284.14 // Public Address (The split)

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284.14 // Public Address (The split)

Post by The Jedi Council »

Greetings, JEDI Members and Community.


As you know, it has been two weeks since former members Gabe Alkorda, Jamus Kevari and Cyril Feraan attempted to split JEDI. Much has happened during these two weeks, and the Council would now like to take the time to detail what happened, how it was handled and what will happen in the coming days, weeks and months in JEDI.



The Facts
  • Shortly before summer began, Gabe Alkorda came to the High Council with a proposal to expand JEDI to have a second Temple server. The idea was simple in its nature:
    • Purchase a second server
    • Set this second server in our canon as a second Temple, synchronized with our timeline and under the universe and High Council that the Alzoc III Temple runs under.
    • Take a few Jedi Knights and their padawan-learners to the new Temple, and expand its members over time using hopeful Jedi.
    • Create an alternate, but still complete “JEDI Experience”, with important preferences based on RP and OOC structure split evenly between the two Temples.
    The conversations began, and it was decided that summer would be an opportune time to give the second Temple a “test drive”, due to the high activity levels and influx of new hopeful Jedi that summer brings. Although the idea of expanding to a second Temple seems simple when written in bullet point, the undertaking involved in planning a successful expansion takes quite a bit of effort and organization. The planning began with Soh Raun and Corinth Alkorda, however the matter was put on hold indefinitely shortly afterward. This was due to the Council’s focus being prioritized on a handful of important matters with the Jedi Knights. There was tension involved with these matters, and the Council felt that it was important to strengthen the core of Jedi Knights before splitting the group with an expansion. This hold was poorly communicated to Gabe Alkorda, a fact for which the Jedi Council takes full responsibility.

    However after the conclusion of summer, the Council met with Gabe, and laid out the reasoning for holding off on the matter, and did all that it could to apologize for the poor communication on the matter. Things seemed to be settled, and after requesting some additional information at the request of Aayla Vigil and Arkallon – who had just joined the High Council – the matter was opened again on October 09, 2010. Over the next few weeks, the Council deliberated on the best ways to organize an expansion, and over concerns and potential problems related to failure for one of the two enclaves. A few messages were exchanged between the Jedi Council and Gabe, and each time he responded with ideas and answers to the concerns that were being brought up. Everything seemed to be going well, and we were moving forward. The final communication update sent from the Jedi Council was on October 29, 2010. The plan was to figure out the best way to implement this for both sides, then to come to the entire JEDI membership with the proposal, to put the idea to a vote and receive additional input. As you are all aware, we were not given the opportunity to do this.

    Less than 48 hours after our last update was sent to Gabe Alkorda, the secession occurred. This occurred with no warning, as it was quickly and quietly organized (mostly) over MSN. Several members were enticed to leave with the three organizers, in a move seemingly meant to force a decision, undeniably done out of impatience. Yes, several months had passed since the initial idea. However, the new matter had been created only weeks prior to the succession, and we were progressing quickly and efficiently, with only once moving a couple of days past our point of contact.

    When the three former members left, they confiscated all of our server assets by use of altering the control panel and Rcon passwords, and continued to use RPMod without permission. Additionally, they copied all of the storyline information and pre-written missions for the Attrition Wars, and then deleted all of the Attrition Wars story arc content from our forums before leaving – an effort that was futile because we backup the forums daily so that no information is ever lost, but nevertheless was a very bold and hostile action. They took a situation in which we were working together to try to create a new and unique opportunity for the future of JEDI, and forced our hands in a very aggressive action.

Our Response
  • Following the split, the Council took the following administrative action in order to protect our assets.
    • Remove RPMod, Comport and Wordpress (site) access rights from all quitters.
    • Disable RPMod Accounts Database access from the Galaxy server.
    • Prevent direct linking to RPMod and JEDI files.
    • Prevent the use of the Server Tracker to track non-JEDI servers.
    • Contact BlueHost (thejediholo.net hosting provider) to remove RPMod Client files from their server.
      • The legal department of BlueHost responded positively, and suspended thejediholo.net pending the removal of copyrighted files. They have since been effectively removed.
    • Contact MammothGames and Gabe Alkorda to remove RPMod Server files from the Galaxy server.
      • MammothGames requires a court order to proceed with the removal. We are studying this possibility, and have obtained an intellectual property lawyer in order to file the appropriate papers in court.

        Gabe Alkorda refuses to remove RPMod unless we remove all of "his intellectual property" from JEDI, using examples such as "The concept of Galactic Holonews Articles" or "The concept of running missions". A copy of this message is available further down this thread.

