diff --git a/backends/libcommuni/backports.h b/backends/libcommuni/backports.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..525e4e69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backends/libcommuni/backports.h
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+#include <QtCore>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <IrcCommand>
+#include <IrcMessage>
+
+namespace CommuniBackport {
+
+bool parseColors(const QString& message, int pos, int* len, int* fg = 0, int* bg = 0)
+{
+    // fg(,bg)
+    *len = 0;
+    if (fg)
+        *fg = -1;
+    if (bg)
+        *bg = -1;
+    QRegExp rx(QLatin1String("(\\d{1,2})(?:,(\\d{1,2}))?"));
+    int idx = rx.indexIn(message, pos);
+    if (idx == pos) {
+        *len = rx.matchedLength();
+        if (fg)
+            *fg = rx.cap(1).toInt();
+        if (bg) {
+            bool ok = false;
+            int tmp = rx.cap(2).toInt(&ok);
+            if (ok)
+                *bg = tmp;
+        }
+    }
+    return *len > 0;
+}
+
+/*!
+Converts \a text to plain text. This function parses the text and
+strips away IRC-style formatting like colors, bold and underline.
+
+\sa toHtml()
+*/
+void toPlainText(QString& processed)
+{
+
+    int pos = 0;
+    int len = 0;
+    while (pos < processed.size()) {
+        switch (processed.at(pos).unicode()) {
+            case '\x02': // bold
+            case '\x0f': // none
+            case '\x13': // strike-through
+            case '\x15': // underline
+            case '\x16': // inverse
+            case '\x1d': // italic
+            case '\x1f': // underline
+                processed.remove(pos, 1);
+                break;
+
+            case '\x03': // color
+                if (parseColors(processed, pos + 1, &len))
+                    processed.remove(pos, len + 1);
+                else
+                    processed.remove(pos, 1);
+                break;
+
+            default:
+                ++pos;
+                break;
+        }
+    }
+
+}
+
+}