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Apple Bullies Bloggers, Again

techcrunch.com — Today Apple is engaging in similar tactics against a number of bloggers who simply reported on the fact that someone created a skin for Windows Mobile phones that looks exactly like the new iPhone user interface.

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  • tom6a, on 10/12/2007, -7/+34From the cease and desist letter, "The icons and screenshot displayed on your website are copyrighted by Apple, and copyright law explicitly prohibits unauthorized display and distribution of copyrighted works. Apple therefore demands that you remove this screenshot from your website..."

    There are hundreds of bloggers that have posted iPhone screenshots. What are the legal implications for all of them? It puts Apple in an odd position because I think they would be pleased with all the free blogger publicity from screenshots in blogs. It is also somewhat ironic that this comes just after the Cisco trademark suit.

    My take:
    Apple Challenges Bloggers Over iPhone Screenshots
    http://www.omninerd.com/2007/01/14/news/1100
    • vaguelyrandom, on 10/12/2007, -16/+82Lol, "copyrighted by Apple, and copyright law explicitly prohibits unauthorized display", as a preference to "trademarked by Cisco, and IP law explicitly prohibits unauthorized usage".

      ***** hypocritcal bastards.
    • bmeckel, on 10/12/2007, -11/+15anyone else think that it's weird that the company says the represent Apple Computer INC. when that's no longer Apple's name. Sketchy?
    • hammydude, on 10/12/2007, -7/+31somehow apple fanboys will manage to change the story about apple being the new evil empire to glorify apple for they actions against the skinners...
    • geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11"anyone else think that it's weird that the company says the represent Apple Computer INC. when that's no longer Apple's name. Sketchy?"

      No, just letterhead. They announce a change one day, it takes a while for all of Legal to catch up to the change (especially one that happened within a week). I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple Legal letterhead for "Apple Computer, Inc" for the rest of the fiscal year.
    • kodybryson, on 10/12/2007, -11/+8@vaguelyrandom: This isn't really hypocritical. Apple is using the name iPhone because they say that Cisco's legal claim to that name is not valid. They will pay millions in court to defend that opinion because it's important to them. Similarly any software developer has the right to go to court and defend their use in software of any of Apple's copyrighted material if they believe it to be valid. (In this case, in the software, it is clearly not valid, they would lose.)

      However, I think there's probably common agreement that Apple should go after the smartphone software developer, not the blogger who reported it. That's just lame. Seems almost like a mistake or miscommunication on their part because now they've only made the story bigger, and I'm sure they could have predicted that. Or maybe they did? Who knows?
    • jrbrewin, on 10/12/2007, -8/+2¨while for all of Legal to catch up to the change¨

      Odd that, every legal department i've had the joys to work with have been very particular about every little aspect of the law - ESPECIALLY getting the name of the company right. Maybe apple are using a couple of old hacks working out of the back of a shed - some of the comments about the iPhone patent that have been coming out of their arses lately certainly backs that theory up.
    • omaryak, on 10/12/2007, -9/+3"There are hundreds of bloggers that have posted iPhone screenshots. What are the legal implications for all of them?"
      The difference is that all the other posts promote the iPhone itself. When you promote something that's not the iPhone that looks like an iPhone, that's copyright infringement. You're potentially threatening Apple's revenue, and that's where their legal department will get their panties in a bunch.
    • GliTCH82, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9Wow, if I hadn't seen the news regarding this I would have never found out about it. Found the skin just fine and downloaded it. Thanks Apple!
    • MrSolutions, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5The sad thing is is that Apple are within their legal right to request people take down links to infringing content.

      This article explains past cases when it has gone to court and websites have lost. Its an extremely annoying law!
      http://www.webtvwire.com/linking-to-infringing-content-is-probably-illegal-in-the-us/
    • MrViklund, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2@hammydude

      And Windows Win fan-boys will keep whining...
    • paxmaniac, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Ok, so clearly Apple would like nobody to publish any screenshots of the iPhone. I guess that means all photos of a switched on iPhone. Why stop there? After all, that handset design is proprietary intellectual property. So just to be safe, lets ban all photos of the iPhone (and, while we're at it, iPod, iMac, appleTV). Now the word iPhone - that's a registered trademark (which may or may not belong to Apple depending where you live). So lets just be completely safe, and not have any mention or picture of any Apple product, anywhere. Happy now?
  • ILikeBeets, on 10/12/2007, -13/+38I thought everyone but me was drinking Steve Jobs’ Kool-Aid. Too bad this story will be forgotten in about a day. Regardless though, it’s nice to see some sites are still trying to be objective about tech news as opposed to trying to appeal to the masses as a member of the Apple Geek-Chic.
  • SeanMoney, on 10/12/2007, -22/+69What a ***** joke. Let's hear it Mac lovers defend this *****....
    • zybch, on 10/12/2007, -11/+49Don't worry, they will.
    • Hoov, on 10/12/2007, -25/+17I really like Apple products. They're sleek, functional, and innovative. Their arrogance however, is astounding. The iPod is an overglorified mp3 player, and at this point it remains to be seen what kind of impact the iPhone (if it's an iPod first, phone second, why not call it an iPod?) is going to have.

