Comments on: Google Rips Down HuddleChat http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/ Startup and Technology News Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:19:46 -0800 hourly 1 By: lbrandy.com » Blog Archive » The 37signals Effect http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2598487 lbrandy.com » Blog Archive » The 37signals Effect Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:25:33 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2598487 [...] Now, if you are 37signals when this happens, you have 80,000 subscribers and a huge brand name. You can complain that you’ve been copied. You can get quite a bit of press, and bunches of bloggers crying foul. You can make a big stink in the media. You can posture about being copied and question the big company’s core values. In the end, you can make a big PR problem for the big company who doesn’t particularly want to fight that fight and so relents and takes it down. [...] [...] Now, if you are 37signals when this happens, you have 80,000 subscribers and a huge brand name. You can complain that you’ve been copied. You can get quite a bit of press, and bunches of bloggers crying foul. You can make a big stink in the media. You can posture about being copied and question the big company’s core values. In the end, you can make a big PR problem for the big company who doesn’t particularly want to fight that fight and so relents and takes it down. [...]

]]> By: sarjono http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2576316 sarjono Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:37:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2576316 and why guys @37Signals not doing this with Active Collab WTF! hate idea censorship and why guys @37Signals not doing this with Active Collab

WTF! hate idea censorship

]]> By: Google takes aim at 37 Signals! : Texas Startup Blog http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2187310 Google takes aim at 37 Signals! : Texas Startup Blog Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:01:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2187310 [...] to his company’s Campfire application.  Google immediately took down the application.  Mike Arrington and others suggested that by taking it down Google was engaging in censorship setting a bad [...] [...] to his company’s Campfire application.  Google immediately took down the application.  Mike Arrington and others suggested that by taking it down Google was engaging in censorship setting a bad [...]

]]> By: Google Takes Down HuddleChat After Complaints About 37Signals Ripoff | Technology Watch http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2182520 Google Takes Down HuddleChat After Complaints About 37Signals Ripoff | Technology Watch Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:32:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2182520 [...] wasn’t meant to be an official Google product that competed with 37Signals’ Campfire. Techcrunch’s Michael Arrington claims that “this is the first case of censorship on the new Google App Engine platform, and [...] [...] wasn’t meant to be an official Google product that competed with 37Signals’ Campfire. Techcrunch’s Michael Arrington claims that “this is the first case of censorship on the new Google App Engine platform, and [...]

]]> By: Speaking out of one own’s behind: Michael Arrington [Bananaranha] http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2164850 Speaking out of one own’s behind: Michael Arrington [Bananaranha] Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:43:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2164850 [...] you believe this [...] [...] you believe this [...]

]]> By: nortypig » Blog Archive » Building on Google App Engine http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2163840 nortypig » Blog Archive » Building on Google App Engine Sat, 12 Apr 2008 05:17:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2163840 [...] By the way, Google’s response to criticism of HuddleChat - a pretty close and very free clone of 37 Signal’s Campfire - was an interesting Google App Engine story.  [...] [...] By the way, Google’s response to criticism of HuddleChat - a pretty close and very free clone of 37 Signal’s Campfire – was an interesting Google App Engine story.  [...]

]]> By: Devin http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2163417 Devin Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:44:36 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2163417 Okay, I think it is time to start writing Open Source versions of 37signals' products... I am in. Who's coming with me? Okay, I think it is time to start writing Open Source versions of 37signals’ products… I am in. Who’s coming with me?

]]> By: Ron http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2162640 Ron Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:58:20 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2162640 The question of stealing is pretty hot now. I've heard that <a href="http://www.wrike.com" rel="nofollow">Wrike</a> was robbed. 5pm stole their email integration feature. I don't think stealing is a good way of making business. But I also think the a company like Google wouldn't do such a thing. 37signals guys, sorry, I don't believe you. The question of stealing is pretty hot now. I’ve heard that Wrike was robbed. 5pm stole their email integration feature. I don’t think stealing is a good way of making business. But I also think the a company like Google wouldn’t do such a thing. 37signals guys, sorry, I don’t believe you.

