Ayyadurai v. Floor64, Inc. et al

Filing 1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants Filing fee: $ 400, receipt number 0101-6439091 (Fee Status: Filing Fee paid), filed by Shiva Ayyadurai. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit, # 7 Exhibit, # 8 Exhibit, # 9 Exhibit, # 10 Exhibit, # 11 Exhibit, # 12 Exhibit, # 13 Exhibit, # 14 Exhibit, # 15 Exhibit, # 16 Exhibit, # 17 Exhibit, # 18 Exhibit, # 19 Exhibit, # 20 Exhibit, # 21 Exhibit)(Cornell, Timothy)

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Another Story Of A 'Fake' Brilliant Inventor? Is 'Scorpion

READ POSTS EARLY, JOIN THE INSIDER CHAT £ MORE

Walter O'Brien' A Real Computer Security Genius?

: : IIISIDER SHOP

from the more-of-this-crap? dept

LfiiiilUikiiiii

There's apparently a new TV show on CBS called Scorpion that has received mixed -to-decent
Qverhype

reviews, It supposedly is about some computer security geniuses/outcasts who help "solve complex,

by Mike Mas nick

global problems." However, Annalee Newitz's description of the stupidest, most batshit insane

Thu, Sep 25th 2014
9:16am

*

!

hacker scene ever from the first episode, suggests that the show is not worth watching, In the

4

past few years, it had been kind of nice to see Hollywood actually seem to have some clue about
Filed Under:
cybersec urity,
exaggeration,

hacking,
hoLLywood,
scorpion, shtva

accurately portraying hacking in some situations, but that's all apparently been tossed out the

window with Scorpion, Even if you dont read Newitz's story (or view the video clip), just know it
involves an ethernet cable hanging from a flying plane with a car racing beneath it to download

Permialink.
Short link.

A?

IB

$5.49
WITH CARD

some backup software needed by the airport so planes can land. Yeah,
Coffee-mate Creamer

ayyadurai, waiter

o'brien

b

A big part of the show's marketing is the claim that the story is partially based on the life of one
of the show's executive producers, Walter O'Brien. CBS News has an article talking up these
claims of O'Brien's amazing feats, helping out its parent company CBS, who broadcasts the show.

(j&tphs)
VaW until Dec. 13

But,,, for such a "genius," many of O'Brien's claims are coming under scrutiny and they're not
holding up well, Having just gone through the whole Shiva Ayyadurai i inventor of email crap,
it's beginning to sound like a similar case of someone pumping up their own past for publicity

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purposes.

Hot Topics
The claims about O'Brien are both odd and oddly specific, Here's CBS's reporting :

5.3
Waiter O'Brien has the fourth highest IQ_ in the world.

The FCC Suggests Some Wishy Washy,
Highly Unlikely Solutions To The
Poorly-Secured Internet Of Things

Elsewhere, he claims that he was "diagnosed as a child prodigy with an IQof 197," First off,
there are significant questions about IQ as a particularly useful measurement of anything.

5.2 1 If You're Worried About What President
Trump Can Do To The Press, Blame

Furthermore, the idea that there's some definitive list of those with the highest IQs seems equally

President Obama

questionable, A quick Google search will show you a whole bunch of "top 10 lists" of IQs — all of
them different, and none of the m Including anyone named Walter O'Brien.

5.2

Judge Tosses Charges Against
Backpage Execs, Tells Kamala Harris

O'Brien's story started unraveling when he made the somewhat unwise decision to do a Reddit

To Take It Up With Congress

AMA, Redditors are pretty good at sniffing out completely bogus claims, and it didn't take them
Long here, Also, Asher Langton has been doing a bang up job debunking basically every claim
that O'Brien makes.

New To Techdirt?
Explore some core concepts:

Among other things, O'Brien's story claims that he began Scorpion Computer Services in the mid-

An Economic Explanation For Why DRM

1980s and that "Scorpion has mitigated risk for 7 years on $1.9 trillion of investments and has

Cannot Open Up New Business Model

invented and applied Artificial Intelligence engines to protect United States war fighters in

Afghanistan," It's not even entirely clear what that means, It goes on:

Opportunities

5tep One To Embracing A Lack Of Scarcity:
Recognize What Market You're Really In

Since 1 988, Scorpion's team of world class experts partner with clients on a global
basis, across Industries, to add real measurable value in mission-critical initiatives

How Being More Open, Human And

from planning, to execution, to running the business. Scorpion's senior management

Awesome Can Save Anyone Worried About

has a collective knowledge of more than 4 13 technologies, 210 years in IT, and 1,360

Making Money In Entertainment

projects. Scorpion himself has created over 177 unique technology indentions

read all »

including ScenGen and WinLocX and is one of the worlds leading experts in the
application of computer science and artificial intelligence to solve complex industry

