Evil is as Zentu probably does
Apparently Maui X-Stream is hyping their new product, The Zentu Platform, which is billed as the third generation of their VX30 Codec and a video encoding tool for streaming media. Riiiiight.
They've got a press release and everything.
*bangs head against desk* You couldn't make this stuff up if you tried, and I have a feeling when someone takes the time to deconstruct Ventu they'll find interesting things. For newer readers who don't understand why I'm mixing brandy with the coffee before noon after seeing this, the company behind Ventu has an.. interesting... history when it comes to their video encoders and other products.
The following links should be enough to get you up to speed, especially if you go in reverse chronology.
- MXS and CherryOS archives, where you'll want to start with The Pits in CherryOS.
And then the ones on VX30, which are more directly applicable to Zentu:
- MXS and VX30 archives, where you'll want to start with Deconstructing Maui X-Stream.
The stuff Jim Kartes and Arben Kryeziu pull makes my soul hurt, and it's made worse by the fact that I'm not supposed to talk much about them while some legal things still unravel. Thank god for Yano, who is the only IP lawyer I'm aware of running around in a Cow shirt on weekends.
Posted by drunkenbatmanNovember 02, 2005, at 12:02 PM
Comments (24)
Posted by: Rosyna at November 2, 2005 12:28 PM
I thought you always mixed brandy and coffee. And vodka injected tomatoes.
Posted by: J. Hart at November 2, 2005 12:47 PM
It's been long enough I wonder how many people will download and use this without knowing the history. Hundreds? Thousands?
Posted by: Derek at November 2, 2005 12:58 PM
Maybe in part it's because the EFF is too busy running around attacking Blizzard for a technology most have known about for well over a year and aren't bothering to go after two idiots in Hawaii.
I suppose screwing over your bread and butter for a little better press time is worth it for the EFF.
Posted by: Dave at November 2, 2005 01:09 PM
Do they really want to be so publicly humiliated again?
I suppose screwing over your bread and butter for a little better press time is worth it for the EFF.
Now, I don't think that's fair - the EFF is good peoples.
Anyway, it's a shame the "legal action" you have to endure. Kudos are still yours for having the stones to bring their sham to light (and extended Kudos to Yano.)
Posted by: Ben at November 2, 2005 01:38 PM
Colin: that's the most frustrating thing about MXS. There's nothing particularly wrong with the products they create. They could be a popular, *rich* OSS-based company.
But they're slimy dickheads and they can't help but become adversarial with the people that would otherwise be totally happy to give them their work for free. They want to share!?! FIGHT!!
Posted by: Slash Attack at November 2, 2005 03:36 PM
Hey, who knows, maybe they got it right this time ;)
Posted by: Wheatstraw at November 2, 2005 04:13 PM
pee wee - I say we let him go.
NO ARG
Posted by: Aaron Johnson at November 2, 2005 04:30 PM
You're on slashdot...
The day of their announcement, and anyone googling Zentu will see this right with their link. Too funny.
You're weird man, but you rule. You ever in MA, Guinness is on me.
Posted by: Dianoga at November 2, 2005 04:44 PM
And the really interesting thing is that while there site is slashdotted, yours is still working fine.
Posted by: netsniper at November 2, 2005 04:46 PM
We already proved that VX30 (now Zentu) has GPL software in it! Check out the discussion below when we reversed engineered the binary. Not only that, but it was confirmed by others independently.
http://www.woodmann.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6985&page=2&pp=15&highlight=netsniper
Here's a tidbit. Did you know that Geico, the automobile insurance company, has illegally purchased GPL code distribbuted non-freely by Maui X-Stream? See for yourself here (right-click the Java window where the video is playing).
http://www.geico.com/video/robot.htm
Yeah, if you're ever in Massachusetts, all the old 2600 guys would be happy to buy you a Guiness ;-) [greets to Aaron]
--
netsniper
Posted by: Stephen Horner at November 2, 2005 04:50 PM
I feel your pain. The CherryOS story really had an impact on me as an Open Source developer. The idea of some punk @55 taking credit for my work would really send me over the top. When I originally read the ENTIRE article (yes it is quite exhaustive; but good) it put me in a foul mood for nearly two weeks. I wish I could offer you some sort of assistance, but alas I'm a starving (health care-less) undergrad, I can only offer you my respect, and best wishes. Good luck brudda!
voidengineer
Posted by: PearPC Dev at November 2, 2005 04:52 PM
The EFF doesn't handle legal cases for all GPL products. The Software Freedom Law Center does that.
The FSF only handles legal cases for the GNU projects, whose rights have been assigned to the FSF.
The first thing you have to know is that these guys are litigious and slippery. They have good lawyers and skate the edge just about everywhere they can on this stuff. The only reason they gave up on CherryOS was because we had them by the balls, they knew it, and we were raising such a stink everywhere that it was impacting their future business prospects.
Posted by: at November 2, 2005 05:00 PM
The day of their announcement, and anyone googling Zentu will see this right with their link. Too funny.
Even funnier, he did it without really saying much of anything: "I can't say anything, but here are links to... do the math." Slick.
I'm reading through the links now, and this company is pure evil.
Posted by: at November 2, 2005 05:36 PM
Are they still selling VX30?
Posted by: Dave! at November 2, 2005 05:39 PM
IANAL...Yet. But I'm studying to be one... IP nonetheless. :)
Posted by: Ryan at November 2, 2005 06:48 PM
Being a local developer born and raised in the islands (and a contributor to OSS), it's sad to see how much of a black sheep MXS become - not to mention, having given the local tech community such a bad name.
I must commend you - not only on your detailed and thorough investigative work, but also the clarity of the article(s). There are a few local websites, the HawaiiReporter.com being one of them, that might be interested in your research.
_Ryan
Posted by: at November 2, 2005 07:45 PM
Yes, they're still selling VX30. And people are still buying it.
Posted by: MACC at November 2, 2005 09:32 PM
Anyone remember this name from the VX30 thing.
BilalNiaz. If you go to this site GET A FREELANCER
http://216.92.122.128/projects/10909.html
Scroll down and you will see his post on his portfolio. It includes apps that have been proven already to be Ripps of other apps. Also he lists that ZENTU is one that is his and don't forget to look at NO 10. So who made zentu was it BilalNiaz
COMSDEV or MXS808. The community is watching MXS808
Posted by: ralphhogaboom at November 2, 2005 11:00 PM
You're awesome for keeping at it. Legal stuff in sight, I applaud you for keeping your eye out and using your platform to focus eyes on what's going on. It's stronger than I would be; you're actually risking yourself to keep at it. Bitchin', man.
ralphhogaboom
Posted by: MACC at November 3, 2005 12:00 AM
Hey I just took a look and yes ZENTU is also
using GPL code. Same as VX30. use page 2
Posted by: V-Twin at November 3, 2005 12:43 AM
CherryOS was also the name of the Mac-like parody OS found on the computer of Principal Skinner, in the old "Virtual Springfield" CD-ROM game.
Maybe Zentu is also the brand name of a VHS VCR parody on the Family Guy video-game?
Seriously... Will something stop those guys?
Posted by: steve at November 3, 2005 01:37 AM
So you're legally limited in what you can say. It took quite a bit of time and effort on their part to make that happen.
There's thousands of us... how about one of us starts saying the things that you'd like to say, and they can go through all that pain to shut one more person up?
Then the next one can step up to the plate...
Posted by: MACC at November 3, 2005 07:51 AM
I did post over here about this MODIFIED VX30.
http://woodmann.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6985&page=2
The worst part is, when reading it with a "corporate" eye, it sounds kickass! :(