]]> By: Stephan http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2160835 Stephan Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:38:54 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2160835 The really interesting question here is why Google would go to such lengths to not disgruntle 37Signals. I'd guess that it's more about good relationships with the RoR community than a (highly unlikely) copyright case over Campfire. Reading between these lines, I bet Google is planning to release App Engine for RoR in the near future. The really interesting question here is why Google would go to such lengths to not disgruntle 37Signals. I’d guess that it’s more about good relationships with the RoR community than a (highly unlikely) copyright case over Campfire. Reading between these lines, I bet Google is planning to release App Engine for RoR in the near future.

]]> By: boo http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2159874 boo Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:04:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2159874 i'm a paid subscriber to campfire and basecamp. for what its worth and without much further comment i'll say that i've discontinued my campfire subscription effective immediately and will seek to phase out basecamp as well. i’m a paid subscriber to campfire and basecamp.

for what its worth and without much further comment i’ll say that i’ve discontinued my campfire subscription effective immediately and will seek to phase out basecamp as well.

]]> By: Andy Davies http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2159144 Andy Davies Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:35:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2159144 A few weeks ago, weren't 37 Signals busy protesting against people calling them arrogant? A few weeks ago, weren’t 37 Signals busy protesting against people calling them arrogant?

]]> By: Joe the Mango http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2158661 Joe the Mango Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:20:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2158661 "And 37Signals CEO Jason Fried used HuddleChat as a PR opportunity, telling ReadWriteWeb “We’re flattered Google thinks Campfire is a great product, we’re just disappointed that they stooped so low to basically copy it feature for feature, layout for layout…We thought that would be beneath Google, but maybe its time to reevaluate what they stand for.”" Do they have to stooped so low to attack Google like that? Do they have a grudge or something about Google? I mean, for a "CEO" to say something like that (or whoever wrote the words of their CEO [which usually wasn't really the CEO himself]), I mean, c'mon. This should have been fine: "We're flattered Google thinks Campfire is a great product." PERIOD. They were 'flattered' then compete head on! Not end it with "we're disappointed.... blah. blah... blah" “And 37Signals CEO Jason Fried used HuddleChat as a PR opportunity, telling ReadWriteWeb “We’re flattered Google thinks Campfire is a great product, we’re just disappointed that they stooped so low to basically copy it feature for feature, layout for layout…We thought that would be beneath Google, but maybe its time to reevaluate what they stand for.””

Do they have to stooped so low to attack Google like that? Do they have a grudge or something about Google? I mean, for a “CEO” to say something like that (or whoever wrote the words of their CEO [which usually wasn't really the CEO himself]), I mean, c’mon.

This should have been fine: “We’re flattered Google thinks Campfire is a great product.” PERIOD.

They were ‘flattered’ then compete head on! Not end it with “we’re disappointed…. blah. blah… blah”

]]> By: Paul http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2158651 Paul Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:14:28 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2158651 Regardless of whether you support campfire or not, Google should not have given in to them. Clone or not campfire should use this Huddlechat situation as motivation to better there product rather than moan like a five year old. Zoho and editgrid are not crying, instead they have gotten off there ass and tried to beat Google to the punch. Zoho used googles own product for offline access. Editgrid is capitalizing on the iphone as well as hosted solutions to push there product. No one there is crying wolf. In fact I don't see M$ crying either. Instead all of these companies see that Google offers great products and they look to the future to try and offer better features Google has yet to offer. Shame on Google for giving in instead of forcing them to be innovative and shame on campfire for sitting on there ass instead of producing new offering for there product. The world wide web is a fast growing business world and I say if campfire doesn't want to evolve let them fall to the way side with the rest of the has beens. Regardless of whether you support campfire or not, Google should not have given in to them. Clone or not campfire should use this Huddlechat situation as motivation to better there product rather than moan like a five year old. Zoho and editgrid are not crying, instead they have gotten off there ass and tried to beat Google to the punch. Zoho used googles own product for offline access. Editgrid is capitalizing on the iphone as well as hosted solutions to push there product. No one there is crying wolf. In fact I don’t see M$ crying either. Instead all of these companies see that Google offers great products and they look to the future to try and offer better features Google has yet to offer. Shame on Google for giving in instead of forcing them to be innovative and shame on campfire for sitting on there ass instead of producing new offering for there product. The world wide web is a fast growing business world and I say if campfire doesn’t want to evolve let them fall to the way side with the rest of the has beens.

