Wouldn't be appropriate to add the post as this to the blog on
kicad.org <http://kicad.org> as well?
On Tue, 19 Oct 2021 at 22:30, Seth Hillbrand <seth@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:seth@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Hi Folks-
As you know, the original KiCad domain name (kicad-pcb.org
<http://kicad-pcb.org>) was recently sold. This happened without
notification to the KiCad Project or members of the KiCad
Development Team. This sale was unexpected and may pose a risk to
KiCad users. The new owners may simply post advertisements or
(worst-case scenario) they may host malicious versions of the
KiCad software for download.
# How did this happen?
The domain name was originally registered in 2012 by the then
project lead Dick Hollenbeck. As KiCad did not have a formal
entity at the time, he registered it in his own name through his
company SoftPLC. When the KiCad Project formally became registered
under the Linux Foundation, we attempted to secure the rights to
the original domain name from Dick without success.
In the meantime, Digikey Corporation purchased the kicad.org
<http://kicad.org> domain name from squatters and donated it to
the KiCad Project. This is now our current domain name.
# What is the KiCad Project doing now to protect its users?
We are removing all links to the old domain name in the software
for version 5.1.11 as well as 6.0. We are also contacting various
sites that host content related to KiCad to update their links.
# What can I do?
Please do not contact Dick about this. He cannot undo the damage
at this point.
If you host KiCad videos on YouTube or content on a blog that has
links to kicad-pcb.org <http://kicad-pcb.org>, please update them
to kicad.org <http://kicad.org> as soon as possible. This will
decrease the visibility of the old domain-name and limit the
damage. You can also contact tech sites that post reviews of KiCad
or otherwise have links to the old site and ask them to update
their links.
When installing KiCad, please always verify the installation
signature. Starting with KiCad version 5.99, all installs are
signed by KiCad Services Corporation.
# What is KiCad doing to prevent this in the future?
The current kicad.org <http://kicad.org> domain name is not under
control of a single person. We have built in safeguards to our
transfer process. Additionally, all KiCad trademarks are
registered to the Linux Foundation for the sole purpose of
advancing open-source EDA software.
We regret that this was done to the KiCad project and its users.
--
KiCad Services Corporation Logo
Seth Hillbrand
*Lead Developer*
+1-530-302-5483
Long Beach, CA
www.kipro-pcb.com <https://www.kipro-pcb.com/> info@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:info@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
_______________________________________________
Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers
<https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers>
Post to : kicad-developers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:kicad-developers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers
<https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers>
More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
<https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp>
_______________________________________________
Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers
Post to : kicad-developers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers
More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
