I know the developer and I just let him know that he is getting attention here ... and to get a donation link up ASAP ... He is a good guy and this has been an awful experience for him ... I've told him to get an account and start posting to this thread, so hopefully he'll be here soon ...
Merely a 'Donate' button is not enough. It should show how much has been donated so far (it gives people more motivation to donate, if they see that this 'donate' thing actually works and for example, $1900 has been raised so far).
Your friend appears to have lied by omitting key parts of the story. I'm wondering if he now has to worry about a defamation suit.
Me to, I'd donate. I hope someone helps you, I'd hate to see this shit happen to a fellow hacker.
"It's a Kickstarter for legal fees" in 1...2..
People will eventually become cynical, and stop contributing after they realize there are two sides to each story. I find often that the sob stories you read on the internet exaggerate the tragedy of the situation.
Just make users sign something that says the story they put forward is accurate. Details should come out in the trial, and if there's a mismatch, asking for money based on false information is fraud.
That's why it's important to set up the Kickstarter now, so you can rake in your share of the bonanza before the world wises up :-D
same
done. hopefully the inertia of your post generates enough momentum so that it makes a difference.. regardless, good luck.