]]> By: likejazz.COM · 구글 웹 어플리케이션 플랫폼: App Engine http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2158617 likejazz.COM · 구글 웹 어플리케이션 플랫폼: App Engine Thu, 10 Apr 2008 03:57:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2158617 [...] 그 중에는 37signals의 Campfire를 연상케하는 채팅 어플리케이션도 있어 눈길을 끈다.(이 예제는 문제가 불거지자 결국 내렸다.) [...] [...] 그 중에는 37signals의 Campfire를 연상케하는 채팅 어플리케이션도 있어 눈길을 끈다.(이 예제는 문제가 불거지자 결국 내렸다.) [...]

]]> By: Chris W. http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2158613 Chris W. Thu, 10 Apr 2008 03:53:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2158613 Another up and coming group chat and collaboration app. http://www.blabbr.org Another up and coming group chat and collaboration app.

http://www.blabbr.org

]]> By: Xero http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2158189 Xero Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:21:20 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2158189 Actually Campfire is a ripoff of Echo 2. http://www.zedshaw.com/blog/2008-04-09.html Actually Campfire is a ripoff of Echo 2.

http://www.zeds...2008-04-09.html

]]> By: Si http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2157941 Si Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:58:36 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2157941 Try http://www.iwannachat.net/ You might like it. Disclaimer(s): It's lacking a bit of polish right now (and rotting a bit since it's more of a pet project ;-), and if you happened to take a look at the site I'm one of the developers. Try http://www.iwannachat.net/
You might like it.

Disclaimer(s): It’s lacking a bit of polish right now (and rotting a bit since it’s more of a pet project ;-) , and if you happened to take a look at the site I’m one of the developers.

]]> By: Robin http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2157852 Robin Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:13:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2157852 Isn't it interesting that 37signals product could be so easily cloned? Isn't *THAT* telling us more about *THEIR* product than about these people who has done this thing in their spare time? Bring back Huddle Chat, it was great – why pay 37signals for a product that can be done cheaper and better? Isn’t it interesting that 37signals product could be so easily cloned? Isn’t *THAT* telling us more about *THEIR* product than about these people who has done this thing in their spare time?
Bring back Huddle Chat, it was great – why pay 37signals for a product that can be done cheaper and better?

]]> By: SearchCap: The Day In Search, April 9, 2008 | Search Engine Studies http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2157834 SearchCap: The Day In Search, April 9, 2008 | Search Engine Studies Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:05:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2157834 [...] Google Rips Down HuddleChat, TechCrunch [...] [...] Google Rips Down HuddleChat, TechCrunch [...]

]]> By: Google App Engine « Chicharron con pelos http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2157824 Google App Engine « Chicharron con pelos Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:01:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2157824 [...] de autenticación basado en sus propios servicios, y la dada de baja de HuddleChat está causando fuertes controversias entre blgos especialmente en [...] [...] de autenticación basado en sus propios servicios, y la dada de baja de HuddleChat está causando fuertes controversias entre blgos especialmente en [...]

]]> By: doug http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2157694 doug Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:17:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2157694 As a believer in Occam's Razor... - 37signals just had, according to Jason Fried, one of their apps completely cloned (feature-by-feature!) in the spare time of a few Google employees. - Jeff Bezos (the Amazon guy) is an investor in 37signals. Amazon Web Services is clearly competing the same general market as Google App Engine. - 37signals is the force, and source, of Ruby on Rails. Google App Engine is using only Python right now. Python has a powerful, yet less popular, Rails competitor in Django. The comments by Jason Fried were a natural, perhaps subconscious, reaction to the obvious: the launch of Google App Engine was not good news for 37signals. Not for Amazon. Not for Ruby on Rails (at least until Google App Engine becomes language neutral). As a believer in Occam’s Razor…

- 37signals just had, according to Jason Fried, one of their apps completely cloned (feature-by-feature!) in the spare time of a few Google employees.

- Jeff Bezos (the Amazon guy) is an investor in 37signals. Amazon Web Services is clearly competing the same general market as Google App Engine.

