Hi Nigel & Gunnar Jonny
I don't believe that the loss of sales at Technote can be attributed solely on the activities of members of the Technote forum.
Technote is a UK based independent from Matsushita company who in the past only sold their Technics support products through retail outlets.

Then it would seem that their business plan changed somewhat perhaps by expanding their support products to other manufacturers & maybe doing the bulk of their business online.

It would seem to me that Technote may have abandoned what was their most successful asset, the people at the point of contact with Technics keyboard & organ purchasers.The retailers.

Although it appears that there was some copywrite files that changed hands through the forum. From what I saw, it did not seem to be that many.Even so, we have to admit it was a wrong thing to do BUT.
And it is a big BUT the most disappointing thing of all is that Technote did not come straight out in the open & do three things
1. Inform all of us that did not receive these files .
2. Write their strongest objections that it had happened & that it would not be tolerated
3. Closing down the site & saying it was for maintenance & doing it all in such a underhanded way.:-(

I am sure we would welcome any comments on the above from Technote if they choose to do so. As they failed to do it on their own site I'm not holding my breadth.

As for chit chat I suspect all the above would come in that category but at least it is Technics related & not about meeting uncle tom cobbley & all in another state & going out for dinner,That's what the GENERAL DISCUSSION is for surely .
Regards Johnnie