[sanswork]

You seem to be missing the point though that campfire is very far from original. To say google ripped them off is to imply the developed the basic chat interface themselves which is wrong.

Google developed a basic web chat, the likes of which have existed online for years before 37Signals was even a glint in DHHs eye. And almost all have shared a very similar look and feel because it makes sense.

[webology]

I never said 37 Signal's idea was original or defended them on that point. I also stated that before. When you take the functionality and design from one specific site without adding innovation then that is a rip off. I think too many people are caught up on whether or not they like Ruby on Rails or 37 Signals vs. seeing what Google did and calling foul. Good for Google to own up and pull the site though.

[sanswork]

Disclaimer: I use Rails daily, and have no hard feelings for DHH or 37Signals.

That out of the way, you are still saying that Google took the functionality and design from Campfire. Where as what I am saying is that Google took the functionality and design from almost every web chat program that came before it and there was a large number before Campfire itself existed.

To say they took it from campfire is to ignore all the existing implementations that existed before it. It is to rewrite history with the starting point for web chat on the launch date of Campfire.

I doubt Google pulled it because they thought they ripped off Campfire, my money would be on them pulling it because it wasn't important enough to risk bad PR over.