Friday, November 9th 2012

ChannelPro Tosses Elric Phares Out of Motherboards.org

Elric Phares, founder of the 20-year old tech publication Motherboards.org learned the hard way not to cut deals with the devil big corporate media houses that promise accelerated growth of your publication in exchange for a share of profits/copyrights. According to a rant posted by Phares on YouTube, Motherboards.org joined the ChannelPro Network three years ago, a deal which typically sees Motherboards.org hand over its revenue-stream management and copyrights to ChannelPro in exchange for site (cosmetic/technical) and business (diversification/partherships) development, leading up to increased revenues for all involved, which according to him, never happened. To add to that, Phares had been noting financial irregularities. When confronted with evidence of these, ChannelPro fired him. In his video, Phares announced what will shape up to be a long-drawn legal battle with his former employer, and appealed to his followers to unsubscribe from Motherboards.org (as run by ChannelPro). Phares set his base of operations in his 2010-registered consumer electronics website, TechofTomorrow.

Elric Phares's video announcing his departure from Motherboards.org follows.

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73 Comments on ChannelPro Tosses Elric Phares Out of Motherboards.org

#26
mtosev
btarunrWe are backed by you.
and with the ad revenue that is generated by the users,no?
Posted on Reply
#27
Animalpak
motherboards channel have still alot of subscribers
Posted on Reply
#28
GSquadron
That website doens't seem to be right, i dont like it at all.
For what i know, i came to tpu everyday since 2009 and it was partially for the forums and partially for the design and news the website had.
There is one thing to mention: "it just got more clicks because of techpowerup news"
Posted on Reply
#29
DaMobsta
Well 20 years of service and getting screwed as a reward blows. Hope Channel Pro get what they deserve.
Posted on Reply
#30
shhnedo
mtosevand with the ad revenue that is generated by the users,no?
It's practically the same thing you know... Adds are useless without users so he prety much said it all.
Posted on Reply
#31
brian111
Beyond whatever services ChannelPro may not have performed, the serious allegation is embezzlement. That will make anyone angry.
Posted on Reply
#32
xBruce88x
Especially in this economy... which is why I think he made an agreement with them in the first place.

I've already subscribed to his ToT channel and unsubscribed from the ... other. Also, I sent him a nice little email letting him know there's ppl out there that support him.

Yea... still a ton of subs on the old site... I guess everyone hasn't woke up yet to read the news.
Posted on Reply
#33
yogurt_21
btarunrRegardless of what happened, trying to run a site without its founder, who's been thrown out like this, and not left in pursuit of better things, is just wrong. It's like trying to run TPU without W1zzard, or Anandtech without Anand Lal.

I hope company representatives see the logic of the situation, and deal with Elric (and not ChannelPro).
yeah not seeing their logic here. They got a domain/brand name, whoop ti doo. He's the reason people visit/watch. So if he buys a different domain and starts anew what's to stop everyone from switching over? It's not like he suddenly lost all his brand contacts. (even if he did his name has recognition amongst the brands would still get him review samples and what's stopping them from sending him AND motherboards.org samples to review?)

its almost as if they said "we feel like we don't have enough competition so you're fired to go make some for us"

I mean a quick look at the site and nearly every single article and review featured on the homesite is authored by Elric Phares...
Posted on Reply
#34
TheMailMan78
Big Member
Elric Phares was a dumbass. He should have had a lawyer over look the contract. I don't wish this on anyone but sometimes you gotta let natural selection take its course. Good experience comes from bad judgment.

Mr. Phares will make another site that people will flock to I'm sure. I just hope he plays his cards a little smarter next time. I wish him luck.
Posted on Reply
#35
tacosRcool
I have never heard of this site. 20 years?!?
Posted on Reply
#36
KainXS
maybe your too young?

I first heard of motherboards about 10 years ago and its sad that this happened to it, I did notice though that the site was not changing for a long time and I do like his reviews so hopefully he makes a comeback but really . . . . . . he should have seen this coming.
Posted on Reply
#37
fullinfusion
Vanguard Beta Tester
TheMailMan78Elric Phares was a dumbass. He should have had a lawyer over look the contract. I don't wish this on anyone but sometimes you gotta let natural selection take its course. Good experience comes from bad judgment.