      By the way, anyone interested in buying my iPod mini?
    • sabarsky, on 10/12/2007, -38/+13Which part of "icons and screenshot displayed on your website are copyrighted by Apple, and copyright law explicitly prohibits unauthorized display and distribution of copyrighted works" didn't you understand?
    • NSMike, on 10/12/2007, -7/+22@sabarsky -

      The part that leaves out Fair Use.
    • geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -11/+24"The part that leaves out Fair Use."

      Fair Use doesn't encompass taking someone else's graphics and wrapping them around your UI. If it did, it'd be so much easier to make UIs, just graft icons from whomever you want!

      Of course, I'll get dugg-down for mentioning this factual point, whether or not I condone Apple sending out Cease and Desist letters. (C&D letters are just polite ways of saying "shut up". If you're not doing anything illegal, ignore them.)
    • greatblackowl, on 10/12/2007, -9/+4@ geminitojanus

      Mac OS X themes for windows and linux?
    • omaryak, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5"Mac OS X themes for windows and linux?"
      Apple has sent out cease-and-desist letters for those too.
    • AceTracer, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4What's to defend? Every company protects its trademarks and copyrights, even Digg (remember Kevin asking people not to use Digg or the Digg logo?) That doesn't mean this stuff still won't exist, but you can't blame Apple for being a company.
    • NSMike, on 10/12/2007, -4/+10@geminitojanus -

      RTFA, Apple is harassing BLOGGERS for posting PHOTOS of the infringing software. That's not an infringing use, that's fair use. If they were posting the infringing software itself, it would be another matter. Learn what fair use is and what the issue is before you try to make a point. You might find out that your argument is totally irrelevant.
    • itsonlyme, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I'm not an Apple Fan boi, but I am a regular reader of the forum that produced the WM5 to iphone interface howto. The author posted a zip file with ripped icons, and instruction on how to make a windows mobile phone look like a iphone. There isn't anything wrong with the instructions, but distributing the art has to be some sort of copyright violation. In fact, the author even wrote that he expected to hear from apple about the original post.
    • dragstarking, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1I hope they don't find those paper iPhone cutouts I downloaded, or was that uploaded, I'm confused now.Thanks Kiddie Porn Kid. Anyway I was going to sell them wrapped around a 3310.
    • ouorama, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1"Fair Use doesn't encompass taking someone else's graphics and wrapping them around your UI. If it did, it'd be so much easier to make UIs, just graft icons from whomever you want!"

      True, but Fair Use says you can report on it legally. Apple is trying to bully the bloggers that are reporting on this; not just the person making the iPhone skin.
  • Surreal, on 10/12/2007, -5/+10That sucks.
  • Yareking, on 10/12/2007, -9/+44Ok apple thats lame stop that being such an ass
    • mickstephenson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4you make the assumption apple wasn't an ass to begin with.
      you hate microsoft for being a monopoly, well explain to me how apple is different, apart from being less successful
  • manifestdata, on 10/12/2007, -9/+10Looks like hype from the other side this time. Come on guys, don't play into this hype. Yes it is a pretty phone, and yes there is too much hype, but lets wait for the device. Once it comes out, there will be a tremendous amount of reviews from both sides and I'm sure there will be a couple of objective reviews and we will see what this thing is really all about. If it turns out to be a good phone, congrats Apple, welcome to the phone market, you have some catching up to do. If it is a failure, it won't be the first over-hyped product to flop (ps3).
    • Shirk, on 10/12/2007, -7/+22But.. but... Apple is going to reinvent the phone!
    • NSMike, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10It's not hype, Apple didn't crack down on any website showing a photo of the iPhone with their pretty little icons.

