Ben Hermans no longer director at Hyperion
  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    takemehomegrandma
    Posts: 2720 from 2003/2/24
    It seems like Ben Hermans does no longer have the position as director at Hyperion.

    Link
    MorphOS is Amiga done right! :-)
    MorphOS NG will be AROS done right! :-)
  • »22.01.17 - 22:47
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    amigadave
    Posts: 2795 from 2006/3/21
    From: Northern Calif...
    I can't get my router to access that link, but isn't this old news? I believe he is still the person pulling all the strings and has the final say about anything related to AmigaOS4.x (which is still bad news for the users).
    MorphOS - The best Next Gen Amiga choice.
  • »23.01.17 - 01:06
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    takemehomegrandma
    Posts: 2720 from 2003/2/24
    Quote:

    amigadave wrote:
    I can't get my router to access that link,




    Quote:

    but isn't this old news?


    It was news to me at least.

    Decision made 16 dec 2016
    Document stamped 30 dec 2016
    Document published 12 jan 2017

    Quote:

    I believe he is still the person pulling all the strings and has the final say about anything related to AmigaOS4.x (which is still bad news for the users).


    I believe this happened for a reason, and I don't think it's too far-fetched to link this to the bankruptcy of Hyperion when Timothy De Groote entered the Hyperion scene, and maybe even to the conflict (I am certain there is one) between Hyperion and the Amiga OS IP owner Cloanto. Would be interesting to scan the public records of courts in Belgium and Italy for law suits between these companies.

    [ Edited by takemehomegrandma 23.01.2017 - 07:32 ]
    MorphOS is Amiga done right! :-)
    MorphOS NG will be AROS done right! :-)
  • »23.01.17 - 06:31
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12195 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > isn't this old news?

    No, that's definitely news.

    > I believe he is still the person pulling all the strings

    Yes, giving up director position doesn't equal giving up ownership or selling shares. When Hermans gave up Hyperion Entertainment VOF managing partner position in 2003 (to return as Hyperion Entertainment CVBA director in 2009), he remained co-owner/shareholder and took position of legal counsel of Hyperion Entertainment VOF.
  • »23.01.17 - 08:27
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12195 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    Addendum:

    > Timothy has been with Hyperion since the early days (and in director position since the
    > incorporation of Hyperion Entertainment CVBA in 2009).

    There's some confirming information directly from the horse's mouth:

    "[...] the knowledge that Hyperion VOF was actually a Belgian company [...] led me to first become a betatester, then shareholder, and meanwhile a manager. [...] Hyperion Entertainment CVBA officially has 2 directors and several shareholders."

    There're also some statements which conflict with facts:

    "we took over development of AmigaOS 4 in 2001 [...]. [...] With the demise of Jim Collas at Gateway Hyperion stepped in to take over development of AmigaOS in order to secure its future."

    Jim Collas leaving Gateway was in 1999, not 2001. Many things happened in the 2 years between Collas' departure in September 1999 and Hyperion overtaking OS4 development in October 2001, such as release of OS3.5, sale of Amiga IP from Gateway to Amino / Amiga Inc. Washington, focus shift from AmigaOS to AmigaDE, release of OS3.9, Amiga Inc's own failed OS4 project (with Hyperion responsible for 3D graphics subsystem) etc. I wonder what's Hyperion's agenda pretending these 2 years didn't happen.

    "The license to Worms Armageddon [...] would need to be renegotiated after all this time. [...] with the collapse of Gateway, a lot of good intentions died with these plans."

    Yet, in April 2000 (i.e. months after Gateway sold Amiga), Hyperion announced an early beta version of Worms Armageddon for Q2/2000. And claiming Gateway collapsed when it sold the Amiga IP to Amino / Amiga Inc. Washington is beyond funny.
  • »08.05.17 - 22:26
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  • Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    KennyR
    Posts: 880 from 2003/3/4
    From: #AmigaZeux, Gu...
    Hermans is very clearly still around. Recently, Hyperion forgot to reapply for its trademarks on 'AmigaOS' and the Boing Ball, and they expired.

    http://www.amiga-news.de/en/news/AN-2017-04-00033-EN.html

    Before they could recover from this epic fail, Cloanto moved in, presumably to save them from going to IP squatters. IP squatters other than Hyperion.

