This post originated from an RSS feed registered with Ruby Buzz by David Heinemeier Hansson. Original Post: Aimido rips off 43things with a smile Feed Title: Loud Thinking Feed URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/LoudThinking Feed Description: All about the full-stack, web-framework Rails for Ruby and on putting it to good effect with Basecamp Latest Ruby Buzz Posts Latest Ruby Buzz Posts by David Heinemeier Hansson Latest Posts From Loud Thinking

The crew at Aimido must think that there are multiple internets, divided by country borders, and that stealing from one net to another will have no consequences. Because they have shamelessly ripped off the entire concept and much of the design behind 43things. Their contribution? A German translation.

But a German translation of 43things already exists — it's called de.43things.com. Thanks, but no thanks. And considering that the management consisting of Berit Ernst and David Kuczek have both graduated from prestigious universities, such as Stanford and MIT Sloan, you should think they were familiar with the idea of plagiarism. But it would appear not.

And that's the wildest thing about it, really. Berit and David have formed an entire company around this blatant rip-off with high and mighty board members from the German business elite. They even got the German press to pump it up.

When called on their sham by 43things head honcho Josh Peterson, they brushed it off as insignificant. At least one of the board members, Harald Schröpfer, is having second thoughts, though:

Sorry for not having been clear enough on this – I am one of the advisors, so with “them” I refer to the core team (which, by the way, are just what I would call “young enthusiasts”, so I still recommend giving them a chance. Or giving “us” a chance, because I have to admit that I was part of this and so I’m also to be blamed … Shit, I really didn’t find the time to pay more attention)

PS: I’m pretty sure I will delete this comment in a few minutes … :-))

Maybe that's why the revised management page doesn't include the board members/advisors any more (but luckily there's a snapshot available). I'd sure think twice about having my name associated with such a shady operation as well. So no wonder Andreas Arntzen, Dr. Lars Langusch, Harald Schröpfer, and Oliver Weyergraf seems to have decided the same.

So please, Berit and David, get the fuck out of Josh and crew's house. Founding your own company is a wonderful thing, but doing so on the top of despicable plagiarism like this is not. Get off the air, spend a few months thinking up something original, and then come back for a second try.

Disclaimer: 37signals designed 43things and we're friends with the Robot Co-op.