      Even if the use of the icons for your own mod is infringing, a picture of those icons would not be. It falls under fair use, one way or the other.
    • geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6"a picture of those icons would not be"

      Seeing as an icon is a picture, and that icon is copyrighted, the copyright applies. It IS Fair Use to use these pictures on your blog (for example, discussing the iPhone). It's NOT Fair Use to put them in your UI. The grey issue here is Apple trying to stop the distribution of the mod-software for Windows phones by attacking bloggers who disseminate the information. I won't argue either way for it (because I see and understand both sides of the issue), but I would feel like ***** if I spend my hard work making icons for a product, just to have someone else come along, copy my icons, and use them in their product.
    • noahhoward, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1A picture of a picture... wow, you're sharp. So you're saying as long as I record the latest hit movie onto my own tape it isn't infringement right, after all, it's just a movie of a movie.
    • NSMike, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@geminitojanus -

      No, it's NOT infringement. I am 100% allowed to take a photo of something like, say, digg. If I took a screenshot of digg and put it up on my blog, digg could not justifiably send me a C&D letter for copying digg. It's not a functioning website, it's just a screenshot. The icons in a photo of an infringing use are not an infringement, and it is protected by fair use.
    • luxx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@NSMike

      He is talking about the UI being an infringement. The problem with the blogs is they are 'advertising' this free product rather than 'blogging' the infringement.
    • luxx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1That said, the bloggers maybe in the clear, due to fair use. If that's the case they should defend themselves in the proper manor.
    • MacParrot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Sorry,
      I have to go with the bloggers here. The only way I would agree that this was not fair use would be if the blogger linked to the site that was distributing the icons that are trademarked (by whoever). To just show an image I believe is justified under fair use. Apple should definitely go after the distributers as they are infringing on Apple's trademarks, but to send C & D letters to bloggers for simply talking about it is wrong.
  • whygohome10, on 10/12/2007, -31/+3it is expected.

    of course this is going to happen

    don't even act surprised, this shouldn't even be news
    • fugazi, on 10/12/2007, -6/+30But if this was Microsoft you wouldn't be saying that. Why are you giving two companies different standards.
      • RetroEvolute, on 10/18/2007, -0/+1I assure you Whygohome10 is not a Microsoft fanboy. His personal computer is a macbook... By choice. Thank you for putting words into people's mouths.
    • NSMike, on 10/12/2007, -9/+8Because he likes one and doesn't like the other. Duh. That's all that matters.
    • noahhoward, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5WHy are you putting words into his mouth? If Microsoft did they it would still be defense of a perfectly legal copyright. Even if I hate the bastards.
  • titlesaysitall, on 10/12/2007, -13/+7Dupe http://digg.com/apple/Apple_Uses_Legal_Force_On_Forum_Poster_For_Linking_to_PocketPC_iPhone_GUI and this one got on the front page already.
    • donnydarko319, on 10/12/2007, -6/+3No actually, this isn't a dupe. This time, it's not about people linking to the skin and giving details on how to install. It's Apple bullying bloggers who simply MENTIONED what had happened. It'd be like the US government pressured someone to not take pictures of Bush at press conferences (which they are doing, according to reports), then pressuring news outlets not to run stories about them pressuring someone not to take pics of Bush as press conferences. Mind boggling, no?
    • vaguelyrandom, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Well i didn't see it so i am glad this has come to the front page in another form.

      Please stop screaming dupe every time you see one. Not only is it a waste of your time to write, but a waste of the rest of our time to read.
    • infocyde, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4@donnydarko319

      I knew there would be an anti Bush plug in here somewhere. Thanks.
  • fugazi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+22Now if Microsoft did this what will we hear about them. Hell there would be every digg member bitching but no since its apple its only "they shouldnt be doing this."

    • CBTF, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15No kidding. They'd be going "I think now its finally time to switch to mac!1" blah blah.
    • geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2"Now if Microsoft did this what will we hear about them. "

      This _is_ what we heard from Microsoft when ReactOS blatantly stole Windows icons for use in their GUI (and they now have very similar knock-off icons). This part of the story isn't news.

      What IS news is that they are targetting bloggers who are talking about the mod software, instead of targeting the creators of the mod software, but this is likely because there's no accurate way to target the creators (as it literally could be anyone), and that going up the blog-food-chain will be the best way to track said person down. (Of course, it's worth more to Apple to just stop the distribution than to sue the person for stealing icons).
    • noahhoward, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The bloggers in this case are advertisers. If you can't find the people who have ripped you off, you stop the people who are giving them publicity.
    • Muncher, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"This _is_ what we heard from Microsoft when ReactOS blatantly stole Windows icons for use in their GUI (and they now have very similar knock-off icons)."

