waiting for resolution ED/RAZBAM Situation Info & Discussion

[Hammer1-1]

1 hour ago, some1 said:

So a serious question. Which 3rd party modules are actually protected from something like that happening again? Corsair - that thing was in development for a very long time, signed ages ago. Kiowa - Polychop has been around since the early days. Tomcat? Your guess is as good as mine. All confidential information of course, at least until another 3rd party goes belly up.

this is assuming, so take it with a grain of salt. I "assume" every module has a contractual agreement behind it rather than just the 3rd party (and Ill touch on that briefly), and if thats the case then yeah...every module contracted prior to VEAOs departure would be left out of the updated agreement, and those signed afterwards are enforced. If its the 3rd party that signed the contract and its for as long as they develop under the ED SDK, then every contract afterwards would be enforced regardless of when the module started.

 

ED never made this clear...personally I think they should, but it kind of doesnt really matter at this point.

Edited 17 hours ago by Hammer1-1

[Nightdare]

8 hours ago, Horns said:

There was nothing left out of that, 'new third-party agreements'

Ok, we agree on that,...

 

 

...so...

 

....remind us which new party or perhaps what modules are subjective to the post-Hawk agreements

 

Because currently it's like ED is advertising they took the poison out of their babyfood, but there is still 10 years of stock to sell before the non-poisoned babyfood will finally be in the stores

[Horns]

2 hours ago, Nightdare said:

Ok, we agree on that,...

 

 

...so...

 

....remind us which new party or perhaps what modules are subjective to the post-Hawk agreements

 

Because currently it's like ED is advertising they took the poison out of their babyfood, but there is still 10 years of stock to sell before the non-poisoned babyfood will finally be in the stores

That's probably a fair analogy. Problem is I don't know which devs started their relationship with ED when so I can't give an answer to that, but it would not cover many of the third-party modules we have now, an extremely quick count leads me to a complete guesstimate of seven.

I could be totally wrong and it might be the majority released since 2018. We just don't know.

[bfr]

6 hours ago, ruxtmp said:

This issue has brought the whole 3rd party developer risk to light. Anyone that thinks a third party will just hand over code to another party if they go belly up is deceiving themselves. If you believe any of the 3rd parties agreed to this supposed new contractual agreement I have a few bridges to sell you, or to the third party if they actually agreed to it. If a business goes belly up for any reason they are not going to just give up their work for free for another business entity to continue making profit off of their base work. All these 3rd party modules and maps are completely dependent on the original developer unless sold off. Razbam modules are going to either work and die a slow death or ED will just break them all in one version upgrade and be done with the issue and we won’t be able to do anything about it. The only way to prevent this is to have ED buy the rights to a developed module using the 3rd party as a sub contractor. The problem with this is ED can barely keep up with their own work let alone any extra modules being pushed out by other developers. 

Agreements like that do exist but with extremely specific triggers for when things get handed over. For instance a company I worked for provided a piece of software for day to day operations of a large client. If we went under or unilaterally withdrew from providing our services during however many years the contract ran for then they got access to the source code  and their data for the bit of software they were using.  If we had a mere contractual dispute they didn't get it. If they just wanted a look at it then they couldn't.

And yes, you're right. I've been saying this for ages but even if they get hold of the source/IP for the modules it still requires ED to be able to allocate the time and resources to then work with, build and package it.  And if they have to pay for it then that is additional cost on top of putting people onto working on it.

[invisi-wall2]

An Open Letter to the Leadership of Eagle Dynamics and Razbam

To the decision-makers at Eagle Dynamics and Razbam,

I am writing to you today as a dedicated member of the DCS World community and a longtime fan of the F-15E Strike Eagle. I first discovered DCS World in June 2023, and since then, I have deeply impressed by the detailed, immersive world you have created. It has been a dream come true to see the F-15E Strike Eagle module being implemented, allowing enthusiasts like me to experience the awe of this aircraft.

This dream, however, is now overshadowed by the ongoing news of the dispute between your two companies and the potential end of your partnership. The possibility of losing access to the fruits of your collaboration - the AV-8B, the Mirage 2000, the Mig-19, Mig-23, the South Atlantic map, and my personal favorite, the F-15E - which I can only assume from all the passionate commentary is a significant concern for many in this community.

To the development and support staff teams at Eagle Dynamics and Razbam, I extend my sincere thanks. Eagle Dynamics, your platform provides a level of depth and realism that is unmatched, allowing everyday people to engage with flight sim'ing in military aviation in a truly meaningful way. Razbam, your work has provided me with the opportunity to lice out a long-held dream of getting as close as possible to flying the Strike Eagle, an aircraft I can only see on a screen. 

This dispute is not just a business matter, it has real consequences for a community, both professional and enthusiast, that has invested its time, money and passion into your products. I recognize that business relationships can be complex, and I am not privy to every detail. However, I ask you not to forget the community while legal proceedings continue between the parties.

I urge you both to find a path towards resolution. Please find a way to empathize with and understand each other's position to ensure this is not the end. I continue to hope on both your ability to reconcile.

Thank you for your time and the incredible experience you have given us so far.

Sincerely,

A dedicated DCS World and F-15E fan.