Mr. Phares will make another site that people will flock to I'm sure. I just hope he plays his cards a little smarter next time. I wish him luck.
And your perfect? :slap:
Posted on Reply
#38
TheMailMan78
Big Member
fullinfusionAnd your perfect? :slap:
I'm smart enough to know not to sign over 20 years of my life work for 10% of the profits from that work and to later be fired from that work? I mean I dunno WTF he was thinking not having a lawyer look at the contract. I have my lawyer look at what socks I wear in the morning before going outside. Its crazy this happen to him......at the same time I EXPECT people to try and screw me with that kinda money on the line. Its human nature.
Posted on Reply
#39
cadaveca
My name is Dave
Mailman, you are overly cautious in most things. In this instance, yes, I do believe that you might have ended up in the better position, but at the same time, not everyone can be as neurotic as you are. :p


As to Elric...I have a feeling he will be back in short order.
Posted on Reply
#40
TheMailMan78
Big Member
cadavecaMailman, you are overly cautious in most things. In this instance, yes, I do believe that you might have ended up in the better position, but at the same time, not everyone can be as neurotic as you are. :p


As to Elric...I have a feeling he will be back in short order.
This is true. I'm like Howard Hughes........only less smart and broke. :laugh:

I think Elric will be fine. Hell Ill go as far to say this will do him good in the long run. Things like this end up being a blessing in my experience.
Posted on Reply
#41
3870x2
TheMailMan78Elric Phares was a dumbass ... I wish him luck.
Outstanding.
Posted on Reply
#42
GC_PaNzerFIN
Loved the guys videos.

FU channelpro ! :nutkick:
Posted on Reply
#43
overclocker!
Elric you definitely need a hair transplant :p
Posted on Reply
#45
Disparia
btarunrIn his video, Phares announced what will shape up to be a long-drawn legal battle with his former employer, and appealed to his followers to unsubscribe from Motherboards.org (as run by ChannelPro).
No problem Eric, I did so about 3 years ago.

Hmmm... coincidence?
Posted on Reply
#46
dieterd
dont you think he got plenty of $$$ when sign a deal in order to give a way 80% of his company... if not than what and why was he planing?
Posted on Reply
#47
KainXS
video removed that fast man . . . . . . . damn
Posted on Reply
#48
HossHuge
KainXSvideo removed that fast man . . . . . . . damn
Probably because as TheMailMan78 put it "Elric Phares was a dumbass."

I bet he spoke to a lawyer after he put the video up and the lawyer told him to take it down.
Posted on Reply
#49
Completely Bonkers
"After 3 years" is the typical take-over contract. It sounds like he was kept on contractually for the 3 years, and is now let go. He should have expected it. IT HAPPENS IN 99% OF ALL TAKEOVERS. Greedy much? Resentful much? Start over. You did it before. Do it again.

Telling peeps to deregister from Motherboard.org is just vengeful. Attempting to damage the company is not going to earn him any credits.

Can you imagine people here on TPU getting an infraction then posting flaming videos telling people to deregister from TPU. It's laughable.
Posted on Reply
#50
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
Completely Bonkers"After 3 years" is the typical take-over contract. It sounds like he was kept on contractually for the 3 years, and is now let go. He should have expected it. IT HAPPENS IN 99% OF ALL TAKEOVERS. Greedy much? Resentful much? Start over. You did it before. Do it again.

Telling peeps to deregister from Motherboard.org is just vengeful. Attempting to damage the company is not going to earn him any credits.

Can you imagine people here on TPU getting an infraction then posting flaming videos telling people to deregister from TPU. It's laughable.
hardly what you said as I believe certain mods and reviewers and wizzard get paid to keep this site going it is a .com afterall. other than that he should just move to the other site and just put a mobo section in.
Posted on Reply
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