AOL Shuts Down Trillian Users
Friday, February 1, 2002 by T-Man | Discussion: WinCustomize News
By Lisa M. Bowman
Special to ZDNet News
January 30, 2002, 5:20 PM PT
People using the popular Trillian software may lose access to part of AOL Time Warner's instant messaging system.
Firing another salvo in the battle over instant messaging, America Online is blocking people using the Trillian interface from linking to its AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) system.
Trillian, which allows people to access multiple instant messaging programs from one screen, has attracted nearly a million people who are hoping to streamline their use of incompatible systems, including AOL's AIM and ICQ, Yahoo's Messenger and Microsoft's MSN Messenger.
But in the past 24 hours, an elaborate game of cat and mouse has developed between AOL and Trillian creator Cerulean Studios--as the start-up has repeatedly released new software designed to get around the block, prompting AOL to rush in and stop people from using it.
Meanwhile, Trillian fans are snared in cross fire.
"AOL is being selfish," Trillian user Mike Cicciarelli said in an instant messaging exchange with News.com.
Trillian user Chris Hilbert said he's downloaded new software several times in the past day in an attempt to re-establish access with AIM. Hilbert said he uses Trillian because it's simple.
"I like that there are no ads, less bloat," said Hilbert, an Indiana University student and creator of the FileFlash Web site. "I don't have to have four different clients open."
But AOL said it's a matter of security and is framing the conflict as yet another chapter in the instant messaging wars. In recent years, AOL has clashed with other makers of IM software, including Microsoft and AT&T. Both companies tried to create systems that let people correspond with AIM users--only to have them blocked.
"It has long been our very public policy that when a service unleashes software that hacks into our system, and endangers the security of our system, we stop it," AOL spokeswoman Kathy McKiernan said.
McKiernan said that Trillian does not have a business relationship with AOL. "To the extent that consumers think they do, they were misled," McKiernan said.
Meanwhile, the creators of Trillian plan to keep up the tit-for-tat efforts. Since AOL first started blocking the software Tuesday, they have released one workaround and at least two more full downloads of Trillian.
Michael Gartenberg, a research director at Jupiter Media Metrix, called AOL's practice "predatory," but he said at least the media behemoth is consistent in blocking both large and small companies from accessing its system.
"There are no technical reasons they can't open up IM, but there are a lot of business reasons not to," Gartenberg said. "They're not going to unless they're forced to."
News.com's Evan Hansen contributed to this report.
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-11-826707.html
http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2844439,00.html
Reply #22 Saturday, February 2, 2002 9:39 AM
Sure I can - I just did.

And as TGR pointed out, it's not really "free" in the way that you seem to think. If it's an ad supported service, whether it's AOL, ICQ, or any other service for that matter, circumventing the ads is theft - plain and simple.
All those cracks that seem some how condoned for ICQ are just that - cracks.
"How would you feel if you had to use Outlook to send email to somebody who is using Outlook?"
Well, if the central server connecting the communication between the 2 were provided by MS, along with the software protocols, I'd think that it was completely reasonable...

Reply #23 Saturday, February 2, 2002 12:36 PM
Reply #24 Saturday, February 2, 2002 1:37 PM
AOL leaves alone other clients because they're *marginal*. As people pointed out in some news comments, all this happens because Trillian has been prominently displayed on popular download sites. They can't afford to let their advertisers *know* that they're paying for nothing.
As for the email analogy, it's irrelevant: email server and bandwith costs are covered by the sender and receiver's ISP, so you pay for your email (or, with free email webservices, you pay by viewing ads). In the case of AIM, if two Trillian users chat on an AOL server, they're both making AOL pay for them and giving nothing in return.
I'm glad Trillian exists (I use it for ICQ) but you can't *blame* AOL for tring and protect their income.
Reply #25 Saturday, February 2, 2002 3:17 PM
Golly - what should I do next? I know. I think I'll crank out about a hundred copies of Photoshop and pass them out to anyone that wants them. I mean heck - it won't do any harm right?
After all - "With theft there has to be some loss involved. i.e. I steal something, someone else goes without that item."
Nobody goes without. As a matter of fact, I'll be a regular saint. I buy a hundred blank CDs, pass 'em around - hell, I'm a regular Robin Hood...
Of course, my conscience still tingles from time to time over that AOL AIM user agreement thingy that I said yes to when signing up for the service, but I'm sure that will go away with time.

Reply #26 Saturday, February 2, 2002 3:51 PM
But they refuse to participate, they are too comfortably sitting in their almost monopolistic situation, saying "Go to hell, we ARE the standard and we're not sharing!".
Oh well, sorry guys, but with an attitude like that I have no sympathy.
Reply #27 Saturday, February 2, 2002 5:34 PM
Whoops - there goes the conscience.
Ah, what the hell - it just got in the way of my self justification anyway...