      I thought ReactOS was using Tango now... surely you don't consider Tango a knock-off of the Windows icons...
  • christopherRB, on 10/12/2007, -14/+18I definitely don't want to buy an apple product again.... their a bunch of ***** losers
    • gincarnated, on 10/12/2007, -7/+9Why do you let a companies actions stop you from buying their products? I still buy Sony products if they are the best out there.
    • dt40, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Sony used their products to put rootkits onto their customers' computers.

      Thus, they have demonstrated a complete lack of understanding of who owns the computer.

      How do we know that other Sony products won't be similarly misguided?

      It therefore makes sense to avoid their products.
  • newyawker, on 10/12/2007, -5/+25What a trashy, lame, petty, and just plain stupid move by Apple.
    • noahhoward, on 10/12/2007, -14/+5Yes how dare you defend the product you spent millons of dollars to develop, ***** bastards!
    • geekee, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10"Yes how dare you defend the product you spent millons of dollars to develop, ***** bastards!"

      It not the bloggers' fault they spent millions of dollars reinventing the cell phone, only to find out what they invented was easily copied on a windows mobile phone that can be purchased for less than half the price.
    • r3zonance, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"It not the bloggers' fault they spent millions of dollars reinventing the cell phone, only to find out what they invented was easily copied on a windows mobile phone that can be purchased for less than half the price."

      Hardly, the iPhone is about way more than a couple of pretty icons. Yes the icons are nice and would make my WM5 phone look a lot prettier. But as the old sayings go:

      "You can't polish a turd!" and
      "A pig with lipstick on, is still a Pig!"
  • Rice, on 10/12/2007, -4/+12Damnit Apple! What the hell are you doing?
  • sid0, on 10/12/2007, -4/+24About the Apple iPhone: I'm no PS3 fan, but $600 for it is too much, while $599 for a god-damn PHONE is all right?

    (I first posted this in another topic, but the topic was buried by then)

    And please don't give me anything about the 'cool' factor. The same could be said by some about the PS3.
    • Teleos, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7Yeah.
      Sony has so far failed at convincing customers that their Blu-ray player supercomputer that will last 10 years is better than its competition, and worth its price. Sure, some people could say the PS3 is 'cool', but in the internet community the opposite is true- Sony has made so many PR blunders in its insistence to shove features that people don't want into their mouths, that everyone loves to hate Sony.
      Frankly, Apple makes a far better case that the iPhone is worth $600 than Sony does about the value of their PS3. You'll see me dead before I buy a PS3 at $600, but I'd think about putting down the same money for an iPhone. How much of this stems from Jobs' reality distortion field, and how much due to it being a really kickass phone, is hard to say.
    • JPDota, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2The difference is that a phone is used every day and people who would buy it would have it with them at all times. While a PS3 is something you use when yuo have spare time. Usage-price ratio.
  • wiiboy, on 10/12/2007, -13/+3HOW CAN I DOWNLOAD THIS CAN SOME ONE UPLOAD IT SOME WARE PLZ HAPPY2007
  • Ramble, on 10/12/2007, -5/+7Reminds me of Sony.
  • xxdesmus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12I am not kidding, someone send me this file and I will post a big shiny DOWNLOAD ME link on the front of my website.

    my name at the google email service

    This ***** really is getting out of hand.
  • 4answer2, on 10/12/2007, -15/+4It doesn't matter what company does this, if they fail to protect their copyright, then they can lose them.

    This affects every company in the United States.
    • vaguelyrandom, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7You cannot 'lose' copyright just because you don't enforce it anally. Copyright applies for its natural duration regardless.
    • noahhoward, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2It's clear what sort of bias is at work in this thread if you are being dugg down. You have to defend you copyrights or you give up your rights to them.
      The same is true with the Cisco case, if you don't defend your trademark then you lose it. Cisco had failed to defend the trademark before Apple made the name popular.

      If you can't understand how it works you're an idiot. If microsoft was defening a trademark I'd be saying the same thing.

      FYI Republishing a stolen image is NOT fair use.

      "You cannot 'lose' copyright just because you don't enforce it anally. Copyright applies for its natural duration regardless."

      Not how it works with trademarks, I'll look it up but I'm fairly certain you are wrong. In either case some of those icons are trademarked.
    • vaguelyrandom, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7@noahhoward

      "You have to defend you copyrights or you give up your rights to them."

      No you don't. Copyright is implicit - it is applied to any work regardless of whether it is marked with (c) or not.