- 37signals is the force, and source, of Ruby on Rails. Google App Engine is using only Python right now. Python has a powerful, yet less popular, Rails competitor in Django.

The comments by Jason Fried were a natural, perhaps subconscious, reaction to the obvious: the launch of Google App Engine was not good news for 37signals. Not for Amazon. Not for Ruby on Rails (at least until Google App Engine becomes language neutral).

]]> By: Jason Fried http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2157619 Jason Fried Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:51:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2157619 <em>Claiming that 37signals invented browser based chat is pretty much bs.</em> Who claimed that? It wasn't us, that's for sure. Claiming that 37signals invented browser based chat is pretty much bs.

Who claimed that? It wasn’t us, that’s for sure.

]]> By: Scott Frazer http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2157444 Scott Frazer Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:40:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2157444 This seems like a good place to link to Steven Frank's (of Panic software) discussion of software success. http://stevenf.com/2008/03/the_first_the_free_and_the_good.php Neither Campfire or Huddlechat was the first group-chat-over-http. Campfire was arguably the good one, and then Huddlechat came along as the free knockoff. There will always be free knockoffs of trivial software (and chat is definitely trivial software). The fact that the feature list was replicated so exactly should probably have been taken in stride as flattery. This seems like a good place to link to Steven Frank’s (of Panic software) discussion of software success.

http://stevenf....nd_the_good.php

Neither Campfire or Huddlechat was the first group-chat-over-http. Campfire was arguably the good one, and then Huddlechat came along as the free knockoff.

There will always be free knockoffs of trivial software (and chat is definitely trivial software). The fact that the feature list was replicated so exactly should probably have been taken in stride as flattery.

]]> By: Mika Tuupola http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2157401 Mika Tuupola Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:27:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2157401 Claiming that 37signals invented browser based chat is pretty much bs. I used to work in Kiss FM Finland 1997-1998. One of the main attractions of kiss.fi website was the browser based chat. Userlist on the right. Text entry in the bottom. Chatter above the text entry form. All updating automatically. Basically an endless html page. We were running Digital Unix back then. Software itself was called Chatserver made by some Canadian company whose name I do not remember. Tried to search Google and archive.org but sadly did not find the company. Atleast I found somethings. FAQ which I wrote for users with technical problems :) http://tinyurl.com/4c4jaf Claiming that 37signals invented browser based chat is pretty much bs. I used to work in Kiss FM Finland 1997-1998. One of the main attractions of kiss.fi website was the browser based chat. Userlist on the right. Text entry in the bottom. Chatter above the text entry form. All updating automatically. Basically an endless html page.

We were running Digital Unix back then. Software itself was called Chatserver made by some Canadian company whose name I do not remember. Tried to search Google and archive.org but sadly did not find the company.

Atleast I found somethings. FAQ which I wrote for users with technical problems :)

http://tinyurl.com/4c4jaf

]]> By: Tim http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/comment-page-3/#comment-2157281 Tim Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:55:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/google-to-close-huddlechat/#comment-2157281 "And why, since HuddleChat is not an official Google product, was it Google that made the decision to pull it down and not the developers who created it? Google was very careful to say that they were not affiliated with HuddleChat while it was up - that, apparently, wasn’t the case." You know, it's entirely possible that Google has contracted with its developers to ensure that if the developers create something on the platform that violates or potentially violates someone elses' intellectual property, then Google can pull it. That doesn't mean Google owns or controls any of it. They likely just retain the right to not have infringing material on their platform. Smart move, it seems, rather than censorship or some show of affiliation. Not that I know any of this or anything about the situation: I just know how I would cover my bases if I were Google. “And why, since HuddleChat is not an official Google product, was it Google that made the decision to pull it down and not the developers who created it? Google was very careful to say that they were not affiliated with HuddleChat while it was up – that, apparently, wasn’t the case.”

You know, it’s entirely possible that Google has contracted with its developers to ensure that if the developers create something on the platform that violates or potentially violates someone elses’ intellectual property, then Google can pull it. That doesn’t mean Google owns or controls any of it. They likely just retain the right to not have infringing material on their platform. Smart move, it seems, rather than censorship or some show of affiliation.

Not that I know any of this or anything about the situation: I just know how I would cover my bases if I were Google.

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