Osama, FMS, and me
January 2004

There are a few things that I find to be "cool", and often "fun" is directly coupled to cool, thus making any involvement with things that are cool and fun extra rewarding.

The Linux operating system is one of these cool things, but then SCO has been claiming "some" of the key source code on this open source operating system is "stolen" from SCO, and is suing any entity that looks big enough and may just settle (such as IBM); thousands of threats are coming out of SCO to Linux adopters. This is done without showing the public the code in question since SCO considers these codes their secret. All this is with the hope that someone would just buy the financially troubled SCO to shut them up. Who do you think the effort of slowing down the growth of Linux will benefit? The nickname for SCO among the trade is "Osama", our infamous friend Bin Ladin. Who has perfected the art of FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) to a level that even Microsoft would envy.

The other cool thing I've found is the freeware FMS Simulator. It has helped me to get back into RC after almost twenty years, FMS has made RC fun. My involvement for the past almost two years with FMS, and the return to RC, have in many ways changed my life for the better. My RC experience has been "very" cool and fun, until now.

For those who know me at the local flying clubs and fly-in events, I am known as the FMS guy; who gives away free FMS CDs for the asking; and I will sell you a cable if you are not willing to build one yourself. When I started selling the cables and other RC accessories on eBay, I give away the CD to practically every items I shipped. Even if you just buy a crystal, you will get a FMS CD.

The CD also contains a bunch of "free" FMS models that I've downloaded off the web using a "bot" downloader. The bot initially would hit Google with some keywords (such as "FMS Models") then search the web sites for zip files that may contain models or landscapes. These models and landscapes then would be downloaded and extracted to my FMS folder, organized under various sub-folders.

Initially I would give away links to these models, but then many "old-timers" would tell me that they are not versed in downloading, unzipping, and moving files around. I've decided then to create an installer for all the downloaded models and landscapes; and Tom's free CD was a hit. With just a few clicks, you will have hundreds of models installed, neatly organized in sub-folders named by the designer or website where the models comes from.

...

Then I got a visit from Osama a couple weeks back. He first claimed that I am not allowed to sell freeware, and I should stop selling the FMS cable. He repeatedly warned me that I cannot include a CD with the cable, doing so would have "consequences". After of a dozen emails trying to convince him that I am not selling any software at all (FMS wise), just the cables, and all the software has always been given away for free... the attacks started.

It turns out that Osama actually organized a group of "RCer" from overseas (let's just say it's over there, crossing a small ocean) to launch specific attacks at Tom's RC. The drumbeats  from the group would claim things to the like: "this guy is making serious money from selling freeware, let's shut him down..." You may have heard of eBay dirty tricks to harass a seller, they did it all. From sending nasty emails to my customers claiming that I am selling stolen goods, to running denial of service hits toward my servers, to massive spam attacks.

But one action got me to back down; these cyber-terrorists managed to steal eBay identities, they then would do "sabotage" purchases using these stolen IDs on my items, and then leave immediate negative feedbacks. I was surprised to see how far this group would go to shut me down, and how resourceful they are. All I can do now is to continue to collect evidence per council advice. But I must also give in so Tom's RC can continue. The attacks are getting way too nasty and still on-going, and cyberlaws are still vague "over there".

As of now, FMS and RC are no longer fun. I will still continue Tom's RC but it no longer has its cool. To the thousands of RCers I've met via Tom's RC over the last couple years, it's very unfortunate that all it takes is one Osama and a band of bandits to ruin a great hobby for me. I am in the process of limiting the content of the CD (less models and landscapes) to appease these terrorists, essentially making the CD less "attractive". If it's as plain as the "other FMS cable guys", that would be OK with them. They did say the main reason for selecting me as the target is my (free) CD makes my cable more attractive than the other FMS cable guys (who supposedly have less attractive CD).

For fear of further attacks, and possibly escalation of attacks to a more severe level, I will not reveal who they are. As in the case of the Linux Osama, who do you think the effort of slowing down the growth of FMS will benefit? We all know that the world of user supported freeware is eating into the profits of commercial software. Silent efforts are everywhere trying to suppress the growth of freeware at any cost (these efforts are often disguised as something else). Borrowing a page from Osama's handbook is not new, it just not so cool when I am at the receiving end.

It's also unfortunate that the foot soldiers of these attacks may not know or care about Osama's cause. It just seems like the orcs will breed more orcs and continue the attacks without regards for their actions and consequences. Perhaps the separation between humans and orcs is not that clear cut; we all find blind herd mentality everywhere.

...

With FMS, the entry point to the hobby would not be so steep financially, as well as the cost of crashing as a newbie. But this is in direct conflict with commercial software makers who prefer to keep (free) rc simulation out of the hands of financially conscious beginners. There are a few key aspects of RC: building, flying, competing, designing, and my old favorite, mentoring. There's an unwritten rule that you must help a newcomer. FMS has allowed me to expose a great hobby to many newcomers at very low cost. I've seen too many cases where a newbie will abandon the hobby after the first crash due to lack of practice (no access to rc simulation). I may have sold a few hundred cables, but I've given away more than 5000 CDs; and I was in the process to give away another 5000. I just hate bullies, but this time I will go home without my lunch money.

In place of the Models and Landscapes on the CD, I am now releasing a version of my bot so others can enjoy FMS, just beware of Osama.