    Mysteriously, the 'Amiga Forever' trademark just got registered by 'Monard Law', the same law company that Hermans works for. Presumably to either gain leverage on Cloanto, or to threaten them directly. That has all the pettiness we've come to know from Ben.

    http://www.amiga-news.de/en/news/AN-2017-05-00039-EN.html

    https://euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/#basic/1+1+1+1/50+50+50+50/amiga%20forever

    If Ben has used Monard's resources without their permission for this, he's going to end up in prison.
  • »20.05.17 - 15:06
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  • Order of the Butterfly
    Order of the Butterfly
    number6
    Posts: 483 from 2008/8/10
    Quote:

    KennyR wrote:
    Hermans is very clearly still around. Recently, Hyperion forgot to reapply for its trademarks on 'AmigaOS' and the Boing Ball, and they expired.

    http://www.amiga-news.de/en/news/AN-2017-04-00033-EN.html

    Before they could recover from this epic fail, Cloanto moved in, presumably to save them from going to IP squatters. IP squatters other than Hyperion.

    Mysteriously, the 'Amiga Forever' trademark just got registered by 'Monard Law', the same law company that Hermans works for. Presumably to either gain leverage on Cloanto, or to threaten them directly. That has all the pettiness we've come to know from Ben.

    http://www.amiga-news.de/en/news/AN-2017-05-00039-EN.html

    https://euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/#basic/1+1+1+1/50+50+50+50/amiga%20forever

    If Ben has used Monard's resources without their permission for this, he's going to end up in prison.


    Workbench with only a capital "W" as well.

    all the changes with direct links to events and documents

    #6
  • »20.05.17 - 19:06
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12195 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > Recently, Hyperion forgot to reapply for its trademarks on 'AmigaOS' and the Boing Ball,
    > and they expired.
    > http://www.amiga-news.de/en/news/AN-2017-04-00033-EN.html

    These were Amiga Inc's trademarks, not Hyperion's. Amiga Inc. merely allowed Hyperion to use these marks. It's Amiga Inc. who let these marks expire.
    The relevant passage from your link:

    "Hyperion [...] applied for AmigaOS, BoingBall and AmigaOne. These trademarks, which had not or no longer been registered before, were originally licensed to Hyperion in the 2009 settlement agreement with Amiga, Inc. - apparently Hyperion's management operates under the assumption that Amiga, Inc. will be unable or uninterested in defending these marks [...]."

    > Cloanto moved in, presumably to save them from going to IP squatters.

    ;-)
  • »20.05.17 - 23:17
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    amigadave
    Posts: 2795 from 2006/3/21
    From: Northern Calif...
    Quote:

    Andreas_Wolf wrote:
    These were Amiga Inc's trademarks, not Hyperion's. Amiga Inc. merely allowed Hyperion to use these marks. It's Amiga Inc. who let these marks expire.



    Yes, as Andreas stated above, they were Amiga Inc.'s trademarks, not Hyperion's, and it was the negligence, and/or incompetence, of Amiga Inc. and Hyperion's lack of staying on top of what is happening with their licensed trademarks. Only Colanto seems to be paying close attention to such matters, and immediately acting, when others fall asleep at the wheel.

    Does anyone here really think that anything has changed with regards to who has the final say regarding anything to do with AmigaOS development? No matter what documents get filed and recorded with government offices, I am sure that Ben Hermans still has tight control over the future of AmigaOS4.x, which is unfortunately bad news for all AmigaOS4.x users. For MorphOS users, it makes little, or no difference, who is making decisions about AmigaOS4.x development, or who is in control of the old Amiga trademarks, which makes this whole thread sort of pointless and uninteresting for typical MorphOS users, but I guess some people get entertainment value from keeping informed about what certain people/companies do, or don't do.
    MorphOS - The best Next Gen Amiga choice.
  • »21.05.17 - 04:09
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12195 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > Mysteriously, the 'Amiga Forever' trademark just got registered by 'Monard Law',
    > the same law company that Hermans works for. [...] If Ben has used Monard's
    > resources without their permission for this, he's going to end up in prison.

    Not quite prison:

    https://twitter.com/amigadocuments/status/1139772932752732160
  • »15.06.19 - 12:23
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  • Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    KennyR
    Posts: 880 from 2003/3/4
    From: #AmigaZeux, Gu...
    Quote:

    Andreas_Wolf wrote:
    > Mysteriously, the 'Amiga Forever' trademark just got registered by 'Monard Law',
    > the same law company that Hermans works for. [...] If Ben has used Monard's
    > resources without their permission for this, he's going to end up in prison.

