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Replit used legal threats to kill my open-source project

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Re: Replit used legal threats to kill my open-source project

#651

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It goes both ways. Imagine Replit’s attorney going after OP. If OP didn’t take down the site, then suing them is going to be a huge expense & waste of time. Is Replit really gonna pay some corporate attorney $600-ish per hour to harass someone? You don’t even need a lawyer to show up in court and say “I’m a broke ass new grad, and these guys are trying to take down my website. I don’t even know why, but I’m dragging…

>> It goes both ways. Imagine Replit’s attorney going after OP. If OP didn’t take down the site, then suing them is going to be a huge expense & waste of time. Is Replit really gonna pay some corporate attorney $600-ish per hour to harass someone? You don’t even need a lawyer to show up in court and say “I’m a broke ass new grad, and these guys are trying to take down my website. I don’t even know why, but I’m draggi…

John Oliver is actually a really good source for this sort of point as he dedicated an episode[1] to the trials and tribulations of his lawsuit against Murray Energy - something he described as a SLAPP suit which I think is a fair viewpoint.

The replit case is especially interesting since it could be a lot more personal (because the dev behind it previously worked for them and people hold grudges) and also because it might actually be a lot more valid then a lot of other frivolous C&Ds we see (since they were a former employee and it would be impossible to claim they were unaware of how replit worked at a very basic level). I think this lawsuit is a lot riskier than most and replit certainly does have a leg to stand on in open court.

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN8bJb8biZU

Re: Replit used legal threats to kill my open-source project

#655
post #7

If I’m reading those emails correctly, Amjad the CEO directly emailed you occasionally. It is pretty stunning that as the CEO of the company, he would stoop to what I interpret as pretty unprofessional communication and petty threats. I also am failing to connect the dots about why Replit would even feel threatened - if you were as helpful of an intern as described, you’d think they would recognize that you had good…

Well, I wrote a small comment here on replit, and their CEO actually tracked me down by username on another forum, and sent me a PM there.

Nothing harmful, he was just curious about what I liked or didn't like about using replit - tbh I found it pretty cool that they're so close to the user base. Saw the message weeks afterwards, and forgot the reply him.

Re: Replit used legal threats to kill my open-source project

#656

> we’re also excited to announce one of the first (of many!) projects that Amjad has worked on with us: Codecademy Labs, the easiest way to play with JavaScript, Ruby, and Python online I'll just leave this here so we can all bask in the insane hypocrisy of this entire episode. https://www.codecademy.com/resources/blog/amjad-joins-codeca... Edit: See Amjad's response below – seems Repl.it may have pre-dated this hiri…

Cheaters always watching over their shoulder. How can you trust people if you know they can't trust you? Or worse, you can't trust yourself!

Re: Replit used legal threats to kill my open-source project

#657
post #512

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I am aware that this is not the 1950's superman definition of justice. It’s not any definition of justice, its simply the rule of the powerful over the weak.

So, at least in the US justice system it's one dollar, one vote.

I don't think that's quite fair since the US justice system does allow for and has come to include advocacy organizations like the EFF and NAACP, and, even without those organizations usually individuals will end up paying significantly less for the same legal services (since most lawyers do have morals and will try and make their services affordable to less well off clients).

But... other than those allowances... Yea, money is pretty important in the US justice system.

Re: Replit used legal threats to kill my open-source project

#658

> we’re also excited to announce one of the first (of many!) projects that Amjad has worked on with us: Codecademy Labs, the easiest way to play with JavaScript, Ruby, and Python online I'll just leave this here so we can all bask in the insane hypocrisy of this entire episode. https://www.codecademy.com/resources/blog/amjad-joins-codeca... Edit: See Amjad's response below – seems Repl.it may have pre-dated this hiri…

[deleted]

Re: Replit used legal threats to kill my open-source project

#659
The CEO instead of even representing his side in a proper way and justify his accusation of source code copying, he instead retweeted another random guy tweet complaining that people here at HN are shredding him. He seem to consider himself a victim.

https://twitter.com/amasad

I think it is good thing that people start punish these CEOs who believe they can do whatever they want and that world revolve around their product.

Re: Replit used legal threats to kill my open-source project

#660

So this is when we purchase "fuckreplit.com", offer a far superior clone and watch as the free market does its magic? Every time I read a story like this I just hope the business dies, and for any employees it's time to jump ship, you really do not want to be working for a CEO who makes comments and threats. Time to release that source code, have 100 clones appear and let this loser sue everyone into misery - I'm sur…

May I suggest replsh.it ?
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