Msg Que: was there a specific incident? hinks: yes, signing the deal MakNet (Msg. : But what made you leave? hinks: I should never have gotten involved with the company MakNet (Msg. : Have you officially left? hinks: as so many people have said to me, the company ruined everything Mach (Msg Que: so you are not on leave? hinks: I mean, for starters, when was the last major update to hotline? hinks: so long ago I can't even remember MakNet (Msg. : December maybe? zarf: the last time was when private chat was implemented hinks: that's right, I am NOT on leave as Jason Roks would have you believe zarf: that was a while ago Mach (Msg Que: Do you still own company shares? Was Hotline profitable for you? MakNet (Msg. : Stop changing names hinks: yes I still own a percentage of the company (not that it does much good for me currently) MakNet (Msg. : What were the specifics of the deal? hinks: hotline - the company - was not profitable for me MakNet (Msg. : We're serious. Keep your names. You choose Agasthya (Msg: Who owns the rights to AW? Are you still working on it? hinks: ALL of the money I earnt before the company, I have now lost due to the company MakNet (Msg. : How so? hinks: paying for flights overseas, accomodation, then legal expenses etc etc MakNet (Msg. : Oh...we see MakNet (Msg. : What are you doing now? Mach (Msg Que: legal expenses? Mach (Msg Que: speaking of which.. hinks: the company owns the rights to Hotline etc, which is why I can't work on hotline anymore Mach (Msg Que: Jason Roks accused you of stealing money, that's false, correct? hinks: he did??? jeez hinks: there wasn't any money to steal MakNet (Msg. : Could you make a completely new client? Would that be legal? Too much work? hinks: yes a lot of people have asked me that, but hotline communications really have me screwed - I'm not allowed to compete with the company Mach (Msg Que: Do you own any of the company still? hinks: and a new client would compete with the company hinks: so not allowed to do that MakNet (Msg. : that's terrible... hinks: that must have been someone from hotline comms :) Agasthya (Msg: heh zarf: most likly MakNet (Msg. : accd. to Roks, Hinks basically walked out on a 51% stake in the company, and still technically owns that stake... what's the real story? Mach (Msg Que: Stop msging me questions for a sec plz Mach (Msg Que: Roks also claims you encrypted all of the Hotline code, is that anoter lie? hinks: 51% is incorrect, it's less than that, and I still own it, but the problem is it doesn't do any good - I have no control over hotline, and that's what matters Mach (Msg Que: that's rough :( hinks: it's not a lie that I encrypted code, I had to, to save my butt - if I hadn't I would have had absolutely NO bargaining power and the company could screw me even further Agasthya (Msg: Is there is any consequence to competeing w/hlcomm, and if so, what it is. hinks: the consequence is hl comm will most likely sue me if I do Mach: Ok, moving along Mach: this topic seems to be covered :) hinks: they've already threatened me hinks: I think now everyone who uses Hotline needs to decide whether they want the creator of hotline working on hotline, or a company that has obviously failed to deliver results Mach: Do you know what the future holds for Hotline? New protocol? Changes? hinks: I leave it up to the users to decide that, and then take action Mach: We assume you would like to be working on Hotline again, then? hinks: let me assure you, if I ever get control of hotline again, I will be doing a MASSIVE upgrade MakNet (Msg. : Even if you aren't allowed to write a new client, can others do it? Technically, is that legal, or are we under the same "non-competition" agreement as you? hinks: yes others can do it MakNet (Msg. : Do you hold a grudge against Jason Roks? hinks: I'm under non-competition because of the document I naively signed Agasthya (Msg: Please ask him if it's legal for regular people to write their own hotline clients. MakNet (Msg. : I just did :) Mach: Well what does the future hold for Hotline? Do you know what was going on before you left? hinks: I don't hold a grudge against Jason Roks, I just want him to consider giving hotline back to the person that created it, rather than keeping it to himself, where it will surely die Mach: So no upgrades are planned? hinks: I certainly can't upgrade hotline, I don't have the rights to it, and there's the non-competition thing Mach: would Jason most likely pursue legal action if you released AW and the HL source? hinks: the only way I could work on hotline again would be if every hotline user rallyed against hotline comms and convinced them to give me back the rights to hotline zarf: i will go for it! MakNet (Msg. : What can we do as users to see that that happens? hinks: I suppose you could email everyone at hotline comms and tell them what you think Mach: jason@hotlinesw.com MakNet (Msg. : Would they listen? zarf: hinks, what is your oppion of the icon lists? hinks: mak, dunno, but you can try Mach: would Jason most likely pursue legal action if you