yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[General Topics] magius:
They have a forum too

HTC's official site has a forum too.

http://community.htc.com/na/htc-forums/f/87.aspx

Check the forum before posting, make sure you pick the right place for your country or maybe we can all post in the same forum. Also, if we do let's just keep a single thread over at their forums. No sense in flooding them, that will just get the threads deleted.

I hope HTC has more sense(pun intended) than to lose distinction between piracy and a huge group of fans that can only benefit them.

I am on my 5th WM HTC device and it is basically because of you guys that I have kept on going with them. I can't imagine having all this fun tweaking, prodding, and modifying any other phones.
[General Topics] lostsoul3471:
Android should be safe... but...

This really does suck. From my understanding and previous history with scrappy unsupported phones from other OEMs, even if I did stick to WM, I would have gone out of my way to get an HTC phone, because of this site and the work that gets done here.

Fortunately, I went with a Nexus One running android so aside from the appropriated Desire keyboard, there really isn't anything that's HTC specific app wise. Also tack on the fact that Android is covered by GPL if I'm not mistaken so that should shield at least the Android development hacks. But who knows really. It could also be a licensing issue with WM specifically that may have triggered this. WM licensing is something truly weird as none of it is really visible to the end user and is usually agreed upon between OEM and carrier.

I just hope this doesn't spread to here. XDA is the central hub of making smartphones actually smart.
[General Topics] Rkiver:
Hell HTC actually point here on their main forums for support for outside of the North American continent....

I too registered my dismay via email.
[General Topics] welki1979:
Doesn't this go back as far as when MS said it was illegal to post OEM ROMS on sites?

..i know it's Wiki but there are other stories on cnet, engadget etc to back it up.

Very similar, the legal problem seems to be with OEM editions again and HTC are obviously worried about the loss of business when WP7 is released and there's more manufactures making handsets.
[General Topics] dazza9075:
god i remember that, had a different user name back then but that really knocked the small (then) community. oh hang on a sec, thats only 3 years ago, hmm in that case im sure MS tried a similar thing way way back with the original XDA /XDA II, i think i was porting WM5 to a WM2003se device
[General Topics] netant:
HTC on self destructive mode ?

its similar to if M$ will say "we wont let user to use non-M$ application, themes or custom wallpaper" :p

okey, does it affect my X1 in anyway, if not thanks to my wifey for stopping me buying a HTC.

it seems many pples are NOT happy with HTC , see this http://ramonsuarez.com/android-handset-manufacturers-stop-screwing-u

HTC is planing to introduce 50% handsets with android in year 2010.. and android is open source :P
[General Topics] legend221:
HTC threatens handset hackers with legal action - WORST MISTAKE EVER

HTC is seriously making a mistake with that one.

Ive only been satisfied with my purchase of anything they have come with AFTER flashing a Rom into it.

If this continues I promise you they will regret it.

They will lose customers that WILL choose to go to other manufacturers.

The Devs and all who create on a constant basis are not hackers.

They innovate to make HTC a better phone than the competitors because of the work that are done by these fine people.
[General Topics] Diamond_dawg:
i agree with...i'm on the same hand here.....but i think there are alot of ppl who use stock roms....many of my friends have htc phones...and they are all stock...and roms will still spread how ever much you try
[General Topics] Marteni:
Thoroughly disgusted with HTC's attitude.

Just sent this via the mail link posted previously

'It has just come to my attention that you have furnished 'shipped-roms.com' with a cease and desist (C and D) order relating to their hosting of stock HTC roms.

Are your company missing the reason that a lot of people such as myself buy HTC hardware? It is because of the ability to flash a custom built rom to improve performance, customise, and remove telco marketing bloat.

These roms are made possible due to the hard work of a developer community that work with stock roms to improve flaws and add features.

If you persist with this action, I can honestly say that I will never purchase another HTC device; and if you have a look around the net you will see that your 'C and D' threat is causing a great deal of anti-HTC feeling.

