user2606: Is Ripple a scam, as claimed by a website and forum thread?

user4070: No Ripple is not a scam. It's a product, [BASED UPON] open sourced project and an attempt to resolve some cryptocurrency to fiat concerns we have in the existing exchange model. I like to think of Ripple as a meta-currency designed to enhance existing currencies. 
There appears to be a campaign on bitcointalk to discredit ripple including some forum members claiming they offered money to claim ripple is a scam. Also ripple has a close relationship with Google, which makes some people uncomfortable. However, nothing about the service or the people working on the service indicate a scam.

user593: Here's the short answer: no, Ripple is not a scam.
However, there are lots of Bitcoin enthusiasts that believe that Ripple is a competitor to Bitcoin.
Many of the claims in forums and on websites are false.
For example, ripplescam.org says:

Ripple is not open source. No server source code has being released, with the paid developers behind Ripple admitting that it is to prevent others from using building something better than Ripple in true open source fashion.

The source code for the client has already been released; the server code
 is expected soon.

Every single Ripple nodes is controlled by a private for profit company. It is centralized, like a bank or PayPal. Not a decentralized currency.

Also not true. Anyone can run a Ripple gateway.
I could go on, but you get the picture.
Here's the deal: some Bitcoin people see Ripple as a competitor. Actually, Ripple is complimentary to Bitcoin. Since Ripple is an open payment network, you can use any currency you want, including Bitcoin. In fact, I expect that, if Ripple takes off, Ripple will be the easiest way to exchange Bitcoin for dollars, euros, etc.

user196: Time will tell.
There are two main accusations against Ripple:

it claims to be open and decentralised, but currently it isn't, since the server is closed source and controlled exclusively by Ripple owners (OpenCoin)
it came with a lot of preminted coins, some of which are supposed to be distributed freely, while others are to be kept by Ripple developers and owners (as a payment for the effort)

You may like or not point 2, but that is definitely not a scammy fact, since it's not a secret: as long as they actually do distribute those coins, that is fine.
Point 1 is more crucial: it is widely considered bad to promote something as open when it isn't. Same goes with promoting something as decentralised when it isn't either. Claiming "it will be" quite obviously isn't enough. Once they will eventually release the server sources, their credibility will likely be restored and those accusations should likely stop.

2606: <p>Is Ripple a scam, as claimed by <a href="http://ripplescam.org" rel="nofollow">a website</a> and <a href="https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=147789.0" rel="nofollow">forum thread</a>?</p>
 4070: <p>No Ripple is not a scam. It's a product, [BASED UPON] open sourced project and an attempt to resolve some cryptocurrency to fiat concerns we have in the existing exchange model. I like to think of Ripple as a meta-currency designed to enhance existing currencies. </p>

<p>There appears to be a campaign on bitcointalk to discredit ripple including some forum members claiming they offered money to claim ripple is a scam. Also ripple has a close relationship with Google, which makes some people uncomfortable. However, nothing about the service or the people working on the service indicate a scam.</p>
 593: <p>Here's the short answer: no, Ripple is not a scam.</p>

<p>However, there are lots of Bitcoin enthusiasts that believe that Ripple is a competitor to Bitcoin.</p>

<p>Many of the claims in forums and on websites are false.</p>

<p>For example, ripplescam.org says:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Ripple is not open source. No server source code has being released, with the paid developers behind Ripple admitting that it is to prevent others from using building something better than Ripple in true open source fashion.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The source code for the client has already been released; the <a href="https://ripple.com/wiki/FAQ#Is_Ripple_open_source.3F">server code</a>
 is expected soon.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Every single Ripple nodes is controlled by a private for profit company. It is centralized, like a bank or PayPal. Not a decentralized currency.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Also not true. Anyone can run a <a href="https://ripple.com/wiki/FAQ#Who_will_run_validating_nodes.3F">Ripple gateway</a>.</p>

<p>I could go on, but you get the picture.</p>

<p>Here's the deal: some Bitcoin people see Ripple as a competitor. Actually, Ripple is complimentary to Bitcoin. Since Ripple is an open payment network, you can use any currency you want, including Bitcoin. In fact, I expect that, if Ripple takes off, Ripple will be the easiest way to exchange Bitcoin for dollars, euros, etc.</p>
 196: <p>Time will tell.</p>

<p>There are two main accusations against Ripple:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>it claims to be open and decentralised, but <strong>currently</strong> it isn't, since the server is closed source and controlled exclusively by Ripple owners (OpenCoin)</p></li>
<li><p>it came with a lot of preminted coins, some of which are supposed to be distributed freely, while others are to be kept by Ripple developers and owners (as a payment for the effort)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>You may like or not point 2, but that is definitely <em>not</em> a scammy fact, since it's not a secret: as long as they actually <em>do</em> distribute those coins, that is fine.</p>

<p>Point 1 is more crucial: it is widely considered bad to promote something as open when it isn't. Same goes with promoting something as decentralised when it isn't either. Claiming "it will be" quite obviously isn't enough. Once they will eventually release the server sources, their credibility will likely be restored and those accusations should likely stop.</p>