Techdirt Deals

challenges."
Again with the odd, and oddly specific claims. They have knowledge of 413 technologies? Do they
have a list somewhere? Does it include the coffee machine in the lunch room? Did they send
someone out to get the new iFtione 6 to make it 414? Either way, there are, , , just a few problems

9

with these claims. As Langton points out, the "headquarters" of Scorpion Computer Services Inc.

does not appear to be a particularly large or impressive company, Its headquarters is actually. , , a
UPS store address That report notes that it has one employee, and revenue of $66k, It's possible
that the report is inaccurate, but for such a big and successful company, you'd expect to see. . , at

Document title: Another Story Of A 'Fake' Brilliant Inventor? Is 'Scorpion Walter O'Brien' A Real Computer Security Genius? || Techdirt
Document title: Another Story Of A 'Fake' Brilliant Inventor? Is 'Scorpion Walter O'Brien' A Real Computer Security Genius? Techdirt
Capture URL: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140924/14422128627/another-story-fake-brilliant-inventor-is-scorpion-walter-obrien-real-computer-security-genius.shtml
Capture URL: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140924/14422128627/another-story-fake-brilliant-inventor-is-scorpion-walter-obrien-real-computer-security-genius.shtml
Capture timestamp (UTC): Mon, 12 Dec 2016 22:11:14 GMT
Capture timestamp (UTC): Mon, 12 Dec 2016 22:11:14 GMT
Page 1 of 97

Tech dirt Deals

application of computer science and artificial intelligence to solve complex industry
challenges."
Again with the odd, and oddly specific claims. They have knowledge of 413 technologies ? Do they

have a list somewhere? Does it include the coffee machine in the lunch room? Did they send
someone out to get the new iFtione 6 to make it 414? Either way, there are, , , just a few problems
v/ith these claims. As Langton points out, the "headquarters" of Scorpion Computer Services Inc.

& C0

does not appear to be a particularly large or impressive company, Its headquarters is actually.,, a
UPS store address That report notes that it has one employee, and revenue of S66k, It's possible
that the report is inaccurate, but for such a big and successful company you'd expect to see. . , at
least a bit more historical evidence of its existence. But there is none.

And then there's this page (and here's the web archive version in case O'Brien figures out how to
delete the old page), v/hich apparently used to be the site for Walter's Scorpion computer Services,

2
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wrong, of course... ASCAP and MPAA seen as

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andentertainmentfwp?2016?12/09?congres5ionalpanel-calls-for-independent-copyright-office
Mike Masrick: well, they do quote new head of

the ALA too. and he's good

For a big, massively successful company... you'd expect, urn, something a bit more professional,

I

?

Walter's own Linkedin profile notes that he actually worked at Capital Group for a while, with
redditors claiming he was just a QA guy there, though his profile says he was a 'technology

Join the Insider Chat

executive." Many other claims on the company's website read like self- promotion a I gibberish. "We

saved $43 billion in opportunity risks over a five-year period," "We invented an efficiency engine
that performs 250 human years of work every 1.5 hrswith over 9WE improvement over human
error." By the way, the "see how" link on that last one doesn't actually show you "how" it just takes

Advertisement

r>

you to a page about how the company is a value added reseller 'Tor proven IT products," The entire
website looks like gibberish from someone trying to sound like a real tech company, It reminds me
of Jukt Wicronics.

Sprint
Langton also turned up that O'Brien appears to have another "company" called Strike Farce, using
the same UPS Store address, and with very, very, very, very similar website design and bullshitteiy.
That site has a really bizarre "what others say" page, listing out random referrals for O'Brien,
which are generally just the standard empty "personal reference letters" people without much

r
-

-

Fr

dom

*40/lino

experience tend to ask some former colleagues for when looking for a new job. The first one is

from Steven Messino (with the date conveniently stripped off) which looks like the generic job
reference letter:

Switch NOW
oetrrksd tcr ^*v.. StoTw: rfty nj&.

TO

Report this ad
, (Co-founder of Sun Mic rosy sterns}
Vtar

\

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¦ ll-.-ni

Monday

LT
• m4N

ill

1 3:09 Two Former Senators Call Qn Qbama To Save The
kft i

Full ClA'Tbiture Report' From Being Bulled (2)

Iftfl

1 1 :52 The FCC Suggests Some Wiishy Washy, Highly
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kfaWdb.fti.ii

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Unlikely Solutions To The Poorly- Secured Internet

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10:40 Iran The Latest Country "lb Use Take News? As An

Excuse For Widespread Censorship (10)