Please pass this on to those who can make the decision to halt this action and to reduce the damage to the HTC brand that is already being caused.'
[General Topics] d1m0n69:
What i want to say is next, probably they have a right to reclaim, about copy thing and stuff... ever i cant see any fraud about having them on web, they want theese roms out probably because many of burned devices could be a problem of custom roms and if people not having shiped rom after burning device or some part of it by custom rom, warrenty no more working for that device, and with help of that site they perfectly beckup the rom and their device could be rep+aired by the worrenty :D

in my opinion owner of the site, could do next: simple move your content site to the hosting of another country when the LAW "U.S" and EU, are not "working" that would be cheapest and smartest move if autor really cares about law and stuff.

best regards.

Oh and yes, only after tunned roms cellphone is becoming nice and handy, without custom rom... its pretty dumb and slow... HTC should help xda community and not reclaim against it, that is stupid, really... they sould cooperete, IMO quantity of devices that are broken really because of custom roms, are not so mutch as there are was sold with help of this community.
[General Topics] bitbang3r:
It probably won't matter if the Lawyers are Firmly In Charge, but if saner heads at HTC prevail, one thing that would probably go a LONG way towards maintaining an acceptable level of detente would be for XDA Developers to aggressively shun anyone who tries porting Sense or other HTC-specific apps/plugins/enhancements to non-HTC phones.

I suspect that the CEO of HTC could genuinely care less whether someone puts SenseUI on a Nexus One, or active wallpaper on a HeroC. I'm pretty sure, though, that he (she?) would be pretty unhappy about someone porting SenseUI to the Motorola Droid or Samsung Instinct... and extremely unhappy to read about stores in Hong Kong selling "upgraded" Motorola/Samsung/Huawei/Lenovo/iFhone/NOK7A phones with SenseUI.

Truth be told, statistically nobody is in the market for a brand new phone every six months. Annual upgrades are seriously pushing it. In the meantime, 12 months is an eternity in Android-land (compare a tricked-out rooted HeroC today to the sad, slightly-dysfunctional excuse for an Android1.5 phone that hit Best Buy last year on October 10th).

Now ask yourself... if you bought a HeroC last October and it sucked as badly today as it did 8 months ago, would you even *contemplate* buying another HTC phone for full price now, let alone at the subsidized price in another 4 months? Or would you be mad at HTC for selling a phone that was obsolete before it hit the shelves, and likely to go with just about *any* phone not made by HTC just for the sake of seeing whether the grass was greener on the other side?

The HeroC is one of the most thoroughly-hacked and improved HTC phones to date, yet its owners were among the first to jump at a ready-to-root Evo the moment the news of its rooting hit XDA. Hell, if the Evo had the optical trackball and hardkeys of a Desire, or at least a slide-out keyboard to make up for their absence, I'd be $450 poorer right now, too. Once news of its rooting was confirmed, it was seen as the next logical step up. Without XDA and rom-remixing, I think it's safe to say that 90% of this site's users who own an Evo today wouldn't have bothered... at least, not until their contracts came up for renewal.

Put another way, if HTC were to aggressively clamp down, they wouldn't sell more phones more often through more frequent upgrades... they'd sell fewer phones half as often as angry, bitter users feeling abused and screwed by pretty much everyone churned from maker to maker, with few buying goals each time other than, "Anything, as long as it's not from ${whomever-made-their-current-phone}"
[General Topics] sirphunkee:
That's exactly what I'm thinking...this whole escapade smells of microsoft's influence. Now that HTC has cozied up to the suits in redmond to get their assistance in the apple lawsuit, it's not unreasonable to think that it's actually them (MS) who has the issue with the ROMs being "out in the display case" like that, and have perhaps leaned on HTC to be the bad guy.

