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Comment by 29athrowaway

5 years ago

Sounds like the plot of the movie Antitrust.

Only if you equate sternly worded letters from the CEO with a visit from murderous thugs who steal your stuff.

  •     "You don't need to remind you the essence of competition is
        always been quite simple, any kid working in a garage
        anywhere in the world with a good idea can put us out
        of business".
    

    Harassing independent developers working is an important component of the Antitrust plot. And that's what the replit guy is doing.

        Milo: It would be open source, we offer it free to
        everybody, just charge for tech support.
    
        Gary: Wow, free.
        It's a cut-throat business we're in Milo.
        It's just a matter of time before someone borrows your
        technology, improves it and makes a billion dollars on it.
        What would you do with a billion dollars Milo?
        ...
        The question really is,
        How many of the people you share discoveries with
        will be altruistic? and how many will make fortunes
        of your generosity?
    

    The movie shows the conflict between open source and proprietary software. Between altruism and financial opportunity.

  • I don't think threatening an extortionate lawsuit that's going to cost 100k$ is morally any better as stealing 100k$ worth of stuff and destroying it.