Shareaza

Friends,

We have been simply overwhelmed by your support. The speed with which we reached our first Legal Fund milestone of $2000 was simply stunning and the developers, admins, forum moderators and other users would like to thank all those who contributed and who showed their support by bringing our plight to the world's attention.

In all discussions regarding intellectual property, there is one fundamental right that is never in dispute: the right to be recognized as a creator. This moral right transcends arguments on whether copyright should last for 50 years or a hundred, whether software should be patentable or not, or even what a fair price price for an MP3 file is. Being able to say to the world "I made this" and be acknowledged for it is, for many people, the only reward they receive for their work. To deny that right is to is an insult to the creative forces flowing through every writer, performer, musician, actor and programmer who brings their work to the world.

So where does this end? Is this how the new kings of the information age will be born; by the appropriation of another's identity? Who be the next one to have their name and reputation yanked out from under them? It happened to us. Maybe you will be next.

To all those who have supported us, we ask you now for more. More blogging, more Digging, more Slashdotting, more researching and above all, more money. We're setting up an unlimited donation fund which will give us more fighting power when the time comes. The one single advantage our opponents have over us is deeper pockets, but your generosity and outrage has piqued the interest of several powerful entities whom we hope will become our allies in this fight. Let them see your commitment to an open culture, one where individuals matter more than corporate interests. A culture where saying "I made this" truly means something.

To our opponents: You have brought this on yourselves and our community stands firmly behind us. Take this moment now to reconsider where your course of action will lead. By all means sell your service, collect your statistics, allow people to discover new artworks. Just don't steal our identity or theirs to achieve it. Our identity is all we really have. That, and our passion for freedom.

Let us have that, and enjoy your own.

find the new fund here:

http://shareaza.chipin.com/shareaza-support-fund

On January 10th 2008, lawyers representing the 'Discordia Ltd.' shell company filed for "SHAREAZA" trademark registration at the United States Patent Office.

As of March 3rd 2008, the trademark has not yet been granted - and still must urgently be contested.

The core Shareaza Development Team has been aware of this from the beginning, but has not gone public with the information while seeking legal counsel. It is in this context that team members have been scurrilously threatened and the shareaza.com destination has flagrantly broken yet more laws. The followingt two posts were available early to developers and moderators, and are now being made widely available to the community. It is understood that opposing lawyers will be reading this material: 'I Am Not A Lawyer' -this does not constitute legal advice.

YOU CAN HELP by submitting factual "Letters of Protest."

During the initial trademark process, any third party may submit a 'Letter of Protest' containing facts and evidence to be considered by the patent clerk. They must not entail opinions or actual protesting. Barring this, the trademark could be 'Published for Opposition' on any given Tuesday. At which time $900 plus legal fees would need to be raised to Oppose to trademark in the equivalent of court within 30 days.

YOU CAN HELP by donating to the Legal Defense Fund."

No Shareaza developer or enthusiast has ever recieved money as a result. However, several volunteers now out-of-pocket for hundreds of dollars are facing the prospect of thousands. Shareaza has always been and will always remain free, non-commercialized software -regardless of the high value of its use that must be protected. Donations will now begin to be accepted for the sole purpose of partially compensating these unfortunate expenses. (Including a possible $900 at very short notice.) A ChipIn account has been established for PayPal (account/credit card) payments large or small. Please consider sending at least the loose change in your account to show your appreciation for enthusiasts who could scarcely afford these costs themselves. Feel free to offer in other ways as well.

YOU CAN HELP by researching Discordia/iMesh/MusicLab/MeisterSeelig&Fein

The Discordia Ltd. under which the trademark was sought and the website is labelled is a Cypress shell company designed to shield MusicLab, iMesh, parent companies and business partners from the exceedingly high risk of liability in this case. Private information will not be disclosed, however there is significant circumstantial evidence regarding the source of their unethical and illigal behaviors that ought to be brought to light for the greater internet community.

YOU CAN HELP Most of All by Spreading the Word:

SHAREAZA (tm) IS THE PROPERTY OF THE SHAREAZA DEVELOPMENT TEAM.