54 replies to this topic

[BBcool]

Spicy news, and not your usual airsoft news....but still news nonetheless...

Manila, Philippines — Hounded by internal upheavals, accusations of impropriety, advertiser pull-outs and delayed releases, Airsoft Xtreme Magazine (AX) faces lawsuits from the United Airsoft Alliance (UAA) and the Association of Fire Arms Dealers (AFAD) in the Philippines.

The threats of legal action stemmed from AX's alleged deliberate "digital manipulation" of promotional materials for the AFAD Defense and Gun Show to be held at SM Megamall, Philippines on July 17 to 22, 2008. AX misrepresented itself as co-sponsor of the event without the knowledge of the legitimate organizers. The beleaguered publication was said to have deliberately and maliciously altered the event's promotional banners and posters by deleting the UAA in the list of support organizations, and instead affixed its own logo in the sponsors' list. It also announced that they are launching their upcoming issue at the said event but it was not a part of the official program as shown in the original poster.

This callousness of said magazine undermined the UAA's efforts in bringing together airsoft and real-steel gun owners.

In the ACMairsoft.com forums, quoting Article 172 of the Philippine Revised Penal Code, Atty. Ernesto "Ticky" Tabujara, UAA president, says that AX's actions constitute the crime of falsification by a private individual of a commercial or private document. Among the acts of falsification defined is: "x x x 6. Making any alteration or intercalation in a genuine document which changes its meaning."

"That's the problem with commercialism. Some people will simply go to great lengths just to earn a buck. The problem is, Airsoft Xtreme Magazine is trying to make a quick buck out of our good name and the good will that we established," adds Atty. Tabujara.

"NO TO SCAM JOURNALISM!" echo the irate UAA members....


You can read more here: http://www.popularairsoft.com/news/airsoft...a-poster-fiasco images of the altered posters and full text of story are there.

Edited by BBcool, 10 July 2008 - 11:09 PM.

[Maple-Leaf]

Wow...

[Almighty]

THAT.. is so tabloidish...

[BBcool]

Still news to me. It's not the usual news of new AEG this, new tactical gear that, at least there's something that is discussed in the airsoft community apart from those. It Spices up the hobby.

Come to think of it, everything's tabloidish nowadays, the show on the telly, magazines, newspapers, so what else is new?

And with the confirmation that "UAA" is planning to file charges at AX:

http://www.popularairsoft.com/news/more-ax...a-poster-fiasco

Then it makes the story even more credible.

THAT.. is so tabloidish...

Edited by BBcool, 11 July 2008 - 07:03 PM.

[kken]

i think it took them six months to put out another issue coz they had to arrange another trip to bangkok for their cover shoots of ladyboys.

[BBcool]

You mean besides altering posters to show they're the "IT" guys, their cover girls are also altered??? My my....

i think it took them six months to put out another issue coz they had to arrange another trip to bangkok for their cover shoots of ladyboys.

[Renagade]

I find this interesting, especially since the "editor in chief" just started posting on AP. I'll see what answers I can get from him, if any.

[BBcool]

I checked it out at your website and you have an announcement of the full version of the AX Issue 6. You announced it here:

http://www.airsoftpacific.com/viewtopic.php?t=21085

And you provided for the URL of the full download of the AX 6 (not teaser) in PDF which can be found here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?11gt4men1mn

Go to page 77 and you can find the altered AFAD ad that removed the United Airsoft Alliance (UAA) name from the list of support organisations. In case AX guys immediately remove that free download, I already have a copy...so no running away.

It confirms the report of Popular Airsoft (the removed name is shown by the Yellow square to highlight the alteration).



They're FAMOUS!!!

I find this interesting, especially since the "editor in chief" just started posting on AP. I'll see what answers I can get from him, if any.

[Big John]

<br />I checked it out at your website and you have an announcement of the full version of the AX Issue 6. You announced it here:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.airsoftpacific.com/viewtopic.php?t=21085" target="_blank">http://www.airsoftpacific.com/viewtopic.php?t=21085</a><br /><br />And you provided for the URL of the full download of the AX 6 (not teaser) in PDF which can be found here:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?11gt4men1mn" target="_blank">http://www.mediafire.com/?11gt4men1mn</a><br /><br />Go to page 77 and you can find the altered AFAD ad that removed the United Airsoft Alliance (UAA) name from the list of support organisations. In case AX guys immediately remove that free download, I already have a copy...so no running away. <br /><br />It confirms the report of Popular Airsoft (the removed name is shown by the Yellow square to highlight the alteration).<br /><br /><img src="http://www.popularairsoft.com/files/images/ax_teaser_issue6_p7.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" /><br /><br />They're FAMOUS!!! <img src="style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":P" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

This is so embarassing on the magazine's part. It might be a publicity, but that will challenge their credibility. I just hate those tabloids like almighty said. Airsoft Extreme Magazine are like tabloids putting on false information. I just wish that magazine get what they deserve. I just clicked on the links and I believe this news is indeed true. The poster is edited. If I am the one who made that poster and some jackanape edited it, I will definitely sue him.