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Document title: Another Story Of A &#39;Fake&#39; Brilliant Inventor? Is &#39;Scorpion Walter O&#39;Brien&#39; A Real Computer Security Genius? || Techdirt
Document title: Another Story Of A &#39;Fake&#39; Brilliant Inventor? Is &#39;Scorpion Walter O&#39;Brien&#39; A Real Computer Security Genius? Techdirt
Capture URL: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140924/14422128627/another-story-fake-brilliant-inventor-is-scorpion-walter-obrien-real-computer-security-genius.shtml
Capture URL: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140924/14422128627/another-story-fake-brilliant-inventor-is-scorpion-walter-obrien-real-computer-security-genius.shtml
Capture timestamp (UTC): Mon, 12 Dec 2016 22:11:14 GMT
Capture timestamp (UTC): Mon, 12 Dec 2016 22:11:14 GMT
2 of 97

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10:38 Daily Deal: DashCam Hi-Res Car Video Camera And
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09:39 Georgia Secretary Of State Accuses DH5 Of

Breaching His Office's Firewall (14)
08:31 If Vbi/re Worried About What President Trump Can
Do "lb The Press, Blame President Obama (40)

Note that O'Brien claims that Messino is the co-founder of Sun. That's... not true. Anyone who

knows anything about the history of Sun knows it was co-foundled by Andy Bechtolsheim, Bill Joy,
Scott McNealy and Vinod KhosLa in 1982. Messino's own Linked In page shows he joined Sun in
1988. Six years after it was founded. Also, Sun had its IPO in 1986. So it's not like this was a small
company when Messino joined... as a "regional sales manager."

06:29 Judge "losses Charges Against Backpage Execs,
lells Kamala Harris To Take It Up With Congress
(14)
03:25 More Prosecutors Refuse lb Accept Guilty Pleas

Based On Faulty $2 Field Drug Tests (1 1 )

Basically everywhere you look, O'Brien's claims are either massively exaggerated to downright

Sunday

ridiculous.

12:00 Funniest/MiBt Insightful Comments Of The Week
At Tech dirt (5)

There are also some odd personal claims about "Homeland Security" coming to find him as a 13year old boy for hacking into NASA, Except, when he was 13, there was no Homeland Security -

Saturday
12:00 This Week In Tech tilt HIistory: SOFA, Chirm, Dajazl

agency established after the September 11, 2001 attacks, O'Brien also claims this:

ft The Hypocrisy Of Copyright 12)

More &

Scorpion was bom and raised in Ireland, and at 1 6, ranked first in national high
speed computer problem solving competitions. At 13, he competed in the World
Olympics in Informatics and has ranked as high as the sixth fastest programmer in

r>

the world.
Sixth fastest programmer in the world? Really? Some folks on Reddit noted that it doesn't appear
Ireland competed in the "International Olympiad in Informatics" in 1993, though someone else

Sprint

found a report from the University of Sussex, which O'Brien attended, noting that O'Brien had come
in 6th in a different contest, but in the Olympiad itself, he came in 90th, I mean that's great for
an 18 year old, but it hardly makes him into some programming genius.

ilimi
Fr
dom

And we wont even touch the claims that his programming helped catch the Boston Marathon

/line

bombers, because... well.,, really?

Frankly, the parallels with Ayyadurai and the email story are there, It certainly appears that, like
Ayyadurai, O'Brien was a bright kid who did some impressive programming as a teenager, but then

Switch now

¦ mm*.

QmoHkritod to
..II

....

¦

didn't appear to amount to all that much noteworthy beyond that. Try searching for any news
references or evidence of O'Brien doing anything other than in the last few months in the publicity

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leading up to this new TV show. However, he is trying to reinvent himself and rewrite his history as
some sort of genius programmer responsible for all sorts of amazing things, very little of which
seems directly supportable. Of course, CBS doesn't really care, so long as they have a fun TV show
that people watch, but at the very least, they shouldn't continue to spread the exaggerated myths
about O'Brien that appear to have little basis in fact,

y i*i h n m m

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Document title: Another Story Of A &#39;Fake&#39; Brilliant Inventor? Is &#39;Scorpion Walter O&#39;Brien&#39; A Real Computer Security Genius? || Techdirt
Document title: Another Story Of A &#39;Fake&#39; Brilliant Inventor? Is &#39;Scorpion Walter O&#39;Brien&#39; A Real Computer Security Genius? Techdirt
Capture URL: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140924/14422128627/another-story-fake-brilliant-inventor-is-scorpion-walter-obrien-real-computer-security-genius.shtml
Capture URL: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140924/14422128627/another-story-fake-brilliant-inventor-is-scorpion-walter-obrien-real-computer-security-genius.shtml
Capture timestamp (UTC): Mon, 12 Dec 2016 22:11:14 GMT
Capture timestamp (UTC): Mon, 12 Dec 2016 22:11:14 GMT
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