This is all just speculation on my part, but I strongly suspect that there's more forces at play here than are immediately visible to us.
[General Topics] Diamond_dawg:
is the major problem that many ppl bricking phones and then sending it back saying its a problem? i can see that as a problem...company must be goin in alot of loss
[General Topics] gamecore:
So where is the petition?, someone should start one and get it rolling on XDA side before HTC gets the ball rolling.
[General Topics] sirphunkee:
I don't believe so, it's mainly an IP issue...it's technically against the WM license to tinker with it and/or redistribute it, and the same goes for Sense, so microsoft and HTC (clearly) choose to defend that legal position with actions such as this.
[General Topics] imaginarynumber:
Reflashing with an unauthorised rom would invalidate your warranty so I dont see that this is an issue.

IF HtC are concerned about Sense etc being used on non HTC phones then i sympathise with them and agree that sites such as this one should not encourage such activities.

Thus far HTC have failed to clarify this and it is therefore natural for us to assume that they are gunning for all cooks.
[General Topics] frogfire:
Someone can start. There a http://www.PetitionOnline.com/create_petition.html Petition?
[General Topics] donnaw:
For some reason I have the feeling this is more of a legal move by HTC that is prompted by the Apple suit and IP rights. Something the lawyers came up with - such as "if HTC did not infringe on Apple patents then why aren't they protecting their IP rights?" You know how some of this stuff plays out in court.
[General Topics] mrkevinhall:
HTC blackout

I fully agree with your post, htc needs to think about what there proposing. the only reason I dont have an Iphone is due to the fact that I enjoy being able to customize my rom, too fit me and how I optimality use this device to get the most out of it. we are not all the same, and we have different likes and dislikes. how does cooking the rom really affect HTC. the stock prices are still the highest of many phone makers... if this is the route htc wants to take then we as consumers have the choice not to purchase htc properties.
[General Topics] imaginarynumber:
Had a reply from the rant/whine that I sent to HTC using the web form:

Dear Daryl. When it comes to the type of request you have sent us, it is probably better if you contact our European headquarters. Their contact details are as follows: HTC Europe Co., Ltd. 7th Floor, Thames Central Hatfield Road, Slough SL1 1QE, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1753218960 Fax: +44 (0) 1753218961/62 Thank you for contacting HTC Customer Service. Best Regards Karsten H. HTC Customer Service

To send a reply to this message or let me know I have successfully answered your question log in to our ContactUs site using your email address and your ticket number 10GBCW******************

Not sure why i should contact the European HQ???

Will do never-the-less...

.
[General Topics] Franky24:
Folks,

I just received this answer from HTC to my complaint at http://www.htc.com/www/about_htc_bymail.aspx

Just FYI, we really should launch that petition.

Regards, Franky
[General Topics] Franky24:
...that reads pretty identical to me?!

Like they cared a sh** and just sent a form mail back :mad:
[General Topics] imaginarynumber:
Just left a post on the facebook wall- can someone do twitter- dunno why but firms seem to take notice of social media.

http://www.facebook.com/HTC?v=wall
[General Topics] hayyan:
HTC Should understand

Brothers

I m using WM just because i have XDA within my reach, otherwise i never think of having phone with outdated Operating system. So HTC should know these very well before making any foolishness
[General Topics] ninjajr2:
Fully agree with all stated here. htc is just shooting themeeselves on their own feet by doing this. apple understood it quite fast when they at the time of the 1st gen iphone tried to sue the creator of the first physicall unlock nd the creators of the first jailbreak and were confrotated with their lawyers advice as they'd loose big based in the fact that a costumization isn't illegal from the moment you keep the same os version that came on the phone (and whoose license price you payed included on phone price and you keep the copyright notes. well you buy a phone its your propriety...not htc's so they can dare to come threaten chefs for making custom versions for their phones. they seem to go by the same way that microsoft gone some years ago and that leaded to the almost desintegration of the society and thousands of processes from users preciselly because they imposed the exclusive use of windows preinstalled on a pc and tried to sue some hackers.

well shall we remind to htc whoos thee owner of the device? or maybe should some strike back with the same coin as they use for abuse of power and non compliance to the market lawws and non respect of a private good? (the phone that we bought and that we have the amability of allowing them to have their publicitary brand logo on them).

