BlackBerryBoards.com?! (site ripoff?)
 

This came up in a Google search today:

BlackBerry Boards - Your BlackBerry Forums - Powered by vBulletin

WHOIS:

Not that I'm playing chicken little here, but there seems to be an awful lot of content similarity... yet, it's different. Are they ripping off the BBF site somehow or is this legit?

Some of their leadership is active here at BBF. I have joined there as well several months ago.

It's another public forum related to BlackBerry. Of course there will be a lot of content similarity.

Not sure I see what the big deal is. It's not like BBF has any patents or exclusivity on BlackBerry discussion groups.
Let them be.

I am one of the members. I think I am at every BlackBerry forum, except for one, hmmmm.

I am one of the "leadership" members at BlackBerryBoards, and I can guarantee that no content is "copied" from here. I enjoy this forum very much, and it has been expressed to the mods here that no one there, including RickyG (admin) want any hard feelings between the two sites. Of course content is similar, as the basis of the site is similar, but we have a strong policy on not "stealing" content or trying to recruit members from other forums.

I am fairly active here, and appreciate the fact that none of the "leadership" here looks down on me for being such there.

I am also very active at BBB its a different site, different atmosphere why not try it befor you knock it.

I don't think the OP wasn't knocking it, he asked:

I in fact was not knocking it, as JS pointed out - it just seemed strange that there were two extremely similar threads with the same content (almost - different wording) and I saw my reply on one (BBF) and not the other (BBB). It caused a flag in my mind to go up, so I asked.

Interesting that folks wanted to jump up in semi-vitriolic defense, though.

Wirelessly posted (off to see the wizard)

Rivvie if I may ask which post are you speaking of?

It was just the thread (not a specific post) regarding the Windows desktop OTA downloader tool, nothing special. The same screenshot appears, the same poster starts the thread and so forth -- as mentioned, it simply made me go "hmmm", but obviously the same person basically started the same thread on two different sites. No biggee, it is what it is.

Wirelessly posted (By Super Blackberry)

I love this site (BBF), I have learned alot from BBF. I found the Boards from a friend here and thought ide check it out and its a great comunity

The more the merrier.

I wasn't saying he is knocking it as in disrespecting the site. I was merely saying give it a try before asking if its legit or stealing. Some folks censors are set on hi these days.

Some folks will post the same question at more than one site just to see what different answers they get, or maybe they are impatient. Maybe that's what happened...

Agree on the word "legit". What exactly did the OP mean by that word? I myself browse that forum and though I am not a member, checking it sometimes keeps me from being bored.

I'd ask the question "Is this legit" if I am talking about a product or a service offered -- say a Prada or LV or RIM accessory or a device sold before the released date, but not a FORUM? ha ha

Forums are community and there is nothing as "legit" or considered as such for a community where members give their options and share their knowledge base.

I think legit ONLY comes into play if a site in this case displays the RIM logo all over the place and provides the perception that they are speaking for RIM when they are not. Otherwise, there is no debate in my opinion.

I have been using both Black berry forums and The BlackBerry Boards site for awhile. You can never have too much information. Besides look at all the "similar" iPhone forums and windows forums out there. Its hard to be different when there is so much of the same out there.

BlackBerryBoards in no way is competition for BBF, BBB seems to be a amateur site that must have been started for just the fun of it.

:smile:

You are absolutely correct, it was started for fun. I couldn't be happier that you feel there is no competition, because that's not how the site was designed. We at BBB have no intentions of trying to steal members away from anywhere, nor do we try to encourage members of this or any other forum to leave where they are and join BBB. The whole intention for the site was to be a fun hobby, and just another place where people can find information. It also is in very much an amateur site at this time, but we are hoping it grows with time.

Once again I will thank you for allowing my sig link to remain, and I am glad that there are no hard feelings from you toward BBB.