Our Policy

Returning members
  • The Council recognized quickly that although many of us felt affected in the areas of trust and loyalty, we wanted no part in the ownership of this split. Therefore, it was decided that we would adopt an “open-arms” policy toward any members that wished to return. This expedited reinstatement process will last one month from the date of the split, at which point we will return to our regular process for retired members requesting the reactivation of their membership.

    However, the Council has decided to not honor a request to return from the three former members who orchestrated the split, at this time. The decision to not allow the three to return – if such a request is made – was not based on grudges or pride. This decision was based on the deliberate theft of certain pieces of intellectual property, combined with the complete lack of respect shown toward JEDI in our attempts to negotiate a peaceful end to this uncomfortable situation.

    That being said, the Council wishes to affirm once again, that any other members that have left will be welcomed back with open arms, just as those who have already returned have been.
Attitude with regard to "the other clan"
  • Regarding the existence of the breakoff members’ clan, there are several points that the Council feels it is important to communicate.

    Despite the claims posted on their website, reality is crystal clear: the breakoff members’ clan is not JEDI, nor are they a part of it in any allied fashion. JEDI is largely a values-based clan, the most important value being respect, in all its aspects. Through their firm refusal to cooperate in destroying the copies of RPMod server files that are in their possession, they have shown an immense level of disrespect toward the years of hard work coded into RPMod by Soh Raun.

    JEDI will not be recognizing the breakoff clan’s existence in our roleplay. At this point in time, all breakoff members are to be considered MIA – missing in action. In their forums, the leaders of the breakoff clan have requested that their members change their tags from ::JEDI:: to ::BESPIN:: when visiting our servers, and likewise have requested that our members change their tags to ::ALZOC:: when visiting their servers. Please note that as we do not recognize their existence in our RP, you should not recognize any of their members that visit our servers – either with ::BESPIN:: or ::JEDI:: tags. Any admins that witness one of their members attempting to roleplay membership in our servers should deal with them with the same guidelines pertaining to any non-member attempting to roleplay in a similar fashion. Along the same theme, our members are not permitted to alter their tags to ::ALZOC:: when visiting the breakoff members’ server. This measure is to ensure that the lines between the two clans are not blurred.

    Please note: While the break-off members' clan has since suspended the requested use of ::BESPIN:: and ::ALZOC:: tags, we are keeping this clause within our public address in case they reinstate this request in the future.

    As stated earlier, the breakoff members have had their copy of RPMod disconnected from the global RPMod database. Our lawyer is currently in the process of litigating the deletion of the stolen copies of RPMod, but until the court process has concluded, the breakoff members’ clan still has access to an out of date copy of RPMod and its accounts. This means that any changes made to your account from the point of breakoff onward will not be reflected in their server.

    Please note: while you are always able to visit any other JKA server for any reason, the Council wishes to recommend that our members simply stay away from the breakoff clan’s server. We all have friends that have left, however given the complexity of the situation, it may be best to simply stay away.

What's Next?

Storyline and JEDI Era
  • As announced on 284.12, we are calling for volunteers to take over the management of the current storyline and more generally the JEDI Era. So far, 10 members have volunteered to help in various areas, including coordination, article and mission writing.

    The new Era Coordinators are Simus Cnydaria and Sebastin Creed, and will form their own team in the coming days.
Vacant positions
  • Beyond the storyline-related roles, other positions have been left vacant after the split.

    The Flow Clan will see a new co-leader alongside Iverian Prey, in the person of Aslyn Denethorn, who was among the first to volunteer for this role after the split.

    In the coming days, the Council will once again call for volunteers for all Core classes, as well as proposals for Peripheral Classes. Teachers already in place are invited to clearly state whether they want to continue teaching the same class, to change, or to step down in favor of other candidates or to dedicate themselves to other activities.

    Lastly, we would like to attract our Knights' attention to Padawan Ian Prine, who was left masterless following the departure of Cyril Feraan. Others, such as Atrux Nuro and Daereon Daimon, are not forgotten by the Council and will be dealt with separately.
Galaxy Server
  • Many members are eagerly waiting for a new Galaxy Server to be setup, in order to resume missions and other events outside the Temple.

    We would first like to thank all members who have readily volunteered to donate for a new server. In no particular order: Sared Kilvan, Sasha Raven, Olim Adasca, Yulia Cera, Maloush Paroveid, Kael Sekura, Sebastin Creed.

    In order to reinforce the security of RPMod, Corinth Alkorda will be taking the ownership of a new Galaxy Server. The Council is currently defining the best approach to take in order to give you all the opportunity to make donations in a safe and transparent way. Guidelines will be published shortly.
Clan Meeting
  • As announced on 284.13, the Council will be holding a clan-wide meeting later today, starting at 1600 GST. All members are welcome to participate; in case you would not be available, rest assured the Council will welcome PMs or direct contact.

