I'm sure that all programs of this sort were "derived" from others...ECUTek was obviously first derived from the FHI OE program...
I have no problem with Verso or any other reflash (eg Cobb, AVO...etc)...how they were derived etc is a legal argument for people with law degrees and very fat wallets.
However, some of what Fred says has a degree of truth, so don't completely burn him. Some history for the record...my old MY02 STi had one of the first in WA) ECUTek tunes done in WA in it for some 3 years. When it was advertised for sale on this site in late 2005 I was contacted by Pete who asked me if he could connect his computer to my
ECU and download the ECUTek. Not knowing him and the possibility of deleterious issues made me decline his request. But no big deal and good luck to him.
Some of the reasons why Verso is cheaper include:
It was not developed from the ground up like ECUTek
It was developed locally
ECUTek is an international program eminating from the UK and therefore has licencing fees
etc...therefore it would surprise me if Verso wasn't cheaper.
I'm sure it is a very good product (basically the same as ECUTek in that it allows access to the OE
ECU for tuning)...but I chose ECUtek from MMS (disclosure)...my choice and one that I'm completely comfortable with.