One of our writers is taking a bit of heat for using a word in a post. Yup, you read that right. What word did he use? Avast.
In an article about Apple’s attempts to thwart piracy on the internet, Grant apparently made the mistake of starting his post off with, “Avast! Apptrackr, a repository for cracked iOS apps, is under attack from Apple’s legal team.” For those not schooled in grammar-fu, the word literally means stop, cease. Apparently our usage of the word avast has incensed the Avast AntiVirus team so much that they’ve taken to tracking down our writer and tossing obscenities at him on his personal blog, as well as badgering him in his email inbox.
The Avast team is demanding we remove the word avast from our opening because it confuses readers into thinking that their product is somehow related to Apptrackr. Sadly, drawing those parallels means people actually need to know who the hell Avast is before anyone can assume anything. Sadly, no one, not even I, knew who Avast was until they started waving their proverbial dick around our email, comments, and private websites.
To this, I say, game on.
So, now you know. Avast AntiVirus, it’s a fine, fine product that you should all use and trust.
We tried to explain the word to them, politely. But, as you can see from the header image, they think they can badger us into changing our sentence.
Newsflash: I like the word avast and it’s staying. But, here are some words of advice:
Avast Mr. PR man. Badgering literate people for using a word in their posts is pretty pathetic. Not to mention, it makes you look like morons.
Class. Dismissed.
Update: If you want to see the emails between Grant and Avast, you can read them here.
FLICKR
YOUTUBE
RSS
avast is free and a best for anti virus
but avg is not detect virus fast any more
????? ??????
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeI agree the IM was totally rude and uncalled for, but no way of proving it came from anyone at Avast! The emails from Kristýna Mazánková are totally polite and professional and not anonymous in any way....no way these are from the rude IM person. How can you NOT see that the way you've written it that you could be libeling the company Avast! ? Would it be hard for you to clarify that the company Avast! doesn't have anything to do with that App? A little addendum at the bottom would be reasonable. My guess is that now that you've made a big deal of it, you might be too embarrassed to change it...but if you man up and and have some empathy, you'd be showing some growth as a blogger and a person. Anyone can make a mistake, but not everyone has the self confidence to make it right.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeTsk! Tsk! Tsk! Mrs. Kristýna asking you guys to please remove Avast! or change it in "Avast," simple as that and she corrected you guys in a nice way.
http://grantbrunner.com/post/15348220272/avast
To: Joshua Schnell better read again your post because you are the one who sounds like a moron looking for a fight.
Just my opinion.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeJust added 127.0.0.1 macgasm.net
to my hosts file so I don't see you again!
I am sure nothing intelligent can be found here!
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeSadly you claim to write intelligent articles about computers yet you didn't know what AVAST was. Sadly you don't know that most Real computer sites rate AVAST very highly!!! Sadly I am willing to click on a known virus laden website or exe file as I trust AVAST that much!!
"Sadly, drawing those parallels means people actually need to know who
the hell Avast is before anyone can assume anything. Sadly, no one, not
even I, knew who Avast was until they started waving their proverbial
dick around our email, comments, and private websites."
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeFUCK AVAST!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU EASTERN EUROPEAN SHITS. AHAHAHAHHAA
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeSo? That still doesn't make it Avast!.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeSo, can we even use words like Apple or Cloud in a sentence anymore?
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeThe term "avast!" is copyrighted, and I had to get permission from Avast Software to be able to recreate that copyright online. I saw this article come up with my alerts settings. Then the entire conversation of emails and an IM were sent to me from a MAC client. Because the term is copyrighted, it would be advisable to at least remove the "!" so that there is no violation, no confusion. I appologize in advance for the anonymous IM. I have been in contact today with Avast Software management, as I have worked closely with them the last 9 years!
And when I saw the alert, I knew (mistakenly) it was about Avast Software in a lawsuit against Apple. And I am an American. So you cannot dismiss this issue. Everyone, who knows about avast! anti-virus will misinterpret this title everytime. This has gone around the world, as avast! is the most used and trusted anti-virus program in the world.
