Final week, it seemed like Home windows-based textual content editor NotePad++ had lastly arrived on macOS. However it seems the Mac model is an unauthorized copy of the unique. The developer of NotePad++, Don Ho, goes out of his technique to slam the Mac version with a put up titled “Trademark Violation: Faux Notepad++ for Mac.”
A software program engineer in New York named Andrey Letov is behind the Mac app, which relies on the free and open-source NotePad++. The issue is that Letov additionally initially referred to as his model “Notepad++ for Mac,” and even used the long-lasting chameleon brand.
(Credit score: Web Archive)
Though Letov’s website described his creation as an “impartial group port” that had no affiliation with Ho, the excellence was apparently misplaced as a number of Reddit posts started to tout the Mac model, together with one which mentioned: “Notepad++ Code Editor Involves Mac After 20-12 months Wait.”
The eye prompted Ho, who doesn’t personal a Mac, to reply. “This website has completely nothing to do with Notepad++,” he wrote. “It’s not licensed, not endorsed, and never affiliated with the undertaking in any approach.”
Ho took situation with Letov not just for utilizing the NotePad++ brand but in addition for putting his identify on the creator web page for the Mac model. (The picture of Ho additionally exhibits him lined with an alien facehugger.)
(Credit score: Don Ho)
Ho wrote: “That is deceptive, inappropriate, and admittedly disrespectful to each the undertaking and its customers. It has already fooled folks—together with tech media—into believing that is an official launch.”
In a GitHub thread in regards to the situation, Letov indicated he meant no disrespect to Ho, who’s been growing NotePad++ since 2003. “After I put Don on the authors web page I by no means in my life had any intention to say that he was concerned. It truly says that he wasn’t however I wished to offer Don all credit score for creating [the] authentic model, which [the] Mac model was constructed on,” Letov wrote.
In response, Ho wrote: “I respect your good intention. Nevertheless, you do not want to make use of Notepad++ model to advertise your product with a view to attain your purpose. As I mentioned, I am pleased to see Mac customers profit from the Notepad++ code base. The issue isn’t [the] port or fork —the GPL (Common Public License) permits you to take action. The issue is that utilizing the identify ‘Notepad++’ to your product and undertaking could be very complicated. A small variety of customers are vigilant and browse your web site to be taught the historical past.”
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Letov requested for 2 weeks to organize for a reputation change. However Ho responded: “I’ve reported your unauthorized use of the Notepad++ trademark to your CDN supplier Cloudflare. From my perspective, your web site behaves [as] an impersonation/phishing website as a result of it misleads customers into believing your product is the official Notepad++ launch.”
(Credit score: notepad-plus-plus-mac.org)
Within the face of some backlash from different builders, Letov added: “I am not siphoning any legitimacy. I did quite a lot of work to carry it free to Mac with solely intent to increase Notepad++ model and permit Mac customers to seek out Mac model simpler.” The positioning for his model has since been modified to make use of the identify Nextpad++ for Mac. The emblem has additionally been changed with a frog.
For now, Letov’s website continues to be utilizing the “notepad-plus-plus-mac.org” area, which Ho requested to be modified. However Letov’s website notes: “The area will likely be altering tomorrow to nextpad.org.”
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