Edited by Big John, 13 July 2008 - 03:19 AM.

[thornado]

What is posted at PopularAirsoft, NLAirsoft, and Airsoftnews.eu all check out. I also downloaded the full version provided by the AP website, and further confirms the manipulated poster or ad.

With due respect to AP, they're a highly respected group in the US, I noticed that they have members (like knuckles) contributing to the content of AX in this controversial issue (issue 6) This either may make them turn red or go into self-denial. But i won't fault AP members since they are not aware of this issue until the news came out and they are not part of AX, they just contribute stories and photos.

At least now they know, whether they like the news or not.

Edited by thornado, 13 July 2008 - 09:06 AM.

[airsoftxtreme]

The AX Official Reaction to Poster Fiasco


AX Official Statement:

With all due respect; admin, mods, brothers and sisters in the global airsoft community:

http://www.acmairsoft.org/index.php?topic=16075.0

Abs Abando
Editor-in-chief
AirsoftXtreme International Magazine

[BBcool]

Oh come on! Did you digitally manipulate again the website logs to prove that you're the victims and blame it on Popular Airsoft including me? Everybody knows in the Philippine airsoft community that AX and ACMairsoft.org are kindred groups that's why there was a break-away group from ACMairsoft.org and formed their own ACMairsoft.com.

[Mat]

Wow an airsoft magazine taking credit for somebody elses work, whatever next.

[BBcool]

Well, it didn't take long for Popular Airsoft to make a rebuttal:

Popular Airsoft being dragged by AX Magazine into the UAA "Poster Fiasco"

This was brought to our attention and we are posting this statement so that others may know that AirsoftXtreme Magazine is doing forum-shopping to spread issues about Popular Airsoft rather than stick to its issue with the United Airsoft Alliance (UAA) so we may have to inform the editor of AX to get his facts straight. You can also post this reply in your own airsoft forums.

We found out that the editor of AX has received the email regarding the issue as based on what he is posting in airsoft forums. But he has not replied to us even if he has received it. But as we read their statement, they are attempting to obfuscate the issue and instead attacking Popular Airsoft directly. We are trying to get to the story straight, but we guess with their reaction, they seem to be unreasonable to deal with. Some sources inform us that there are also speculations that AirsoftXtreme Magazine, together with ACMairsoft.org are doing another round of "digital manipulation" to get away from the issue and blame PopularAirsoft.

Also we got confirmation that UAA will finally file CRIMINAL charges against AirsoftXtreme Magazine, and also will be included is ACMairsoft.org.

Read the rest of the rebuttal here:

http://www.popularairsoft.com/news/popular-airsoft-being-dragged-ax-magazine-uaa-poster-fiasco

I never realised the soap operas also happen in airsoft? This reply made me laugh actually since the AX editor is making up stories about PopularAirsoft to be a reincarnation of a defunct airsoft magazine in the Philippines called Lock n Load while Popular Airsoft Magazine is actually from the UK:

HELLO??? Did you research well about the company that owns the Popular Airsoft? We are a British company based in London called Billion Tribes Limited. Our company is based in the city of London itself. We are in no way related to the publishers of Lock n Load, and having former staff of Lock N load as our Philippine-based contributors does not mean the Popular Airsoft is the same as Lock n Load. All our operations are conducted from London.

Edited by BBcool, 13 July 2008 - 07:03 PM.

[Big John]

Pathetic AX magazine. It's so obvious on the magazine and on the evidences that they altered the poster. Shame on you especially your editor in chief. Have you even read what you have just posted? We know what you've been up to since the 1st release of your magazine. FOCUS on the issue and don't throw your garbage on somebody else. I suggest you stop your publication since its nonsense and going nowhere.


by the way... your explanation does not count on the link you provided.

