These emails are so strange. The tone taken by both parties is just so...unbelievable.
For example, Brian's opening salvo "Neither of these options are remotely acceptable to me. It is also offensive to me that you would think my time was only
worth $100/hr, considering I turn down requests offering 4 times that rate regularly."
Seriously, "regularly" turning down offers for work at a rate of over $400/hr?
And also, "I was born wealthy; I have an obscene trust fund. I assure you
that if required, I will obtain the best legal representation for corporate litigation in the Silicon Valley."
When I read the original blog post, it really tugs on the heart strings and makes Brian seem the underdog.
Now after reading these emails, he comes across as a complete jackass.
I love how he went to them in the beginning to port their app, listed WhosHere in the search keywords for his app and then acts like these guys appeared out of nowhere to blindsided him.
I'm not sure how strong the merits for the trademark case are but I got no sympathy for this guy.
Omitting to mention that he tried to sell them an app, and failing to mention the other party's offer of 100k. Just throws out any sympathy I have for Brian.
Clearly this is just mud-slinging and a good play at eliciting the developer and HN community's tendency to white-knight oppressed "davids" without hearing both sides of the story.
For example, Brian's opening salvo "Neither of these options are remotely acceptable to me. It is also offensive to me that you would think my time was only worth $100/hr, considering I turn down requests offering 4 times that rate regularly."
Seriously, "regularly" turning down offers for work at a rate of over $400/hr?
And also, "I was born wealthy; I have an obscene trust fund. I assure you that if required, I will obtain the best legal representation for corporate litigation in the Silicon Valley."
When I read the original blog post, it really tugs on the heart strings and makes Brian seem the underdog.
Now after reading these emails, he comes across as a complete jackass.