Business
Apple lowers boom on Aqua 'skins'
In its latest move to protect the look and feel of its products, Apple Computer Inc.'s legal counsel on Thursday requested a Windows software company remove all themes and screen shots of themes resembling the Mac OS X Aqua interface from its Web site, saying they violate Apple's intellectual property (IP).
In its latest move to protect the look and feel of its products, Apple Computer Inc.'s legal counsel on Thursday requested a Windows software company remove all themes and screen shots of themes resembling the Mac OS X Aqua interface from its Web site, saying they violate Apple's intellectual property (IP).
Stardock Corp. Inc. has complied with part of the request, according to its president, Brad Wardell, and has asked Apple (aapl) to clarify what it considers IP violations so as to head off future violations before they are posted.
The themes, or "skins," change interface elements ranging from color to window sizes to icons and fonts. Stardock is the maker of DesktopX, a program that lets users create their own customized desktop interfaces and change their functionality. Stardock encourages Windows users to design themes and then submit them to the company for possible free distribution to others via its Web site. Full story.--Brad Gibson, MacCentral