Otaku closed down

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Originally Posted by Intersocial

Saw all this drama go down on another forum last night, he ultimately deserved it. A lot of inexperienced retro owners who simply used Phoenix are a tad screwed now.

But yes, this won't stop retros - it's a wonderful start though Sulake.

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Sort of does, if they set a precedence in this case based on him making money on retros that he managed, then they can essentially go after any other retro on almost exactly the same grounds.

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Originally Posted by Abdicators

For those that are properly interested in Aaron, or are pretending not to know him so they don't give away the fact that they too have run a retro, here is a little bit of a low-down.

In around 2005, a server that emulated the "first" version of Habbo was released, various people took it up and began to play with it. Out of those people, a few of us grouped together (people such as ThuGiE, Myrax, USA111, Flex, Genaga) and started to build a server that emulated Habbo's current version (which at the time was version 9).

After we achieved a reasonable level of emulation, Aaron Marshal (then just 'Sojobo'), started developing a version of his own named 'Otaku Hotel', and began to sell it at around £20 a pop. This was in 2006. Fast forward a few years, he renames the forum he ran (then hw-forum) to 'Otaku', and rebrands the server as 'Phoenix'.

He made enough money off of it to purchase a house in another country, move there and set-up shop. The house he bought wasn't especially pretty, but after living there for about 2 years now he had sort of made it his home.

Jump to today, as of writing this post it is now my belief that not only has his car been taken, but his house too. Sulake are seeking over half a million in damages (or so his lawyers tell him).

I think it's important to note, that this could have happened due to funding from Elisa, over the years he has received literally hundreds of DMCA notices to stop what he was doing, he just ignored them all. What has happened really is pretty tragic, but I hold no sympathy for the guy.

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That was rather interesting to read and thanks for the details... he kinda deserves it but yeahhhh. :(

Essentially the biggest development in Habbo, ever. Sulake have won the case if they have reclaimed his house and car. Now they have won one case, it will be referred to in future cases. If I was anything to do with retros I'd sever my links immediately which is exactly what most of us and Sulake want.

Good move hope to see more.

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Originally Posted by Abdicators

Sort of does, if they set a precedence in this case based on him making money on retros that he managed, then they can essentially go after any other retro on almost exactly the same grounds.

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Sorry I phrased that incorrectly. I meant that there will still be a few people determined to try and own/run/manage a retro regardless of this case (now that Phoenix one of the 'bigger' competitors is out of the way) - so retros will probably be here for a good few months still, but yes this has probably scared a large percentage of them into "shutting up shop".

Lmao I just read that his documents weren't in English, bet that was fun.

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Originally Posted by Intersocial

Sorry I phrased that incorrectly. I meant that there will still be a few people determined to try and own/run/manage a retro regardless of this case (now that Phoenix one of the 'bigger' competitors is out of the way) - so retros will probably be here for a good few months still, but yes this has probably scared a large percentage of them into "shutting up shop".

Lmao I just read that his documents weren't in English, bet that was fun.

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I found that bit a bit disturbing really. I agree with them taking action against him. For them to take it this far they must have some background information on him and would subsequently know he was English speaking. From his Twitter he made it sound like he asked for help and they said he has to translate it himself. So essentially, he can't make sense of the documentation and has no idea what exactly has gone on.

Seeing as you have to be fluent in English to work for Sulake it's a bit low.

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Originally Posted by edible

I found that bit a bit disturbing really. I agree with them taking action against him. For them to take it this far they must have some background information on him and would subsequently know he was English speaking. From his Twitter he made it sound like he asked for help and they said he has to translate it himself. So essentially, he can't make sense of the documentation and has no idea what exactly has gone on.

Seeing as you have to be fluent in English to work for Sulake it's a bit low.

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Maybe he got the language of the country of which he lives in, so they expected him to know it

About time Sulake cracked down on Retro hotels, it's a step in the right direction.

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Originally Posted by edible

I found that bit a bit disturbing really. I agree with them taking action against him. For them to take it this far they must have some background information on him and would subsequently know he was English speaking. From his Twitter he made it sound like he asked for help and they said he has to translate it himself. So essentially, he can't make sense of the documentation and has no idea what exactly has gone on.

Seeing as you have to be fluent in English to work for Sulake it's a bit low.

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The reason he received the papers in bulgarian is because that is where he lives! Terribly harsh considering he doesn't speak it, but they're complying with the law and that is all.

Meh, I'm sad and happy at the closure. I used this emu time-to-time for personal things.

Deserves it. He seems a bit of a moron to think nothing would come of it. He gets no sympathy from me and shouldn't get it from others.

Also, how the hell could afford a house and a car from the sale of retros (and why on earth did people buy them)? It doesn't seem like it was that popular to of made that much money.