[Sale]

Hmm... He did admit to altering the poster, but claims that it was pulled out and everything was settled afterwards. The plot thickens:

To begin with, AX as a company had no intention of altering the Gun Show advertisement. I personally gave my guarantee to the event organizers that AX will promote the Gun Show beginning with a pre-event article, a posting of the event banner at ACM.Airsoft.Org and AX6, coverage of the entire 5-day event and a post-event article. As per a “gentleman’s agreement”, I had to get the said poster on ACM.Org but admins had made it clear that the ad will not run unless it was “suitable” for release which simply meant that a certain group name had to be omitted.

Apparently, the group affected had expressed dismay and I received a call from Tradeshow President, Sophia de los Santos who requested that the ad be taken out of ACM.Org. The said advertisement has since been pulled out and apologies have been written to both AFAD(Association of Firearms and Ammunition Dealers of the Philippines Inc.) and Tradeshow which handles the Defense and Sporting Arms Show(DSAS or simply Gun Show) as these were the two entities that brought the issue to my attention.

Shortly after, I was personally in touch with AFAD President, Neri Dionisio who expressed surprise as to the level of “politics” the airsoft community was embroiled in and he made it explicitly clear to me that AFAD DOES NOT wish to be involved in “airsoft politics” and counted on my personal guarantee to convene an Airsoft Summit to bring together the local airsoft community and together with government, thresh out issues and eventually come to a harmonious existence.

As far as I can tell, this is where the “Poster Fiasco” ends.

Interesting to see how this unfolds.

[rfisherjr]

What is posted at PopularAirsoft, NLAirsoft, and Airsoftnews.eu all check out. I also downloaded the full version provided by the AP website, and further confirms the manipulated poster or ad.

With due respect to AP, they're a highly respected group in the US, I noticed that they have members (like knuckles) contributing to the content of AX in this controversial issue (issue 6) This either may make them turn red or go into self-denial. But i won't fault AP members since they are not aware of this issue until the news came out and they are not part of AX, they just contribute stories and photos.

At least now they know, whether they like the news or not.

Hey guys I go by riddick on the AP forums

I was the first member of theirs to post the article (Airsoft Xtreme Magazine: Ax from UAA for poster fiasco) in their forums from the airsoft-news.eu website and was meet with great hostility and public beratement by the knuckles person you mention (AP Staff Writer).
The thread has since been cleaned up (posts were deleted) and locked. It appears even though we are a public forum there seems to be a underlying censorship at hand for them and their relationship with AX magazine. Thanks for the censorship AP. Thanks for publicly berating me knuckles and making personal attacks on my character.


Here is the current topic at hand: http://www.airsoftpacific.com/viewtopic.php?p=310775#310775

The world is a bad enough place without worthless garbage sitting around the house sifting through international internet BS just to stir up some sh**.

Yet again another attempt of him throwing a jab at me.

Pretty sad all I did was pass along some info I found about somebody we had dealings with and posted it and met with harsh words.

Sorry to post this but you guys were talking about us and knuckles so I thought I would share this lovely fiasco related to this article..

Edited by rfisherjr, 14 July 2008 - 03:19 AM.

[airsoftxtreme]

@big john. Are we the one pathetic? Or a Person/s who create multiple accounts and spread
malicious/ unverified News over the Net?


BBcool here says that he saw this first in nlairsoft, arnies etc....what a BS liar!

The main fact is that he is the one spreading it using multiple account/s over the internet.

BBCool , Vicoy, Popular Airsoft, Demolition man, thornado = Using same IPs.

Heres a proof coming from Acmairsoft.ORG site banning him for using multiple accounts.
Benjamin tan reported (owner of the site ) this to us.



now who's more pathetic?

Edited by airsoftxtreme, 14 July 2008 - 05:08 AM.

[Punkypink]

can we kindly not have something like this spill over in here? Whatever it is, im sure it doesnt need Mr Abando and his opponents duking it out over 3 or 4 airsoft forums. It solves nothing.

Whatever the truth, lets wait and see what official news comes from UAA over the matter.

[rfisherjr]

@big john. Are we the one pathetic? Or a Person/s who create multiple accounts and spread
malicious/ unverified News over the Net?


BBcool here says that he saw this first in nlairsoft, arnies etc....what a BS liar!

The main fact is that he is the one spreading it using multiple account/s over the internet.

BBCool , Vicoy, Popular Airsoft, Demolition man, thornado = Using same IPs.

Heres a proof coming from Acmairsoft.ORG site banning him for using multiple accounts.
Benjamin tan reported (owner of the site ) this to us.



now who's more pathetic?

it's irnoic how non-important it should be to most of us but how quickly sides are being taken and the heated discussions over it. Kinda stupid really but as a airsoft promotions or airsoft content company I would be concerned but would wait until it is clear who's in the right and who's in the wrong before taking sides.