Cheap imitations of DataMystic software

Back in 2008, we became aware of an Indian company who had ripped off three of our products.

• They copied the user interface, which legally they are allowed to do (see Apple vs Microsoft), but I cannot see that this is anything other than theft. Our user interface reflects a continuous refinement of adding features in the most logical and appropriate place, and this positioning is not something you arrive at with a 'first cut'. It is an iterative process that takes time and costs money and is based on customer feedback as well. By copying our interface in its entirety, INCLUDING user interface components that do not even work, they are trying to steal our customers with an identical looking but not identical working product.
• They copied the help file and help file structure
• They copied our language files structure and contents, including typos.

Our advisors researched the issue, and found that, although the company's website claims they operate out of the USA, these Indians are operating from a location in Gujrat State close to the Pakistani border, an area know for its 'lawlessness'.

On contacting these people with a 'cease and desist', their explanation was:

Sounds vaguely plausible, but that doesn't explain why their software contains facilities for updating ISO9001 version numbers, which Office doesn't directly support, or why our language files, help files and other assets were used.

Beware! There are also other key functions in their software that simply don't work - they copied the interface, but didn't know how to build all the functions.

The parent website has also been flagged by Google for malware. This indicates the other illegal activities these people are involved in.

We urge you to purchase from us - DataMystic -

• We came up with the original software concept

• We designed the software, tested it, and developed it for our customers

• We support our software, and are committed to quality

• Our software works as advertised

• If you purchase from these people, you are contributing to a world where people with good ideas get destroyed by people who only know how to copy.

Thanks for reading. This reflects the state of business in the real world. Lawyers, return to your ivory tower.