[Setekh]

At last (heh), here is the official public statement for where HLP stands on the recent issues associated with Derek Smart's recent and future actions. This is where the staff of HLP stand; as the community, you can choose to line up with this or reject it, though we hope you find it satisfactory to represent you.

If anyone has questions regarding these matters, or feels there are points that have not been addressed, they’re welcome to contact the admins - we'll try our best to answer questions, make changes if appropriate, and help clarify anything. If you have a question about particular wording in the statement, contact Kalfireth, as he took the time to write it up. You can email or PM him through his forum profile.

[q]Greetings all,

This statement addresses Hard Light Productions' (HLP's) position regarding a number of issues that has arisen surrounding Derek Smart's decision to attempt to purchase the intellectual property (IP) rights to the FreeSpace franchise (therefore, to FreeSpace 3). The statement has been divided into a number of separate points.



1: Our stance to his attempts to acquire the IP rights.
2: Our stance to his (possible) threats of legal action.
3: Our intentions for action from this point onwards.

1: The HLP website and staff neither supports nor opposes Mr. Smart's attempt to purchase the IP rights to the FreeSpace franchise. HLP is an un-official FreeSpace fan site run by fans of the FreeSpace franchise. Until the recent collapse of Interplay (current holders of the franchises rights), it was widely held by all that there would not be a sequel (or further release) of the series. Derek’s involvement has come as a surprise to all concerned.

However at this point in time he does not hold the rights to the franchise. To this end, as I have said, HLP neither supports nor opposes his attempts. We cannot speculate about that which hasn’t happened.

2: As yet we have seen no more than a threat of legal action (Added, 2004-07-24: See this post by Derek Smart¹). We have no intention of being frightened by threats. Should action be taken then we will deal with it as it comes – but since the only mention of these actions we have seen have been on public forums on the internet, this also is speculation.

No change to the running of the site, the administration or our content and hosted projects will be made in light of these threats – as threats are not concrete.

3: Announcement of these events has taken the entire community by surprise but as I have said in point 2, Hard Light Productions shall continue to operate as normal with no changes to our content, staff or hosted sites.

At first, things seemed to go badly. However we’re looking to establish good working relationships with all in question, including Adrenaline Vault (where news of the possible acquisition was first seen) and Derek Smart. HLP has long been popular for its accommodating nature with regards to new-comers and we are looking to maintain this image. Therefore both members from Adrenaline Vault and Derek himself shall be welcome on in our community for as long as it is possible to maintain these good relations.

Sincerely,
The Hard Light Productions Staff

1 - Derek Smart, July 15th, 2004, Adrenaline Vault forums: "Let me assure you of one thing that you can go to sleep with tonite. I have FULL intentions of getting this license. If I DO get it, you and your teenny leetle friends on your Ferrous Oxide project, are effectively, shutdown because I don't piss around when it comes to IP properties. You would do well to ask around. I've sued publishers for less and I have attorneys around the world, literally on speed dial.

Now, I will leave you with that thought, as I retire for the evening.

You will eventually come to regret this day. Mark my words."[/q]

I added the reference to Derek Smart's threats of legal action as a clarification to a potential misunderstanding that was brought to my attention. // Sandwich

[Gloriano]

Well I support this statement:)

[Gortef]

Sounds good and civilized

[Flipside]

I am quite willing to abide by it. As long as things stay polite on both sides of the debate, I will keep all other opinions open.

Flipside.

[Singh]

*sides with it as well.

[an0n]

Put a size-9 '*****' on the end. It'll make it appeal to the ethnics more.

[DragonClaw]

Yeah, political bull****. But hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.

Then again, I haven't even bothered posting anything about the whole Derek thing. I could care less really. Wasn't expecting FS3, and not gonna buy it

[an0n]

Originally posted by DragonClaw
Yeah, political bull****. But hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.

Not according to my college coursework, you don't.

[kasperl]

Originally posted by an0n
Not according to my college coursework, you don't.

Didn't you drop out?

[an0n]

No. I just failed spectacularly.

IIRC the highest mark you could possibly get (IE, 100% in all the tests) without doing coursework was like 1-2 points into a C. I got E's and D's without any coursework.

So, in retrospect, if I'd done it I'd've maybe got some C's and B's.

Ah, well. Live and learn.