      "if you don't defend your trademark then you lose it. Cisco had failed to defend the trademark before Apple made the name popular."

      You have to defend a trademark because you have to apply for it in the first place. In this case, Cisco were actively using it and in negotiations with Apple to allows its use. These were not complete when Apple decided to use the term publically.

      "If you can't understand how it works you're an idiot. "

      WIth all due respect, you don't seem to understand the point of IP law.

      "FYI Republishing a stolen image is NOT fair use."

      Your use of the work 'stolen' is proof that you don't understand IP law.
    • noahhoward, on 10/12/2007, -6/+2You're right, I don't understand it completely. I do, however, understand it enough to know that it is supposed to protect your works and clearly, this is in violation of that purpose. I also understand that it protects everyone from Apple to Joe Schmo.
    • noahhoward, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2"Cisco were actively using it and in negotiations with Apple to allows its use."

      But they weren't actively defending it. There is another company with an active trademark on "iPhone" Cisco had not defended themselves against them.
    • javaroast, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4@noahhoward
      The more you talk the more you appear to be an uninformed fan-boy.
      "But they weren't actively defending it. There is another company with an active trademark on "iPhone" Cisco had not defended themselves against them."

      Show your proof and for god's sake at least name the company. When I do a search on the USPTO website it looks to me like all uses of the term iPhone are being contested. It's my guess it is Cisco defending their trademark.

      Do a little research, don't talk in black and whites when you really aren't sure and quit cheering for Apple like they are your favorite sports team. They are only a company, just like any other company
    • Rkstar, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I just looked it up. You don't need to protect a copyright, but you do need to protect a trademark. Not exactly sure how patents fall in. But I do remember the line from Jobs' keynote where he said "We filed for over 200 patents for all the inventions in iPhone and we intend to protect them." I think that's exactly what this is.
    • ChefGroovy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1You only lose TRADEMARK if you don't enforce it.
  • arkowi, on 10/12/2007, -11/+2i can't believe they are trying to protect their copyright. what a bunch of losers.
    • NSMike, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Yeah, seriously. It's not like a photo of an infringing use isn't fair use or anything. Come on.
    • arkowi, on 10/12/2007, -6/+3Eh, Digg me down, I don't care...

      What is happening to Cisco right now is a direct result of NOT protecting your copyright or trademark.

      I agree it is pretty lame for them to hassle bloggers, but they are providing a link to the software in question. If a news outlet did a story on Bittorent and provided links to the top torrent tracking sites do you think they might hear from the movie studios?
    • arkowi, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2"Yeah, seriously. It's not like a photo of an infringing use isn't fair use or anything. Come on."

      There is a difference in a fair use photo, and software that violates a copyright.

      Apple are not going after bloggers posting photos of the iPhone and its display.

      Don't you all think is someone made a Palm launcher that looked just like Windows Mobile, that Microsoft might try to stop it?
    • NSMike, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1@arkowi -

      RTFA, Apple is harassing BLOGGERS for posting PHOTOS of the infringing software. That's not an infringing use, that's fair use. If they were posting the infringing software itself, it would be another matter. Learn what fair use is and what the issue is before you try to make a point. You might find out that your argument is totally irrelevant.
    • arkowi, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2"RTFA, Apple is harassing BLOGGERS for posting PHOTOS of the infringing software. That's not an infringing use, that's fair use. If they were posting the infringing software itself, it would be another matter. Learn what fair use is and what the issue is before you try to make a point. You might find out that your argument is totally irrelevant."

      I did RTFA thank you very much. It seems to me that the blogger in question was not only posting screen shots of the launcher program, they were also LINKING directly to the page to download the program. Also, it seems to me that Apple is not suing the blogger, they are simply asking them to stop linking to the software and stop showing screen shots of it. I have some knowledge of fair use (but I am no expert), I have taken two college classes on multimedia law, and copyright law.

      I would like for you to explain to me why it is a fair use issue. Who are you saying should claim fair use? The blogger?

