[Updated -Store Removal, AMSim Statement] Multiple Developers Allege BMWorld of Previous Piracy Distribution

Update 15-Nov-2024 @ 14:30z: Multiple vendors like iniBuilds, Orbx, and SIMMARKET have removed all BMWorld products from their stores. For iniBuilds, they issued a statement stating that currently this is a temporary removal, pending further investigation.

Orbx has also issued a similar statement.

Further to this, developer AmSim has also submitted a statement of their own. In the statement (in full below), they said “[we] learned about the incident 4 years ago [at] the same time as the community. [We] have reviewed the details and conclude that the situation was resolved between the parties 4 years ago.” AmSim continued “I understand why they are now trying to discredit BMW, as well as me: we make high-quality airports. And it is very difficult for them to compete with us in the professional field. Therefore, competitors are trying to use dishonest methods of struggle against us. These methods of struggle are illegal – I ask the community to pay attention to this.”

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Update – 14-Nov-2024 @ 12:30z: We have now received a new statement from BMWorld regarding the situation. We have also been provided more information regarding the accusations.

The new information regarding the accusation comes in the form of an email chain between Alexey and Umberto from FSDreamTeam. The full chain we received is below. To summarise it, however, Umberto emailed the email address found to be sharing the products (in this instance, Chicago O’Hare for MSFS) and informed the user that they found the encrypted files on piracy-related websites. It was reported to various vendors.

Alexey promptly emailed back saying that his “underage nephew” had access to his computer and was the one who was sharing the files with “a friend”. When Alexey said he had found out what had happened, he had “ordered” his nephew to delete the files. He promptly apologised to Umberto and said he “understood the work of a developer is priceless”. He signed off the final email asking Umberto how he could restore his reputation following having his account banned for having the files shared.

Statement from BMWorld

Following our request to BMWorld, and the forum post on Avsim, BMWorld has issued a lengthy statement surrounding the allegations. In the statement, BMWorld says that [we removed the all-caps], “I guarantee that I have no relationship with the pirate community.”

He continued, “I would like to pay attention [to] the fact that I am being charged with accusations that defame my honor and dignity. I am facing serious charges for a crime that I did not commit – these actions are ILLEGAL”. The next part of the statement focused on the circumstantial comments and lack of hard evidence. “No one has the right to accuse a person without evidence and an appeal to the court. This is against the law. Proof of guilt must occur with the participation of competent authorities.”

BMWorld then moves on to comments about the fact Washington is his most recent release. “The attack on me was caused by the release of the new Washington airport.” Then added, “[the] author did not choose the honest path of improving the quality of work as a fight, but chose the path of illegal accusations and insults.”

His statement concluded, “I love my business, so I try to make high-quality airports so that buyers like to use my product. This is the main message of my work!!! I put my soul into every airport!!!” Before then wrapping up with, “the author of the accusations to go to court to prove my guilt or to delete posts that contradict the law, contain slander, insults, and also to delete my personal data.”

His full statement is below.

== Original Article Published 13-Nov-2024 @ 22:54z ==

Several developers have taken to public channels to allege that scenery developer BMWorld had previously been involved in piracy and distribution amongst those websites. The initial discussion began when Amir from Flightbeam posted a statement on his website.

In the statement, Flightbeam initially set out to investigate why it had appeared BMWorld were “deliberate[ly] attempt to copy our roadmap” in what was described as a “toxic” atmosphere. In July 2024, Amir discovered that a possible reason for this was Flightbeam banning a specific user from pirating their content and distributing it amongst various websites back in 2020.

We reached out to Flightbeam (and also Contrail, who distributed the products) for evidence of the accusations. According to them, certain files, when downloaded, are encrypted with the user’s account number. When a product has been pirated, those files are checked by Flightbeam/Contrail and then cross-referenced with their own database to see who had shared the products. In September 2020, it was found to belong to someone named Alexey Unishkov – the person Flightbeam subsequently banned from their store. We asked for the data to back up the claims, but other than emails back and forth between developers (we have seen), neither company were able to send us detailed logs due to them being deleted after 2 years (as per their privacy agreement for keeping API logs).

BMWorld (Beautiful Model of the World) previously had a website online which publically displayed their email when they were providing scenery products for a one-time fee. This email matched the one that Flightbeam/Contrail banned piracy for back in 2020. This is why the alleged accusations have been brought against BMWorld. Following these accusations, Umberto from FSDreamTeam added that he too had banned the same person/email address for sharing their content on various websites.

At this time, BMWorld has yet to publicly acknowledge the statement or provide any comment to FSElite after we reached out earlier today. We will add that whilst BMWorld has worked with other developers on projects, only BMWorld is being accused of the behaviour. No other developer has been named to be involved, and no evidence suggests such.

Due to the fact that BMWorld products are distributed through various vendors, iniBuilds has issued a public statement on the situation. They said in a statement, “We take all accusations of this nature seriously.” They continued, “However, as a responsible and fair business, we believe in basing our actions on verified information. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and review any substantiated evidence that may arise. We have contacted BMWorld.” They did add that should any partner be removed from the store, all customer purchases will be protected and products will remain downloadable to them.

Should any further information on the alleged information be shared, FSElite will keep you informed.