Sincerely,
J.R. Guthrie
President
Advantage Micro Corporation
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeHow nice of you to double post this comment below both articles, you even corrected some of your mistakes.
I know this might seem petty, but here's your original comment:
"The term "avast!" is copyrighted, and I had to get permission from Avast Software to be able to recreate that copyright online. Isaw this article come up with my Alerts Settings. Then the entire conversation of emails and an IM were sent to me from a MAC client. Because the term is copyrighted, it would be advisable to at least remove the "!" so that there is no violation. I appologize in advance for the anaymouse IM. I will be sure to send this to Avast Software management, as I have worked closely with them the last 9 years!
And when I saw the alert, I knew (mistakenly) it was about Avast Software in a lawsuit against Apple. And I am an American. So you cannot dismiss this issue. Everyone, who knows avout avast! anti-virus will misinterpret this everytime. This has gone around the world, as avast! is the most used anti-virus program in the world.
Sincerely,
J.R. Guthrie
President
Advantage Micro Corporation"
And here's my response from yesterday evening:
"What are the terms for the copyright of this word or phrase?
Copyright applies to the usage for certain products or services, a phrase or exclamation of a particular language is not covered as far as I know.
I have a hard time believing that it is possible to copyright or trademark a word/term to the extent that it is prohibited to use it in written form.
Not to be disrespectful, but for an American your English is pretty poor, and I think that your association with the company impedes your reading comprehension.
I'm not an American, not even a native speaker of the English language and I know of Avast's products, yet this use of the exclamation "Avast!" didn't make me believe it had anything to do with the anti virus company."
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeAfter reading the emails it appears that the request from Avast! was quite polite and understandable. If anything, it was the responses that were abrupt and antagonistic.
Would it really have caused a major problem to add the correct punctuation to the heading to show Avast as a separate word rather than a company name? It would also have been easy to add a note next to an asterisk to remove any link of Avast! from the article.
It appears that PR is not a strong point of the Macgasm reporters.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeLast I checked, they kept spamming our inbox, our comment system (since removed), our Twitter feed, and our personal website comment systems, and any other means of communication outside of telephone calls. Furthermore, after googling the company a little bit, it looks like the appropriate spelling of their company is "avast!" and not "Avast!" So that should probably clears up their claims in its entirety. You can't patent a word, and patrol how it's used in the English language.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeRead the email. It's no where as rude as this guy is making things out. "Verbally threatening our writers?" Oh the drama!
Not too mention that the avast! rep is right about the poorly formed headline structure.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeHow about y'all share some screen names so we can share a few choice words with Avast.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeThat's why I use on-demand ClamXav. Open Source, only runs when you want it to, and doesn't ship with undignified acerbic verbal abuse.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeNo way in all hell is that message from Avast! the antivirus company!
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeAvast! antivirus threatening one of your writers? No. Someone is (maybe), but you can't just blame a whole company because of one anonymous Tumblr comment. I was also expecting to see some sort of heated email chain, but the Avast! representative sounded professional and cordial.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeAgreed having read the email exchange it looks like someone simply trying to protect their reputation from someone's poor grammar.
The tumblr thing above is a random numpty from the intertubes in the absence of anything else, but your text above makes it sound like it came from them...
"We tried to explain the word to them, politely. But, as you can see from the header image, they think they can badger us into changing our sentence. "
To be honest in this whole thing you guys sound lke the arses in this one. Sure they dont have the right to make you change, but you could just as easily have made a quick edit to clarify. Hey ho the world continues to turn and produce arses.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeI don't agree.
The posting on Tumblr might come from some idiot on the web who simply loves Avast Anti Virus, but it is a response to the post nonetheless.
Grant's grammar isn't poor at all, he used a literary means to make his point and he's perfectly right in doing so.
