15 December 2009

Microsoft China Berulah

Microsoft China rips off Asia’s No. 1 Microblogging Service

Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but blatant theft of code, design, and UI elements is just not cool, especially when the infringing party is the biggest software company in the world. Yes, we’re talking about Microsoft. Blerg.

Here’s the short of what we think has happened:

Microsoft China officially launched its own microblogging service, MSN Juku/Hompy/Mclub, some time in November, 2009.
The service’s design and UI is by and large an EXACT copy of Plurk’s innovative left-right timeline scrolling navigation system. (see screen captures below)
Some 80% of the client and product codebase appears to be stolen directly from Plurk! (see evidence below).
Plurk was never approached nor collaborated in any capacity with MS on this service.
As a young startup, we’re stunned, shocked, and unsure what to do next and need your support and suggestions.
We were first tipped off by high profile bloggers and Taiwanese users of our community that Microsoft had just launched a new Chinese microblogging service that looked eerily similar to Plurk. Needless to say we were absolutely shocked and outraged when we first saw with our own eyes the cosmetic similarities Microsoft’s new offering had with Plurk. From the filter tabs, emoticons, qualifier/verb placement, Karma scoring system, media support, new user walkthroughs to pretty much everything else that gives Plurk its trademark appeal, Microsoft China’s offering ripped off our service. See for yourself: (Microsoft MClub on top, Plurk on bottom).



Design theft, MS at the top, Plurk at the bottom

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Casino & Slots Machine - TricktoAction
The casino games with the 가상 축구 best graphics are also found on 실시간 라이브 스코어 the slot machines! There are so many casino games 블랙 잭 you 사설토토 운영 샤오미 will want to play, and I would definitely 플렉스 홀덤 recommend you