      I am not trying to have an argument here, I am trying to just have an educated discussion on the issue.
    • arkowi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I love that I get dugg down for actually trying to have a discussion.
  • johnpaul191, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2are these blogs credible? if you follow those stories of Apple lawyers telling rumor sites to pull info, there have been tons of fake ones over the years. sites use the hype to generate traffic and inside source credibility.
  • hadi, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2OK,this is LAME
  • chardotcom, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4where can i get the mod to apply to my WM Phone??
  • Teleos, on 10/12/2007, -12/+5Apple has a long history of being copied, and Vista and the Zune are both taking this further than ever before- the first in terms of user interface, the second in concept. You honestly find it surprising that Apple's legal team would jump at an iPhone theme for a PocketPC? Are you also among those who wonder why Apple is such an ***** about keeping secret their product announcements? There's nothing to defend here- a corporation's legal team's job is to play tough. I don't like it, but I can understand why they're dicks about it.
    Sure, Apple could be nicer about saying 'take my copyrighted property off your damn site', but they don't have to. Apple is a hardware and software company, and they base their sales on having impressive, good-quality products that they can charge you an eye and an ear for, not on being anyone's friend. The kind of person who can think "damn, they're such bastards, going after bloggers. Never gonna buy an Apple product again" in spite of what their products are, probably isn't part of their target audience anyway.

    Am I a Mac user? Yeah.
    Do I like this latest move by Apple? No.
    Do I particularly care? No.
    Am I going to buy an iPhone? If my budget allows.
    • infocyde, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10@Teleos

      Spoken like a true Mac fan...if you question you may not be worthy of the target audience, I love it. After knowing numerous people who used to work at Apple call centers, 2 years of supporting Macs in a corporate environment, and hearing tales from several "Mac Geniuses" that work in Apple stores, I can tell you that Apple products do not have a stellar record of being "great". There is no good guys here. Mac has the marketing down...but they fleece their flock at every moment they can...and the flock cries out to Lord Jobs..."More." Gates and Windows are horrible too, but at least their operating system supports multiple hardware vendors so you get competition to drive the price of hardware at least down. Linux has potential, but in my humble opinion most distributions aren't ready for prime time/consumer types to use yet. $600 dollars for a phone? Amazing...and the flock cries out "more!." Maybe Jobs can become the highest paid CEO 2x over after the release of the iPhone.
    • Teleos, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2"Spoken like a true Mac fan...if you question you may not be worthy of the target audience, I love it."

      Need me to clarify my statement?
      If you're willing to stop buying Apple products, regardless of how 'cool' and good those products are, simply because of tough-handed and mean activity by their legal department against bloggers you've never heard of, you're probably not part of Apple's target audience.

      Apple's target audience isn't 'enlightened' or 'superior' or blessed because they get to use Apple products. They're simply dudes who care more about the 'coolness', ease of use and virtues of a product than this sort of trademark dispute. You don't 'deserve' to be a part of the target audience; for better or worse, you just fit in there.
      I'm probably part of their target audience. Not because I justify the blogger issue, but because I don't really give a ***** about it. I'm wondering instead if I'm more interested in an iPhone or something else for those $600.
    • Solarux, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10Copying?? Ummmm, yea, you must have never used a UMPC device. The program launcher is almost exact to iPhone's interface. Of course disregarding that Microsoft product, we could just easily look at this as Apple saying they invented application shortcut icons housed in a square....you know, sort of like how Apple says they created the mouse ten years after it had been invented. Riiiiiight.

  • DogmaticAtheism, on 10/12/2007, -8/+7apple is for trendy losers, the fact that you all support this company (which has done this sort of thing multiple times) proves it
    • robbclark, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5Personally, while I may very well be a loser, One thing I am not is trendy.

      Do I use Apple products? yes. Why do I use Apple products? Because they work, I was sick and tied of reinstalling Windows on my wifes computer and having it crash again two months later, invariably while she was working on an important paper. So, I bought us Powerbooks 3 years ago, no problems ever. I use an iPod since it integrates seamlessly into iTunes (iTunes isn't the greatest player in the world but it works)

      Do I like this move by Apple, ***** no.

      Do I think the iPhone is overpriced hype, hell yes.

      Please do not generalize about Apple users, some of us just like ***** because it works.
  • wiiboy, on 10/12/2007, -5/+5can some one plz upload this so we all can download it plz
  • HappyScrappy, on 10/12/2007, -11/+3Dupe.

    http://digg.com/apple/Apple_Uses_Legal_Force_On_Forum_Poster_For_Linking_to_PocketPC_iPhone_GUI

    Both are on the front page right now.
    • HappyScrappy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I'm getting dugg down why? At the time, that article had 50% more hits than this one.
  • inkswamp, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3Apple has people already ripping off the look of their interface for an unreleased product. Gee, wonder why they wouldn't want that being a widespread thing? After all the R&D they've put into the iPhone, you think they might not what people diluting that image with lousy knock-offs?