anyway its not that that will stop me to keep making my custom roms for my htc phones.
[General Topics] leexgx:
all they seem to be going after is factory roms nothing stopping it form been host elsware or torrent

as Most phone company's do not support there phones (the G1 i have now is still on 1.6 not really checked but i think it can run 2.1) do not provided rom updates, when i tried to update my ROM on my HD1 orange told me to goto HTC, HTC told me to goto orange (and my phone is SN Black listed to Orange network so i cant use HTC ROM updates as it blocked i can only get official updates from orange or cooked i guess)
[General Topics] Franky24:
please also post to HTCs forum!

http://community.htc.com/na/htc-forums/f/87/t/3611.aspx

HTH, Franky
[General Topics] Carliz89:
Dam this reminds of when I had my iPhone...good ol days...but it seems like its just that one site not this one.
[General Topics] imaginarynumber:
Update- perhaps it is not as dire as it seems- who knows though until HTC issue a statement

http://android.modaco.com/content/a...-cease-and-desist-letter-to-rom-hosting-site/
[General Topics] Tabbe:
sending email do not help

you think they care?

you want to help?

just create more links or site for all htc device's rom
[General Topics] anwoo:
Do you people even read the link?

HTC is taking action to protected their materials e.g. HTC sense.

ROMS that do so are who they are after.

Cyanogen, Open Eclair,etc, do not use anything proprietary and so isn't in their line of fire.
[General Topics] TechGuru_x10:
HTC do you want to copy SE, then be my guest with less sales as compared to other android phones though the hardware can give other run for their money...
[General Topics] imaginarynumber:
So you mean any rom (with sense) for relatively new htc phones from now onwards???

If so and I get a tmobile branded HTC phone that shipped with sense then i could not expect to find a cooked rom containing sense and if I did reflash I could not legally get the original shipped rom in case of a return to T-mob.

HTC do not have the roms on the support pages only the non branded update roms.

I cannot understand exactly what they are trying to do- they say they turn a blind eye to rom cooking provided that it doesn't contain any of their software- this could be dialers, media players etc along with sense.

I completely understand them not wanting their software on non htc phones but this (thus far) smacks of taking a sledgehammer to a walnut.

Potentially ALL roms could be at risk (as things stand).
[General Topics] bobdavisnpf:
Posted to HTC support email:

Hi, I recently heard you're considering suppression of your user community by threatening the independent ROM development community. I am considering curtailing future HTC purchases as a result. We had 4 HD2's but returned 3 within 2 weeks because we did not care for the HTC overlay UI. So we only have one HD2 at the moment, pending discovery of a more Windows-like ROM or perhaps when WP7 comes out. I pretty much hold out hope that your thriving user community will come up with a more Windows-like UI. If this community is forced to move on to other hardware platforms, we will likely follow that community to other makers as well.
[General Topics] petest:
Just read the link to madacco report.

It won't stop me getting the Desire and "playing" with it.
[General Topics] earni:
flashing custom roms is the main reason i bought a SECOND HTC handset. i was looking at the iPhone but i loved the endless possibilities on my old winmo device. i used a friends diamond and it was ****e, i would have never bought one after that experience. but after months of him whinging its slow etc, i convinced him to flash a ROM that would speed it up and add extra features (sense 2.1) and then using it, convinced me to buy one! people wouldnt need to make custom roms if HTC were doing their job properly in the first place
[General Topics] sirphunkee:
I first thought this might all be due to MS wanting to clamp down and getting HTC to be the bully for them, but now that I've seen the C&D letter, and HTC's response on the issue, it seems pretty clear to me that it's really just a case of them needing to draw the line somewhere. Based on the wording of the letter and the PR statement, it wouldn't surprise me if they found a sense ROM installed on some cheap hardware in Taiwan or Hong Kong, investigated and determined that the ROM was obtained from that site. Since IP enforcement over there sucks, their only recourse was probably to take action against the source of ROM.