Yes, there is a possibility to confuse the anti virus company with the app piracy service, but reading the article clears that up.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeThat's stupid. No really, it is. They're actually trying to tell you that you can't use certain words of the English language in a negative context.
Oh boy.
Then again, anti virus companies aren't a beacon of intelligence in general it seems:
http://mangochut.net/post/2812010281
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeWhen we at AVAST Software make a post, we do not sign it as "Anonymous" -- and we would have no reason to spout obscenities. The tumblr image above appears to be from a teenage kid, based on the writing... and probably that kid misunderstood your article (as we warned you about) and is a fan of avast!
Sincerely,
Jason Mashak
Copywriter, Marketing/PR
AVAST Software
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeThe profanity and the threats are out of line. But I have used Avast! and the link was the first thought that popped into my head... wondering how they were involved with piracy. The language has plenty of words that aren't product titles, and if you're supposed to be a journalist, then clarity should prevail over cleverness, shouldn't it?
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeSimple enough to tell if the message is from the PR people at Avast.com. Contact their PR manager:
Lyle FrinkPR ManagerAVAST SoftwarePhone: 00 420 274 005 787
They are based in Prague, which is a fine city. They also, apparently, have an office in San Mateo, CA which is just down the road from me. Maybe I'll pop in tomorrow and say hello.AVAST Software, Inc.1840 Gateway Dr., Suite 200San Mateo, CA 94404 USAPhone: +1 (650) 378-1390
Perhaps interested parties could call these fine folks and ask directly whether it was really a company representative that called the author a "fucking freak and idiot." I'm sure either office would be happy to provide a polite reply. ;o)
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeI'm sure you'll get a straight answer.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeThat still gives no evidence that the actual company is behind this. Shame on Macgasm for the baseless accusations. Funny, I had never heard of Macgasm before this. Shameless self-promotion.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeWe should all call them and talk like pirates. There are numbers in the support section of their site.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeI second that. They need to grow up.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeSucks to be them then, huh? Dopey companies doing dopey (and mindless) drivel. Avast is not even theirs. I remember while watching MythBusters recently that avast is a Dutch word, meaning 'hold fast'. So uh, Avast, get over yourselves. Who are you anyway. Never heard of you until now. :-P (Okay, I fib).
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeStick it to 'em Macgasm !
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeIf it's an anonymous post, what makes you think it's from Avast Anti-Virus? I would be more inclined to think it's an iOS-pirating script kiddie trying to steer attention away from how easy it is to pirate apps so that Apple doesn't come down harder on it...
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeIt's called argument from ignorance. "Look dad, there is a UFO." Dad: "must be aliens."
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeNot capitalizing the word Internet in an article... is just the ignorance without an argument, however.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeWeren't they paying attention during the whole penny arcade PR saga. This won't go well for them.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeLook out, Spongebob and Mr. Krabs will be on your heels next.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeI too thought Grant was referring to the anti-virus company when I read the article! They definately have a point even though the way they went about expressing that point was very juvenile. I'm sorry if you haven't heard of them...they have been around since 1988. I used to use their software when I ran Windows before switching to a Mac.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeAvast Maaaaaaaarilyn
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeWow, they must be really busy on "Talk like a pirate day". Quite a few people to school and harass.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
Like(pirate voice)
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeHoney Badger don't care.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeIn all honesty - I would also make the link to the Avast Software, while reading 'Avast! Apptrackr, a repository for cracked iOS apps, is under attack from Apple’s legal team.'
Their reaction; WRONG - but I also could see why they would like the writer to remove the Avast! part => the writer even puts the '!' behind it...
And sadly enough for the writer; a big percentage of the readers (who's main language is NOT English) will have problems with translating Avast! in other way!
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeI really want to write an app called 'Avast Apptrackr' now.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeIf you do, then you are freak and idiot. Apparently.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeAlways :)
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeBut I would suggest that using a generic word as the name of your company — imagine if that had name the company "Fast!" — and then expected others to stop using that word in any context, is absurd.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/avast
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
Like