These tgtsoft guys don't know how to use IRC?

It was chosen to be done over email for whatever reasons, so please move off that point already.

Just a little off topic, but Brad, about the msstyles being the property of Microsoft... I agree, but who broke it? Who is ripping it?
How is it that if DA puts up a MSSTYLES section it would be like encouraging rips?

As far as I know, I would be ripping Microsoft's property if I created a program that uses the MSSTYLES format - a little like CustomEyes used to use the UIS format.
But skinning using the MSSTYLES format or the UIS format isn't ripping. Otherwise there would be 1399 Windowblinds rips on this site right now...

As I said in another thread, if there is claim to be made about any sorta illegal or unethical activities, it should be about that DLL patch.
But, it seems Microsoft gave it their OK, as long as they put a Warning upon the installation process.
As you said yourself, the reason why MS put that protection is because they don't want the Tech Support problems. But if somebody releases a patch, and accompanies the patch with a warning, I can see Microsoft not giving a rat's arse about it from then on, since they are then released from any responsibilities.

So the way I see it, everything seems to be legit now. TGTSoft is happy, users are happy, Microsft doesn't care. The only unhappy party is Stardock. But really, you shouldn't be, Windowblinds is way better product. If anything this might bring you more customers, since peolpe will realise that Windowblinds skins a way more cool than any MSSTYLES skins. They are going to go further into desktop customization and you will gain from that.

Really, all this is just silly. Because in truth, nobody really loses anything here, and most actually gain.

quoting brad: it's not a matter of competition, it's a matter of being attacked by a new company.' i want to apologize to, i posted a personal email publicly. sorry brad.

No problem Jay. That's why we have the delete button. We probably need to make it so that users can delete their own posts.

But I'll just share what I mentioned in email:

The isuse isn't one of competition. The issue is one of simply having people coming out of the woodwork attacking our product.

If Microsoft gives third party .msstyles its OFFICIAL blessing then it becomes an open format that anyone can use (including WindowBlinds and SkinStudio). We're not worried about TGTSoft from a sales perspective.

We are somewhat worried about .msstyles obviously but if we supported it then we could make it cross platform (and we're the only ones in a position to do that). And we could extend it.

But the format is very limited and history has shwon that skin authors want more power.

WindowBlinds 2.0 provided skin authors the choice between UIS1+ (faster, more powerful than MSSTYLE) and UIS2, far more powerful but slower. They chose UIS2.

Stardock has to get the message out that WB IS native and make sure it is just as fast and seamless so that the question merely comes over which skin type the user wants.

But Jay, Paxx, the issue isn't one of competitiveness. It's just the distaste of being attacked.

I don't consider .msstyles as warez.