We hope that this message will answer many of the questions you have been waiting an answer for during these last two weeks. We would like to reaffirm our will to bring JEDI even further, as we believe this place and this community are like no other in the JKA Role Play ecosystem. As always, the Council is open for discussion and looks forward to meeting you later today.


May the Force be with all of us.
- The Jedi Council.

The Jedi Council of Duneeden

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Post by The Jedi Council »

For reference and for the interest of JEDI members, following is Gabe Alkorda's response to Fabien Crespel's formal request to remove RPMod Server files from the Galaxy Server.
Gabe Alkorda wrote:Greetings,

After receiving a request from Soh Raun to remove RPMod from the server that we use, we have decided to discuss removing your so-called "intellectual property" as soon as our "intellectual property" is removed from your website, forums, and server. A non-exhaustive list follows:
  • The concept of Galactic Holonews Articles was imagined and developed by Gabe Alkorda. As such, we request that any implementation of this idea be halted immediately.
  • The concept of running missions was imagined and developed by Gabe Alkorda. As such, we request than any implementation of this idea be halted immediately.
  • The Commonwealth Storyline was imagined and developed by Gabe Alkorda. As such, we request that this time period be removed from your canon, and any references to the time period, the War, non-JEDI characters involved in the storyline, etc. be removed from your website and forums. These items should also not appear in your future role playing.
  • The custom model field for the /npc command was imagined by Gabe Alkorda. As such, we request that it be removed from RPMod immediately.
  • The concept of "Atomic Force" was thought up by Gabe Alkorda. As such, we request any references to it, and any notion of practicing it be removed and halted.
  • The Jedi Code currently in use by you was largely developed and imagined by Gabe Alkorda. As such, we ask that it be removed immediately.
  • The original formula for granting Knights and Masters XP was created by Gabe Alkorda. As such, we request that you invent a completely different formula and put it into use immediately.
  • The bridge between Star Wars Canon and JEDI Canon was developed and written by Gabe Alkorda. As such, we ask that it be removed from your canon immediately.
  • The Attrition Wars storyline was imagined by Gabe Alkorda, and was written and developed by Jamus Kevari and Cyril Feraan. As such, we request that this time period be removed from your canon, and any references to the time period, the War, non-JEDI characters involved in the storyline, etc. be removed from your website and forums. These items should also not appear in your future role playing.
  • Additionally, we request that any ideas for RPMod that were imagined by our members be removed from RPMod immediately. If you would like a detailed list, I will gladly browse the RPMod Suggestions forum on your forums to generate it.
Please be aware that we would much rather allow you to continue using and keep our intellectual property as listed above, and will gladly allow it if we are allowed to use RPMod.

Please also note that we still do not agree that RPMod is solely the intellectual property of Fabien Crespel, but that it is the "intellectual property" of the JEDI Community, a community to which we claim to belong.

I sent an invitation for our two Councils to sit down and talk a few days ago, but have yet to receive a response. I would still very much like for us to all sit down and talk about these things, to hopefully conclude the many issues present between us.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
Gabe Alkorda
Gabe's real surname has been removed at his request and Fabien's approval, but a record of it has been archived for historical purposes.

The Jedi Council of Duneeden

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Re: 284.14 // Public Address (The split)

Post by The Jedi Council »

Greetings, JEDI members and Community.


Our policy regarding thejediholo.net (or "Lehon") has already been clearly stated in the above instance: all those who joined the "Lehon" clan during the above mentioned "split" were given 1 month to return with an expedited reinstatement process, with the only exception of the three leaders who organized the split, who were banned.

We would like to reaffirm this policy, which still holds true today, but also clarify our current policy towards "Lehon" members coming to JEDI, considering the month that followed the split is over:
  • All thejediholo.net members who weren't involved in the split ("newcomers") or in the leadership of that clan, may leave Lehon and apply as Hopefuls to JEDI, and then be considered objectively like any other applicant;
  • Previous JEDI members who left to join thejediholo.net will be dealt with individually, case by case, as for any returning JEDI member;
  • thejediholo.net leaders, as previously stated, will remain banned from JEDI's servers and forums. After deeper consideration, this ban will also be extended to its current leaders (by the character names of "Moza Ferorn/Maloush", "Ergo Stomi" and "Blavek Araven"), considering the role they have had in this matter, including endorsing and pursuing the policy of their predecessors (such as the illegal use of RPMod).
Please also note that our policy regarding RP material remains the same as for any community outside JEDI: applicants will be required to start a brand new character and not bring any RP material from any other RP community/clan ("Lehon" included).

As always, feel free to contact us shall you have any question, doubt or concern regarding this matter, directly or via PM to The Jedi Council account.


- The Jedi Council.

The Jedi Council of Duneeden

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