2Clix Software

2Clix Software is a software developer in based in Australia. The name comes from the company's philosophy that "Nothing should take more than 2 clicks to open". [ [http://www.2clixsoftware.com/about_us Platinum One Software ] ]

History

2Clix was founded in 1997 in Australia, but they also have offices in the United Kingdom. The company's flagship product, "2Clix" (also called "Platinum One" and "Total ERP Software") is a business management and accounting suite.

2Clix was awarded a Gold Coast Business award in July 2004. [ [http://www.goldcoastbusinessawards.com.au/pages/winners.php?page=4#8 Gold Coast Business Awards - Winners ] ]

On October 22, 2007 it was reported that 2Clix has appointed Worrell's solvency and forensic accountants as an administrator. [ [http://www.itwire.com/content/view/14953/53/ iTWire - EXCLUSIVE: 2Clix appoints an administrator ] ] Registered creditors can access details from Worrell's site. [ [http://www.worrells.net.au/webreports/details.aspx?clientGUID=%7B87DA95BA%2D0038%2D49B9%2DB57E%2D15D4C8C69FC8%7D Administration Details - 2Clix Australia Pty Ltd ] ] Former employees have been made redundant and are registered as creditors to claim their owed entitlements.

Prior to their insolvency and liquidation proceedings, 2Clix management created a new company called Platinum One [ [http://www.p1software.com.au Platinum One Software ] ] , intending to relaunch the same 2Clix software, rebranding it "Platinum One". After the worldwide controversy in relation to the Whirlpool forum, which saw the name Platinum One heavily associated with 2Clix, the same management teamFact|date=December 2007 have subsequently created a new company called Total ERP Solutions [ [http://www.totalerpsoftware.com/ Total ERP Software - The Complete Solution ] ] , again releasing the exact same software package.

Whirlpool controversy

On September 11, 2007, Whirlpool announced that its founder, Simon Wright, was being sued [ [http://whirlpool.net.au/article.cfm/1753 Whirlpool News - 2Clix sues Whirlpool founder ] ] by 2Clix for alleged 'Injurious Falsehood' [ [http://www.caslon.com.au/defamationprofile2.htm#injurious Defamation Profile: Australia ] ] http://whirlpool.net.au/img/article/2clix/soc.pdf] , a tort not dissimilar to defamation under Australian law, resulting in "a severe downturn in monthly sales". [ [http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=42510 Neowin.net - 2Clix sues Australian Site Whirlpool Over Forum Topic ] ] Specifically, 2Clix are claiminghttp://www.ecourts.courts.qld.gov.au/esearching/filedetails.asp?FileNumber=7179%2F07&Court=Supreme&Location=BRISB] that comments on the Whirlpool Forums regarding alleged major issues with the product were 'False and Malicious'. 2Clix "quantifies its loss in income between January 2007 to July 2007 at approximately AU$150,000 per month" and is suing for AU$150,000 plus interest, plus legal costs. [ [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22405674-2,00.html Case could smother web chat, says Whirlpool founder | NEWS.com.au ] ] The complaint has conflicting claims of damages, asking the court for AU$150,000 total in the summary of relief, but claiming damages of AU$150,000 per month elsewhere.

While legal experts doubted the ability of 2Clix to win the case from the outset, it could have had major ramifications for website operators and their users. A win for 2Clix could have set a precedent and seriously limited the ability of web users to criticise companies' products and services. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/lawsuit-over-forum-comments-withdrawn/2007/09/19/1189881557140.html Lawsuit over forum comments withdrawn - web - Technology - smh.com.au ] ]

Whirlpool users subsequently began donating money to assist the site in its coming legal battle. Some users claim to have hadpersonally donated more than AU$1000 through Paypal [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/whirlpool-fury-at-legal-gag/2007/09/12/1189276778252.html Firm sues forum to silence critics - web - Technology - smh.com.au ] ] and the Managing Director of PIPE Networks personally pledged AU$10,000 to support Whirlpool's cause. [ [http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies-archive.cfm/819685.html 2Clix sues Whirlpool founder (Part 2) - Forum feedback ] ]

On September 19, 2007, 2Clix solicitors, Turnbull & Co, stated that it had received instructions to discontinue the case. [ [http://whirlpool.net.au/article.cfm/1755 Whirlpool News - 2Clix claims case withdrawal ] ] On October 30, 2007 the Queensland Ecourts website showed that documents to discontinue the case were received.

A former 2Clix senior employee of eight years said in July 2007 that 2Clix Australia's decision to liquidate was precipitated by the negative press resulting from its failed lawsuit against Whirlpool. [http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24056368-15306,00.html Unhappy users want their data back | Australian IT ] ]

Action Group

In the wake of the Whirlpool controversy, a website [http://www.2clixhelp.com/] was set up to help disaffected users of accounting software supplied by 2Clix. [http://www.itwire.com/content/view/14427/ iTWire - 2Clix help site established as EFA condemns Whirlpool suit ] ] Although it was only established on September 7, 2007, it contains a number of posts detailing alleged problems with the 2Clix software.

It was reported in July 2008 that more than 80 businesses had formed an action group alleging that 2Clix and Platinum One were holding their accounting data to ransom.

References

External links

* [http://www.p1software.com/ www.p1software.com]