released AW and the HL source? hinks: probably Mach: People keep asking me :) hinks: most likely zarf: hinks, what is your oppion of the icon lists? Mach: (AW is Hotline's special development system) hinks: I would rather have icons transferred over the net, which would mean anyone could have their own icon without needing to get it put into an icon list, but ofcourse that won't be happening unless hotline comms can be pursuaded to give hotline back to me MakNet (Msg. : Adam, what are you doing now, and what are your plans for the future? Are you looking for work? hinks: yeah, I'm looking for work, but it's tough because I'm not allowed to compete with the company, which REALLY limits my choices MakNet (Msg. : From Asterisk: Many people think you are lying, why should we believe you instead of Jason or Terry or the others? hinks: because I am the creator and founder of Hotline ? MakNet (Msg. : From Sublime: If the the users decide they want you, Hinks, to do HL, will you actually update it? Will we still see 12 month gaps between updates? hinks: well, let me put it this way. How fast did hotline updated B.C. (before company) ? And then how fast did it update A.C? (after company) zarf: hinks, do you think you could realese some hotline easter eggs? Mach (plz *no: or how to get your icon? zarf: please? can they get you for that? hinks: as any long time hotline user will know, it updated very frequently, and then there was the company, and the updates ceased Agasthya (Msg: Adam, how long are you not allowed to compete with HLSW? Usually there is a time frame for these things. Mach (plz *no: ok before you bombard us with messages.. yes he just left and yes he is coming back. MakNet (Msg. : Adam is having technical problems, apparently... Agasthya (Msg: Umm...I think that Adam's connection has died, please wait a few moments hinks: I'm back hinks: my modem cut out MakNet (Msg. : Yeah! MakNet (Msg. : Resume... MakNet (Msg. : IF the Hotline protocol isn't copyrighted, how can jr and the rest of the company pursue legal action? hinks: because unfortunately I signed an agreement MakNet (Msg. : You already told us that alternate clients were legal, but what do you, personally, think of them? Good or bad? Agasthya (Msg: Adam, how long are you not allowed to compete with HLSW? Usually there is a time frame for these things. hinks: Agasthya - indefinitely, while the company exists hinks: I think anyone who wants to do their own client - go for it, I wish I could do a new one too Mach (plz *no: stop changing your names! Agasthya (no : Is it legal for you to help someone making an alt. client? hinks: no, agreement specifically says I can't even help or work for people who are competing zarf (msg Qs): hinks, do you think you could realese some hotline easter eggs? also, someone wants to know if you read over the contract before signing it. hinks: it's pretty restrictive MakNet (Msg. : Arlo makes a powerful statement to you: hinks, me and the other old-timers (you know who we are!) stand by you 100% and will do whatever we can to see you vindicated in this ultimate example of pseudo-corporate lameness hinks: thanks for your support, I'm glad someone cares MakNet (Msg. : Someone asked: What is the deal behing the easter egg with the song that says something like this "did you ever wonder when your mom kisses you goodnight if she just gave your dady a blowjob" hinks: zarf - yes I read the contract, but you know how it is, legal mumbo jumbo, I should have gotten proper advice before Mach (plz *no: interesting: a show of support from the users, a show of immaturity from Hotline Comm staffers zarf (msg Qs): yea zarf (msg Qs): that is really ugly, hinks Agasthya (no : Adam, What is the deal behing the easter egg hoozyurdaddy Mach (plz *no: Anyone interesting easter eggs in general? hinks: it's just an amusing easter egg, probably out of taste :) hinks: there aren't any more eggs, all of them have been found MakNet (Msg. : Did you like the song? Is that why you put it in? MakNet (Msg. : Or it made you chuckle, at least? hinks: it made me chuckle, but probably shouldn't have put it in, oh well :) MakNet (Msg. : question from Human: why did it take you 12 months to relay the truth (that you had left the company) to us? hinks: I was pretty upset, I was mostly offline for a long time MakNet (Msg. : Does the contract you signed cover ALL Internet software, or just the Hotline protocol? zarf (msg Qs): what was the benifit to you in the contract? hinks: mak - anything that competes with the company, which means any internet software basically hinks: the benefit was owning shares in the company, but as I've discovered that means jack if you don't have any control over the company zarf (msg Qs): hinks, can those faithfull hotline users who payed for hotline and got 1 or 2 realeses sue hotline comm for not pursuing to create hotline? Mach (plz *no: we wish :/ hinks: I doubt it __________________________________________________________________________________________________End of Part 1. Please see Part 2 of this transcript.