    Not quite prison:

    https://twitter.com/amigadocuments/status/1139772932752732160


    Who knows - maybe being fired is just the start.
  • »15.06.19 - 13:52
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12195 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > So Ben follows her to Artes and this equates to him being fired? Please explain...

    I didn't claim anyone being fired but just reported that someone else made this claim, so you may want to redirect your request for explanation :-) And thanks for the links. Appreciated.
  • »15.06.19 - 16:27
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  • Order of the Butterfly
    Order of the Butterfly
    number6
    Posts: 483 from 2008/8/10
    Quote:

    Andreas_Wolf wrote:
    > So Ben follows her to Artes and this equates to him being fired? Please explain...

    I didn't claim anyone being fired but just reported that someone else made this claim, so you may want to redirect your request for explanation :-) And thanks for the links. Appreciated.


    My apologies. I didn't mean to direct it at you, but at the link. heh.

    I have yet to see anything remotely confirming that posting btw. Quite the contrary.

    #6
  • »15.06.19 - 16:34
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12195 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > I didn't mean to direct it at you, but at the link.

    Seems this "Patrick Buchholz" guy tried to hoax us, or got hoaxed himself.
  • »15.06.19 - 16:46
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  • Order of the Butterfly
    Order of the Butterfly
    number6
    Posts: 483 from 2008/8/10
    Quote:

    Andreas_Wolf wrote:
    > I didn't mean to direct it at you, but at the link.

    Seems this "Patrick Buchholz" guy tried to hoax us, or got hoaxed himself.


    The letter might be legitimate, but the conclusion "So now they fired him!!!" is a far cry from a claim of same from anyone at Monard Law or anyone "in the know". To base this on web page updates is naive.
    We can neither say there was or was not friction between Ben and Monard Law, imo.

    #6
  • »15.06.19 - 17:02
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  • Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    KennyR
    Posts: 880 from 2003/3/4
    From: #AmigaZeux, Gu...
    I found the claim that someone had "informed" Monard Law as to Ben's activities silly anyway, given that one of his colleagues from Mondard had already been involved in the case.

    It's very probable Ben fell out of favour with Monard due to not dedicating enough time to them, and decided to move on. If "fired", then not the kind of firing that stops him getting another job, or a reference.

    (And to be honest I can't see a law firm doing that anyway. Reputation for them is extremely valuable, so they either get rid of a wayward employee quietly, or throw the book at them in the most public way possible to show everyone they're purging their ranks.)

    No scandal here. AD's been duped.
  • »15.06.19 - 18:54
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12195 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > The letter might be legitimate

    Well, it's "the letter" that claims twice that he was fired.
  • »15.06.19 - 19:00
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  • Order of the Butterfly
    Order of the Butterfly
    number6
    Posts: 483 from 2008/8/10
    Quote:

    Andreas_Wolf wrote:
    > The letter might be legitimate

    Well, it's "the letter" that claims twice that he was fired.


    That simply means (to me) that this could be a legitimate letter...actually sent...actually reported by Amiga Documents. I did not mean to convey "truth" in content.

    #6
  • »15.06.19 - 20:03
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12195 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > That simply means (to me) that this could be a legitimate letter
    > ...actually sent...actually reported by Amiga Documents.

    You are right of course. Misunderstanding on my side. I also deem it unlikely that the Amiga Documents author invented the letter. He could have done fact checking as you did, prior to (or rather instead of) posting, and discarded his source as unreliable.
  • »15.06.19 - 20:14
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  • Order of the Butterfly
    Order of the Butterfly
    number6
    Posts: 483 from 2008/8/10
    Quote:

    Andreas_Wolf wrote:
    > That simply means (to me) that this could be a legitimate letter
    > ...actually sent...actually reported by Amiga Documents.

    You are right of course. Misunderstanding on my side. I also deem it unlikely that the Amiga Documents author invented the letter. He could have done fact checking as you did, prior to (or rather instead of) posting, and discarded his source as unreliable.


    I don't have any social media accounts. Can you see/tell if Ben lists Monard Law as previous experience?
    Thanks.

    #6
  • »15.06.19 - 20:48
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12195 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > Can you see/tell if Ben lists Monard Law as previous experience?

    No, but in your LinkedIn link in comment #15 he lists ARTES as current employer but gives Monard URL.
  • »15.06.19 - 22:47
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