[Ashrak]

yes he did


and thatstatement thing is poilitically correct

[Setekh]

Thanks for the support, folks. But try to keep it on-topic.

Originally posted by an0n
Put a size-9 '*****' on the end. It'll make it appeal to the ethnics more.

Huh? Sincerely, the Hard Light Productions Staff Bi-- ahhh, never mind.

[vyper]

Interesting.

Looks like Thunder can say little by saying lots, I like this.  

[an0n]

One thing, guys: Does it hurt, straddling the fence like that?

[Sandwich]

Originally posted by Ashrak
and thatstatement thing is poilitically correct

Yes, it is.

[Gloriano]

Originally posted by Setekh
Huh? Sincerely, the Hard Light Productions Staff Bi-- ahhh, never mind.

that made me laugh somehow:p


end of OT!

[Fineus]

Originally posted by an0n
One thing, guys: Does it hurt, straddling the fence like that?

It would, if I let what happens on the internet get to me. We do what we have to do to get by.

[Starks]

FreeSpace???? That's the Bose spelling...

Freespace, is what you mean...

[MatthewPapa]

I guess I can support this.

[Rictor]

Originally posted by Setekh

1: Our stance to his attempts to acquire the IP rights.
2: Our stance to his (possible) threats of legal action.
3: Our intentions for action from this point onwards.

1: The HLP website and staff neither supports nor opposes Mr. Smart's attempt to purchase the IP rights to the FreeSpace franchise. HLP is an un-official FreeSpace fan site run by fans of the FreeSpace franchise. Until the recent collapse of Interplay (current holders of the franchises rights), it was widely held by all that there would not be a sequel (or further release) of the series. Derek’s involvement has come as a surprise to all concerned.

However at this point in time he does not hold the rights to the franchise. To this end, as I have said, HLP neither supports nor opposes his attempts. We cannot speculate about that which hasn’t happened.

What I disagree with here is the "neither for nor against". Now, assuming that he does aquire the license, since all this is irrelevant otherwise, I assume this position would stay the same? As we have quite clearly seen, the vast majority of the members who make up HLP, not to mention the gaming community at large, are firmly against Derek Smart's involvement with FS3. Now, these sentiments may not have been expressed politely, but it has been made clear where everyone stands.

What I don't understand is, if there is such overwhelming support for opposing the idea of Derek Smart's Freespace 3, by both HLP members and gamers in general, why take this neutral position? I can understand the wish to remain "above the petty quarrels of the masses", but if this statement is being issued by Hard Light Productions, should it not reflect the wishes of the majority of individuals who are Hard Light Productions? As "the government" of HLP, do you not have an obligation to follow the wishes of "the people"?
 

Originally posted by Setekh
2: As yet we have seen no more than a threat of legal action. We have no intention of being frightened by threats. Should action be taken then we will deal with it as it comes – but since the only mention of these actions we have seen have been on public forums on the internet, this also is speculation.

No change to the running of the site, the administration or our content and hosted projects will be made in light of these threats – as threats are not concrete.

Agreed.

Originally posted by Setekh
3: Announcement of these events has taken the entire community by surprise but as I have said in point 2, Hard Light Productions shall continue to operate as normal with no changes to our content, staff or hosted sites.

At first, things seemed to go badly. However we’re looking to establish good working relationships with all in question, including Adrenaline Vault (where news of the possible acquisition was first seen) and Derek Smart. HLP has long been popular for its accommodating nature with regards to new-comers and we are looking to maintain this image. Therefore both members from Adrenaline Vault and Derek himself shall be welcome on in our community for as long as it is possible to maintain these good relations.

Sincerely,
The Hard Light Productions Staff[/q]

More or less agreed. However, I have some reservation about being nice to Derek Smart. Within his first three posts here, he had already insulted, belittled or otherwise attacked several members, not to mention HLP in general. I think that you will find that however agressive people may have been during that period, the replies to Smart's original posts, both here and on AVault, where for the most part civilized. It was only after he started flaming, that things got really bad. I remember Flipside, aldo, Tiara, Thorn and others being quite polite at first.

If anyone else had signed up, and by his third post was aready engaged in a world-class flamewar, he would be banned so fast it would make his head spin. I have nothing against Derek Smart posting here, in fact, if he can engage in a calm and constructive debate, I would even welcome it, but because of his general contempt for the community, I don't see why anyone should go out of their way not to step of his toes.