For those curious about the Flashpoint connection

Flashpoint was the product name chosen by Harry M Hayes (aka "Harry M Hayes Jr", "Harry Hayes Jr" or simply "Harry Hayes"), a nickle-and-dime confidence trickster who works the internet software scene. He approached me about a 50/50 joint venture where a re-branded version of Powerbullet (formerly FvReader) would be marketed by Harry's company Crazy Ivan Productions. I didn't go for it at the time, as the NDA he sent me looked like it had been written by Count Dracula. Later he supposedly purchased Sausage Software (it turns out he didn't, he just stole the login codes to the domain). Along with a new NDA, I agreed to an arrangement where I supplied the software and Harry markets it as Sausage Flashpoint.

As scams go it was pretty dumb. While I never placed implicit trust in the guy, whom I'd never met and who talked a bit too much for my liking, I figured he'd want to get the product up to market quality before pulling a fast one. But he couldn't wait, and used pre-generated serial numbers I had supplied him (supposedly for commerce server failure contingency) to release a product that was not of production quality. Naturally I refused to provide any upgrades until he committed to upholding his end of the deal; that is, pay royalties on sales. This didn't happen and years later the product is still the same beta test program I originally sent him. Some crooks really aren't too smart, and that's why Harry is no big shot.

Being the decent chap that I am, I still provided free support to Flashpoint buyers right up until the moment he removed my access to the support forum (I had made no mention of the business situation - these were customers who purchased in good faith). So now his customers were being doubly punished; no chance of an upgrade and no tech support. This probably annoyed me more than any other aspect of the deal. People purchased Flashpoint because of the reputable Sausage Software name behind it. That has been totally destroyed.

The above shots of Harry M Hayes Jr were taken from a low quality video of him - blathering on with his usual pseudo-technical nonsense - from Gnomedex, where he still seems to be able to pull in the occasional sucker.

UPDATE: Find out what Nathan Allan, the real owner of Sausage Software has to say.