Mechanical Keyboard Sound Isn't That Simple
Figure 1: I couldn't think of a more literal way to represent this article if I tried... Looking back just a few years ago, there’s no doubt that the huge influx of people that joined the hobby at the peak of the COVID pandemic were drawn to keyboards by way of YouTube, TikTok, and other audio-visual content platforms. Even as the output from these content creators has waned in recent months, their collective impact and legacy on the keyboard hobby is rather firmly etched in the history books. As a result of all of their sound tests, build logs, and opinion videos, the message is clear to any new person joining the hobby: mechanical keyboards are all about the sound. Thock this, clack that. Whether it’s keyboards, keycaps, or even singular switches, seemingly everyone new to the hobby meticulously pores over each component of their keyboard not in an attempt to figure out how it will feel in hand, but how it will sound as they’re furiously grinding their way out from...
Mar 27, 2024
"We’ve worked with many dozens of designers and we’ve never run into this problem before (in fact, nearly all designers go on to work with us on many more projects)."
So because they they chose to use kickstarter, you guys tried to block their sales? If you're all about bringing people's ideas to the free market, why stifle their sales once the product has launched? It sounds like you only want to help designers make products if they sell them through Massdrop.
" It sounds like you only want to help designers make products if they sell them through Massdrop. "
Well, that is how businesses work. I mean that's the entire point of business partnerships. They aren't here to be a charity for designers to allow them to go off on their own and screw MD.
From what I see, "as replacement parts and as standalone switches" and "via their website" are the two terms of importance. Using those switches as an option for a product is neither selling replacement parts nor selling standalone switches, and Kickstarter is not their (IC's) website. Therefore, it is a breach of agreement.
This is layers fighting over definitions of words, and this is how it's supposed to be.
You are right that we haven't seen any written agreement, and I doubt they'll become publicly available.
Regardless of anyone's opinion, unless we get to see the contract details discussing who is right or wrong is moot.
Meaning buy the switches individually/separately for building your own or replacing stuff.
NOT offering a full keyboard that uses the switches in it as a direct sale.
HUGE difference.