This is HTC's response on the matter, referenced from the engadget article (I added the bold):

To me, that's HTC saying "normally we're ok with just turning a blind eye to ROM cooking, but in this case we've got no choice but to protect our legal position, or else we'll never be able to take any IP case to court. Take better steps to keep our software from ending up on other manufacturers' devices, and we won't have to bother anybody"
[General Topics] ninjajr2:
well i quite aggree with that...they have all rights to protect their ccopyrighted software from geting in non htc devices, but what they seem to intend to do is to put everyone in the same basket...one that cooks a rom to his htc device that had for example already sensse ui installed before and includes that ui on his rom isnt in fact not making a cr infringement as he owns the licence to posess a copy of that sooftware and the licence certificate is the device itself and its sw specs. if htc had a good custumer support service and didnt abbandoned some of their devices like they did for example with diamond, ppl wouldnt need to make custom roms that much. its as simple as that...its not only about selling their devices nd then aabbandon them after collecting milions with them come threatening ppl that just get their devices working better as thei should and do the job that htc techs should do in the first place
[General Topics] jgcaap:
if i was HTC i would get a oficial HTC page for cooked roms and get them updated :) that i'm sure would pown apple heheh
[General Topics] xborfi:
without cooked roms there is no reason to buy WM device and HTC hand sets any more, if customization is limited then a 10 bucks nokia 1100 , would do the job at the same way the expensive LEO does!:D
[General Topics] MoneyFist:
Huh?

The only reason why I buy HTC devices is because of the rom options.

No roms, no custom from me!
[General Topics] Jpcurrie:
HTC legal threat jobby

Hi,

Reckon this has to be a reaction to Google's rumoured assault on customised interfaces, see this post on "The Register":

"...Conflicts of interest with Android supporters helped kill Google's Nexus One project, but that is not stopping the search giant embarking on another bid to keep Apple-style control of the Android platform. Google is reported to be planning a unified user interface that will be imposed across Android products, ending the fragmentation that dogs the system, but also restricting partners' development of their own user experiences..." - full article: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/06/20/google_android_oem/

That would figure as Winmo7 is going to be restrictive, Apple already is, Android going the same way: HTC maybe being backed into a corner??
[General Topics] lufc:
HTC needs sites like this one to further develop there software an to keep people interested in there devices:)
[General Topics] Sidewindr:
I fail to see the issue, the roms are intact as shipped and as a result are locked to the specific devices via the HTC RUU install method etc.. Or am I wrong here?

It certainly won't let me just install say a generic WWE rom over my WWE_Asia rom .. so where's the issue, HTC should make these shipped roms freely available to everyone to allow users to upgrade or downgrade their phones to their preference, whilst remaining compliant with device/channel/distribution controls, again WWE_Asia can only install WWE_Asia roms on the specified device in the rom.

How is it a legal issue re-hosting files that HTC offers anyway .. ??? :confused:

Just perusing the letter now and it reeks of a C&D form letter that I get for an (automotive) site I run and it's usually generated by a crawler which matches various key words and then pops off the e-mail to the domain owner or similar. I would also think (check with the lawyer) that the onus would be on the plaintif to provide evidence as to how the IP rights were being infringed before any action could be taken. There is absolutely no reason/proof given as to how any violation has been made and by their own admission they don't really know when they say "We have very strong reasons to believe"....
[General Topics] imaginarynumber:
I hear what you are saying- when the touch pro3 is eventually born I am downgrading to wm6.5
[General Topics] shinkukage09:
*sighs* What the heck. First Obama decides to stupidly crack down on piracy that isn't even a big deal, then things like "thought crimes" are being put into effect...what the heck are we supposed to do? The corprate America is gaining far too much control...

Now this? When's it going to end?
[General Topics] firetiger:
I suppose that if roms are illegal to cook anymore, HTC sales would probably drop by half or more.
[General Topics] ugin4xda:
Send my letter to htc

Yap, I also have send my letter to htc opposing there move to shutdown support website for their phones. I hope htc will reconsider their position regarding this matter.:)