Delta XMPP Project

Integrity Messenger is an instant messaging company, whose software is meant to operate with their own proprietary network (although later versions claim to have compatiblity with AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, MSN). Their software is primarily based on the Psi Jabber client. However, due to heavy user interface modification (like skinning), this is not easy to notice just by looking at it. This copyright breach occurred in mid-2002, but due to my lack of resources, there was just no way I could hire lawyers to fight this. I’ve been working with the Free Software Foundation to resolve the matter ever since the beginning, but because all of this is volunteer (pro-bono), going through the legal motions is a painstakingly slow process that can take years. As such, Integrity Messenger flourished despite our efforts, although these days it seems they are now defunct.

Initially, Integrity Messenger tried to hire me in May 2002, such that they could acquire the rights to the program. However, I was already bound to a full time job at another company and had to decline. At this point, the guy who was trying to hire me (Christian Rishel) told me that one day I’d get “f*cked”. I didn’t suspect at the time that maybe he meant something about my Psi program. So despite my decline, the company proceeded with their original plan anyway, but without my copyright permission. I didn’t find out about this until August of that year.

This page will become more complete as I add to it.

I suspect the most interesting stuff is the visible evidence, so first up are some screenshots of the graphical interface for Integrity Messenger and Psi, as they would have been sometime in 2002 (shots are of Integrity Messenger 3.36 and Psi 0.8.6, both released in 2002). Note that these similarities may or may not exist anymore, as the interface for Integrity Messenger has undergone many changes over the past 3 years.

Here’s a shot of both main windows, Psi on the right. As you can see, the group headers and system message icon are the same, aside from some graphical adjustments. Also, I’ve opened the right-click menus to show that some of the text and shortcuts are identical (note: the ‘x’ icon for Integrity Messenger’s “Remove” item is also an old Psi icon, although by 0.8.6 we had replaced it with a Trash can).

This one speaks for itself: