- Is Microsoft preparing us to move beyond Vista?
- Why Google wanted to lose wireless spectrum auction
- iPhone shortage fuels rumors of imminent 3G phone
- XP for cheap PCs: a second crack in the wall
- Darts into data: Leveraging random action to competitive advantage
- Most iPhone buyers are existing Apple customers
- AT&T's so-called open network principles
- Mono dev tool offered
- ActiveState upgrades IDE
- Serena plans SaaS products
January 15, 2007 | Comments: (0)
Apple miffed over faux iPhone icons
The iSaga surrounding Apple's iPhone took another turn over the weekend as the company's lawyers sent out cease and desist letters not only to Web sites hosting iPhone-like theme and icons for Treos, Pocket PCs, and other mobile devices -- but also to bloggers who had merely linked to said sites, according to reports.
Over on XDA-Developer, for example, a user called hanmin posted a Pocket PC screen emulating the iPhone. Soon after, hanmin received a request from Apple's iLawyers that he remove all the "copyrighted materials" from the forum (which he did).
But Apple also sent a cease and desist letter to blogger Paul O'Brien, asking him to remove a link in his blog to the aforementioned forum, as well as a screen image comparing the iPhone screen to the Pocket PC emulation.
O'Brien complied, but posted in his blog: "A bit excessive IMHO... and although I can accept that they can get upset over the screenshot, can they really demand I remove the link too? :-S"
iPhone-esque icons developed for Palm -- called iPhony -- suffered a similar fate over on Brighthand.com. As I write this, though (at around Tuesday, midnight PT), The Unofficial Apple Blog (tuaw.com) still has a link to the forum as well as a screen image posted.
Indeed, Apple may have its work cut out for it if it aims to clamp down on both developers of free iPhone-like icons and themes (such as one currently available for the Sony Ericsson on Atacama.com), as well as blogs that talk about them.
The iPhone emulations, of course, are indicative of just how popular Apple's technology is -- both in look and functionality. Perhaps the company could take that emulation as a high form of flattery, rather than a cause for saber rattling. After all, we're not talking about other companies cranking out arguably cheap knock-offs of Apple wares here. I really don't see this costing Apple anything.
Now, as to Apple's attack on blogs that are doing nothing more than reporting the news, well, we all know what happened the last time the company attempted to stifle the blogosphere.
Posted by Ted Samson on January 15, 2007 11:35 PM
RATE THIS ARTICLE:
-
- COMMENTS
Attornies will always overreach... there needs to be an inexpensive, palpable, and punitive means to rein them in. Perhaps widespread negative publicity on the 'net will suffice in the meantime.
Posted by: RD at January 16, 2007 10:25 AMI agree that Apple's reputation is suffering here -- and it's really a self-inflicted wound. For a long time, Apple has been lumped together with Linux as being the oh-so-open-and-friendly "anti-Microsoft," but more people are starting to see the company's true colors, what with its legal assaults on bloggers, its tight bundling of iTunes and the iPod, and now all the hubbub surrounding the iPhone.
I'm certainly not knocking Apple's technology. Mac users I know swear by the platform. iPod users adore their gadgets. InfoWorld Chief Technologist Tom Yager is clearly a big fan and advocate of Apple's wares, and that's saying something, as he's well-versed in various platforms.
But again, if part of Apple's appeal is indeed the perception that it's not all closed and secretive like mean ol' Microsoft's reputed to be, the company may need to rethink how it treats users out there who so admire and promote its technology.
Posted by: Ted Samson at January 16, 2007 10:55 AMThe day Apple announced the iPhone they were sued by Cisco for infringing on Cisco's 6 year trademark of the term iPhone. Apple is also being sued over the alleged iTuns-iPod monopoly and is under investigation for backdating stock options.
Where is the moral high-ground they're pretending to have? Nothing about their actions indicates that they're interested in following rules - why should they expect different behavior from others?
TOP STORIES
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Do you have the power to resolve technical issues with one call?
- Take control of your content- leverage Microsoft SharePoint
- Keeping the E-Mail Flowing
- How Does Your IT Help Desk Measure Up?
- Best Practices for the Service Desk
- Discover How to Provide Anytime, Anywhere IT Support
