OK, guys, can we please put this one to bed?Marco Raaphorst wrote: ↑08 Jul 2019
I thought the Propellerhead has never said there was a copyright claim concerning Softphonics.
Yes, you're right in the sense that indeed they didn't say that, precisely, but if you acutely read the official red-topped post you're likely refering and parse the high levels of lawyer-approved radioactive disingenuity swamping every other word, you'll also be quite aware he did not say or even imply at any stage "we've not been informed of any issues". He merely states they hadn't received an actual copyright claim, and even then, that's only applicable at the time of writing that post. Which is a different thing entirely to suggesting Softphonics were legit. He did not say that, or even I think mention him by name or business. You have to read between the lines and work out what hasn't been said, that's often as important as what is.
"His disappearance can also be based on other reasons. I have seen many developers give up because of all sorts of reasons, illness, lack of money, tiredness etc."
Yes, but that's not fundamentally true in his case: it's clear many, perhaps all, of his samples were absolutely stolen—aside from the fact that at no time did Skelton even try to protest that "this is not true" and offer any contrary evidence, which any genuine sample-maker would do—and despite having been remarkably quite fit enough to be active on social media in the proceeding days and putting together a new device with allegedly even more ripped samples (chorale stuff, I was told) at the time somehow it suddenly became all about him being to ill to continue, yet he still managed to put out a bizarre non-response video. He could therefore have just as easily put out a video defending himself and proving the doubters wrong. He didn't. But that's the power of gaslighting and trying to put the focus on those being critical; it's the "Fake News" playbook 101, sadly. It's bullshit and you've fallen into his trap. That was his intent with that video. FUD. But no. He stole samples. He got caught. Then he tried blamed those that caught him (afaik according to my sources it wasn't any of the names he mentioned; phasys definitely leaked it, though I'm fairly sure he wasn't the video maker).
In the shitstorm he decided to just do a runner and nuke everything, and has probably just started shilling pirated crap on ebay. His products are not missed: remember, this was the guy who use the latest IDT at the time to release with a new metering feature, to create a free stereo-in and stereo-display meter ... that, er, ... only actually displayed in mono.
So please stop making excuses for him, Marco, and I understand if you try to see the best in people before the worst: but look, if they were legit he'd have quite easily been able to prove it and they'd still be in the shop. I'm personally convinced enough to feel Zampled are dodgy, but not enough I'd convict them on it. Skelton's was proved. Lock/Stock/Barrel. The moment he pulled them from the shop and then went dark, other than a nasty troll video attacking people, he effectively admitted it.