Reply #28 Saturday, February 2, 2002 5:53 PM
Reply #29 Saturday, February 2, 2002 6:08 PM
I'm with you too. You harvest what you sow.Reply #30 Saturday, February 2, 2002 6:36 PM
On the opposite, Adobe's loss in your example is much less real, because most people who use illegal copies wouldn't buy the real thing anyway. Adobe Photoshop copies don't detract Adobe clients, but only Paint Shop Pro paying customers.
Laws are not in question. If Trillian was undisputably breaking the law, AOL would probably sue. But because it's legal doesn't make it "morally right". Besides, AOL aren't breaking any laws either by changing their servers, are they?
Reply #31 Saturday, February 2, 2002 7:44 PM
There is plenty of food in the world to feed everybody, and yet, millions are starving all over the world. The problem is distribution, not the availability.
Global trade agreements, international copyright laws and hardware/software based protection schemes are designed and implemented by what amounts to special interest groups. Looking out for the growth and expansion of markets from the corporate 'penetration' view of market dominance. Small businesses and farmers are left out of the picture, The best interest of the people in many countries is left out of the picture.
I don't have a clue what it will take to change the priorities but somehow, somewhere down the line, the *whole* population of this planet has to become worth enough for governments and businesses to care. As long as it's aimed at securing protection for corporate or political dominance, the people will be a secondary priority (if considered at all).
Reply #32 Saturday, February 2, 2002 11:48 PM
I do think that Adobe will lose some money (i.e. students, people who might be willing to save for the product, delayed purchase because they have a pirate copy (the "I'll buy it with my tax check" people)). I had not thought of the cost to the other Photo/Art programs out there, but it is a valid point. Thank you for making it.
Statistically yes advertisers could argue the point that 1mill users are on Trillian but AOL could just as easily argue that their is no proof or validity to those numbers and argue it away by claiming market dominance or that they have the situation under control. Or they could imply that these are just "hackers" and brush it away. Likewise advertisers could claim that another million or more are on TIC-TOC or other Oscar enabled clients to attempt to drive the price down, but again without the solid data backing it's just posturing. I don't see that they (AOL) MUST act in this manner, I think they've chosen to but I don't think that they MUST. They've seen the ad market shrinking for awhile now, they've always known that AIM wouldn't pay for itself or even substantially subsidize itself through ad revenue. AIM has always been and will continue to be a portal through which AOL will try to get new AOL service customers. Since I choose to never be such a customer then the ads pushed upon me are wasted as are the ads sent to several million more customers therefore us not seeing those ads still costs AOL nothing.
Reply #33 Saturday, February 2, 2002 11:49 PM
They can of course change the protocol to whatever they want. Likewise Trillian can change to circumvent it ad nauseum. My issue is that AOL is misrepresenting the actions that they are taking and the actions of others. Some of the misrepresentation could be considered fraud and some slander or lible. They have labeled the makers of Trillian as "hackers" and implied that they have done something illegal which could be considered slander as it's soul purpose is to disrepute the company. They are misrepresenting the user agreement made when I signed up for the service, they are misrepresenting the very product that they give away for "free", they are misrepresenting the word "free". See companies in the real world are held to some pretty stiff guidelines for when they mention "free", usually meaning they have to put a nice little "*" next to the word and some fine print defining exactly how you are getting it for free or their definition of "free". AOL seems to have been able to duck that guideline consistantly.
Reply #34 Saturday, February 2, 2002 11:49 PM
Reply #35 Sunday, February 3, 2002 12:38 PM
I don't know the reason why AOL doesn't prevent alternate clients from using ICQ, but there might be one. It seems that they can modify the AIM protocol and, still, let all the old AIM versions work; it may very well be technically impossible with the old versions of ICQ that are around, so maybe "protecting" ICQ servers would require asking the millions of people with legit old ICQ clients to download a new one, and risking losing them.
Reply #36 Sunday, February 3, 2002 12:39 PM
On a side note, I'm surprised the DMCA doesn't make Trillian completely illegal. I'm not American and I don't know that much about DMCA, but from what I read here and there, it seems to me it could be used in this case.
I think it would be very nice if Trillian, as the leader (is it?) in alternate IM clients, could team up with someone to create an alternate, free, open source network. Such as Jabber, right? Are there any public Jabber servers yet?
And finally: I mentioned that I use Trillian for ICQ and not AIM simply because it's a fact. There's no moral or legal or any difference between the two; it's just that I don't personally care for AIM support. And should ICQ support also disappear, I would find another way to communicate with my friends.
Reply #37 Sunday, February 3, 2002 1:25 PM
Reply #38 Sunday, February 3, 2002 3:03 PM
http://www.gigahosts.com/~c1003/aimicons/cooltricks.html
Reply #39 Monday, February 4, 2002 6:45 AM
Dear Whitedragon28215,
Hello!
My name is Ting from America Online (AOL). As a Customer Care Consultant from the TechMail Department, it is my pleasure to assist you with issues or concerns regarding America Online Services.I would like to thank you for your comments about this issue. I can understand your feelings and I thank you for voicing your concerns.
I have passed your comments to the appropriate staff members for review.
I assure you America Online wants to understand your feelings and your input is very much appreciated.
For any other suggestions, comments and/or inquiries please feel free to write back and I will be more than happy to assist you.
America Online, Inc.
----------original message----------
I D/Led Trillian becase I wanted to check it out and I love the program I don't see Jabber or any other IM prgrams that support AIM MSN ICQ Yahoo getting heck from AOL
and whats the IE thing about they have Netscape
Reply #40 Monday, February 4, 2002 6:59 AM
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Reply #21 Saturday, February 2, 2002 8:55 AM
How would you feel if you had to use Outlook to send email to somebody who is using Outlook?