    I think their legal team is being a little overzealous but it's really hard to find fault with any company wanting to protect the image of something that they have worked so hard to perfect.
    • ingxia, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Then why does Apple give free stickers with the iPod shuffle? (Just bought mine last week) Is it only legal to stick it on an apple device?
  • xxdesmus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+23http://rapidshare.com/files/11702455/wm5_iphone_skin.zip.html

    and

    http://www.sendspace.com/file/ntvis9

    mirror the ***** out of this guys. Apple deserves it for this *****.
  • chrism1128, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12Apple is way worse of power abusers than even Microsoft (who are terrible too.) They would have been doing so much worse stuff, but it just took them this long to have a monopoly on something.
    If they had the Windows market share for the last 20 years, everyone would know exactly what a miserable prick that Steve Jobs is.
  • rushad, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14apple are little girls
    • MrViklund, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1No.
    • ebola, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2No, they are arrogant, spoilt, whiny, selfish, arrogant, and oh did I mention arrogant snot nosed little bitches. I shudder to think of what the computing landscape would have looked like had Apple been microsoft.

      MrViklund, is that you Mr. Jobs? Or one of his lackeys?
  • bertram, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1dupe and spam - my burying options runneth over.
  • Solarux, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Now what I would like to see is Microsoft drop a lawsuit on Apple for their blatant rip-off of the UMPC program launcher interface features for the iPhone.
    • inkswamp, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1I'd prefer to see you sue yourself for posting this same thing twice in one thread.
    • Solarux, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Now what I would like to see is Microsoft drop a lawsuit on Apple for their blatant rip-off of the UMPC program launcher interface features for the iPhone.

      Feel better? I mean...if only I could post the above line as many times I have to read idiotic, repetitive Digg submissions....we'd be on par.
  • uberdesigner, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I thought Apple was a feel good company. My heart is broken.
  • winnch, on 10/12/2007, -8/+3>There are hundreds of bloggers that have posted iPhone screenshots. What are the legal implications for all of them? It puts Apple in an odd position because I think they would be pleased with all the free blogger publicity from screenshots in blogs. It is also somewhat ironic that this comes just after the Cisco trademark suit.

    A friendly picture of the iPhone is one thing. A doctored photo, placing Apple-owned designs over another device, is something quite different. Especially if it might lead to a REAL skin for Windows Mobile being created. And it's fully within Apple's right to bar that sort of thing.

    I'm sorry, but I'm sick and tired of bloggers thinking because they happen to run a blog, they get to freely avoid copyright law. The "social network" or the "You tubes" or whatever runs the Internet does not mean you can just dart around established copyright and trademark law. Oh, poor blogger, bullied by a big company! Ridiculous. It's law. Obey it. Apple's completely in the right on this one.

    Call me a fanboy if you like, but if name-calling is the average Diggers' best line of defense, then I worry about our future.
    • Solarux, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6How is an application shortcut housed in a square an "Apple owned design?"

      So if I set my desktop to black and put rounded corners on my shortcuts, I am infringing on Apple's creative interface??
    • jrbrewin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4yes. naughty boy
    • winnch, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1>How is an application shortcut housed in a square an "Apple owned design?"
      >So if I set my desktop to black and put rounded corners on my shortcuts, I am infringing on Apple's creative interface??

      No, but if you take Apple's icons, which they own, and re-apply it to another device, and then publish it (key word: PUBLISH), Apple has a right to block you from redistributing their copyrighted materials (in this case, those icons).
    • Solarux, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Ok....agreed. I think Apple has every right to go after the creator and/or publisher of the skin. But I was simply referring to your comment which has nothing to do with the topic of the submission. Apple is asinine for sending a cease-and-desist order for a blog/website that is simply reporting (not housing or linking) the questionable content.

      So on to the actually topic and with your thinking, I could have a blog where I post news about a Stardock WindowBlinds that makes your XP machine look like Vista and I should get sued?? ...even though I did not create it, house it, distribute it or link to a download??? I'm sorry...but Apple is in the wrong here and approaching RIAA tactics. Hypothetically they could be trying to stifle freedom of press and speech.

  • bonlebon, on 10/12/2007, -7/+5You gotta love Apple and their gestapo tactics... SIEG HAIL!!!.
    • winnch, on 10/12/2007, -9/+2You're offensive. Digg needs a reporting link for comments.
    • Geckomind, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1If you post crap like that, at least SPELL it correctly you moron!
  • joevill, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11I'm glad I'm on a PC
    • winnch, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Because Microsoft isn't just as protective -- and rightfully so -- of their copyrighted material? Honestly, how does this affect you?

      I guess I'd rather base my purchasing decisions on productivity and value, rather than some moral stand over copyright law I don't correctly understand or appreciate.
  • Desslok, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12Sounds like Apple is the new Microsoft.
    • winnch, on 10/12/2007, -8/+2Sounds like Apple is rightfully protecting their copyrights and trademarks that were illegally re-published. Precious Google would do the same.

      You know, if I designed a technology that automatically cut out Kevin Rose's head and replaced it with my own, matching my lips to his voice, and then re-published the digg podcast under a different name and called it my own, I wouldn't be surprised to see people really excited about the cool technology --- and completely turning a blind eye to the obvious copyright infringement.

      And if Revision3 sued, would you all jump on the "fanboys" defending Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht from protecting their copyrighted materials?

      Bloggers are not beyond the law.
    • Solarux, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5To the best of my knowledge, Microsoft has never sued anyone (or sent cease-and-desist letters) reporting on news.
  • zetsurin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6For those with one eye (numbers are many here) who love Apple and hate Sony:

    If Sony were ANYTHING like Apple, all these millions of PSP hack sites would have been sued years ago. Just stop for a moment and think about where your love is placed. I am not suggesting to love Sony rather than Apple by the way as there are more choices than that, just indicating how retarded the average Apple-loving / Sony-hating Digger is.

    To put my post in context, I buy both Apple and Sony products so I am not biased one bit.
  • MaXPL, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7yeh Apple is a joke to me right now. everyday i hear another story of stolen ideas or things like this. iJobs really thinks that the apple phone thing is the only device in the world with features like touch screen, contacts, emails, browser?

    is there something special about that interface? is it one of the "200 patents" iJobs mentioned?

    apple has done nothing right since macworld; nothing. i'll be laughing come june when very limited number of people get the apple phone.


  • DanielNielsen, on 10/12/2007, -9/+1I don't give a *****, if they feel they have the right to "BULLY" them for using copyrighted icons, i say go ahead. seems like every company is suing somebody right now, so why can´t Apple Inc. have a part of that action.
    • zetsurin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6You sound like you are in danger of running out of arse lube over there.
  • uberdesigner, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5winnch, are you a lawyer or a judge? How do you know who's right and who's wrong? Fanboy, go suck off steve jobs.
  • iluvhatemail, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1well i would never had known about this if it werent for Apple :)

    here is a link to instructions in case you had no idea like me:
    http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1097832&postcount=70
  • MaXPL, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5"If they had the Windows market share for the last 20 years, everyone would know exactly what a miserable prick that Steve Jobs is. "

    he's only a miserable prick because he doesnt have the windows marketshare.
  • boxx, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Come on apple..... leave them alone.
    Skin it all they want; in the end, it's not an iPhone.
    • zetsurin, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4It sounds like they are admitting that it's the only advantage iPhone has: glossy look.

      pPod anyone?
  • lunchbox170, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I am tired of debating with people about the iPhone, I think it will be good, but maybe it wont, there are things that im not so sure about. As for this, I think apple is being dumb, going after everyone, not good. I have decided I am no longer discussing iPhone until it comes out and I can really see it.

    So until then I am responding to all iPhone conversations with:

    Dr Phil, what the ***** are you?
  • appleswitch, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I don't see how this is that big of a deal. I know I'm a fanboy, but I can see microsoft doing the same thing and It still woulden't be a big deal.
    ( mad about windows theme for iPhone )

    Luckily for them all their mobile devices look like *****....
  • davidepaula, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Apple Inc is officially evil! Who's next to join the dark side? Google???
  • pyrophire, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Just in case anyone cares, its being spread around on torrents if you want to get it.
  • bonlebon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1There is a link for the torrent on my blog:

    http://bonlebon.blogspot.com/2007/01/need-iphone-skin-for-windows-mobile.html

    Till I get the infamous letter.
  • frozendice, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Like this is going to stop it from being distributed? Even though it's been taken down people already have it. Somebody will post it again, more people will download it and post again when it's taken down.
  • manicleek, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Awesome, that means I can get this skin and put it on my 2 year old phone, then I will have a phone that looks as good as the iPhone, has all the same features on it, plus a removable battery, expandable memory, allows software installs, has sat nav, allows me to use any network I like, allows me to listen to any sound file, allows me to watch any video file and all for half the price of the iPhone back when I bought it at the end of 2004.

    Or I could just keep the phone I have now that has even more features and laugh at all the dumbass Apple fanboys that are whacking off all over themselves whilst waiting for a phone that, to everyone that isn't in America, went out of date a long time ago
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