Apple, threatening customers isn't a good way to grow one's market

Summary: I was reading the post Apple: iPhone jailbreaking violates our copyright by CNET's Tom Krazit. If Tom's post is correct, it reminds me a bit of the saber rattling that the SCO Group used early in its campaign to assert ownership of UNIX.

I was reading the post Apple: iPhone jailbreaking violates our copyright by CNET's Tom Krazit. If Tom's post is correct, it reminds me a bit of the saber rattling that the SCO Group used early in its campaign to assert ownership of UNIX. The SCO Group actually filed suit against Auto Zone claiming that the automotive products retailer had violated SCO's UNIX copyrights by running versions of the Linux operating system.

In the end, the SCO Group lost out because they demonstrated that they really weren't a safe compay with which to do business. After all, who wants to do business with a company that combats with its own customers in court?

I'm wondering if Apple may find itself seen in that same category.

Topics: Apple, Open Source

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22 comments
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  • Apple is making me glad I'm not a customer

    One could say that all companies behave, to some degree, as badly as Apple has been behaving the last few years but what makes it even worse is that Apple sells itself as "the little guy who cares about you". The whole DRM letter [b]really[/b] disgusted me and even if you ignore the fact that Apple is the #1 distributor of DRM encrusted material (though it shouldn't be ignored), Apple's hypocrisy is highlighted even further with the DRM that they enforce on their own iPhone and with OS X (vs Psystar). Basically, Apple is telling us that other people's DRM should be removed but don't you dare mess with Apple's DRM!

    Luckily, Apple makes nothing that is best of breed so in this case, boycotting them out of principle requires no sacrifice on my part. It would be more difficult if Apple actually made anything that was good.
    NonZealot
    • And yet you're always first to comment on anything Apple

      It's really odd. No matter what time of day ZDNet posts an Apple-related
      story you're always there ready to put your own special spin on it. I must
      admit, you're very good at what you do. It's just that you're always first,
      always negative, and always beating the same old drum. Just enough
      truth to be plausible....just enough spin to give a false impression. You
      really should work for a political campaign...it's hard to believe that the
      Mac vrs PC area is really worth your spinning talents.
      UGottaBKidding
    • Your same-ole childish rant...

      If someone wanted to they could say similar things about MS but, what
      does that gain. Nothing. You're childish rants become quite tiresome.

      Your rants haven't helped anyone nor have been of service to anyone.
      What they prove is your dialog and diatribe is quite immature. You don't
      like Apple so keep it to yourself. Some don't like MS however, they don't
      sling mud each time they have the opportunity to.

      Please grow up, or if you're older than a teenager, do display decorum
      and behave in a more mature manner.
      BubbaJones_
      • Welcome to ZDNet, RicD_

        [i]Some don't like MS however, they don't
        sling mud each time they have the opportunity to.[/i]

        Based on your statement, I can only assume you signed up five minutes prior to posting that. So, allow me to introduce you to some of ZDNet's most prolific anti-MS mud slingers. Not only do they sling it, they produce it, wallow in it, and even create multiple aliases in order to sling the same mud in the same thread. These are google searches of ZDNet Talkbacks of said slingers.

        http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&as_q=opensource_user01&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&num=100&lr=&as_filetype=&ft=i&as_sitesearch=zdnet.com&as_qdr=all&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=off

        http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&as_qdr=all&q=it_wk+site%3Azdnet.com&btnG=Search

        http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&as_qdr=all&q=%22linux+geek%22+site%3Azdnet.com

        http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&as_qdr=all&q=kozmcrae+site%3Azdnet.com

        http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&as_qdr=all&q=%22james+quinn%22+site%3Azdnet.com


        MGP2
        • Many years ago I signed up...

          Thank you for your links, didn't read them, but thanks anyway. Yes
          some do berate all OS, sadly over the years many times I've seen that
          happen. So I'll respectfully retract my remark.

          Do a search for the OP you'll find OP enjoys starting negative remarks,
          seems to take pride in ridiculing others choice. Rarely adds anything
          of importance, or assistance to readers.

          Hum, I've not seen the OP display righteous indignation towards MS
          and Windows over it's practices and products. OP has a rather
          selective attitude, rather unbecoming for polite society.

          If the OP has anything of importance to add then based on the OPs
          many previous posts it may missed. Similar to someone crying wolf so
          many times.

          Again thank you for your response.
          BubbaJones_
      • Just use Linux. nt

        nt
        T1Oracle
    • The idiot has spoken

      You're an idiot. There's nothing else to say.
      SquishyParts
    • Employment

      NZ, are you employed? Seriously! The post count for you is astounding.
      Win3.1
      • Of course he's employed...

        professional troll.

        He would have to be an anti-Apple zealot otherwise. Oh wait, he
        admitted to that, didn't he?

        msalzberg
  • And your point is what

    that MS should just roll over when people hack their OS
    because you think the hacker's motives are pure and noble?

    If someone were to take this blog post and claim it as their
    own, you'd be all over them in a heartbeat.
    frgough
  • All comes about

    All this comes about because EFF is seeking a DMCA
    exemption!

    So, although it's bad enough that people are jailbreaking
    the iPhone, Apple has been turning a blind eye to those
    individuals, but when a group lobbies to actually make it
    legal, Apple has no choice but to protect their their IP.
    Who wouldn't? Microsoft? Sony? Nintendo? Nokia?
    Samsung? ...

    IP represents a lot of investment and hard work. Protect it
    or lose it to your competitors.
    jaypeg
    • You also have to protect it..

      or you lose the copyright protection. Just like trademarks.
      msalzberg
  • RE: Apple, threatening customers isn

    I think the threat is a touch bit tenuous Dan :)
    Win3.1
  • Astounding!

    I'm perplexed.

    As a happy user of Debian GNU/Linux and huge fan of freedom it astounds me that my free software friends hate MS yet love the most closed, restrictive consumer platform on the planet.

    From the perspective of freedom, MS is bad but Apple is far worse!

    Why on earth do Apple sheeple tolerate such abuse?
    Tim Patterson
    • Because they have been brainwashed

      Into thinking that Windows systems are 'closed' (they are nowhere NEAR as closed as Apple systems!), that Windows systems are unstable, etc. and that is worth the annoyances of a Apple system.

      For me... it wasn't and never will be as long as there is an Apple price premium over Windows systems.
      Lerianis
      • Not me.

        Closed/open...who cares? Not me. Historically Windows has been unstable. Too late if they have it now. Historically Microsoft has been unethical - lying, cheating, stealing. Too late if they are no longer.

        I have moved on. I give my money to those who deserve it. I don't give it to those who embezzle it out of me (like Microsoft).
        No More Microsoft Software Ever!
  • RE: Apple, threatening customers isn

    Dan,

    As a person "responsible for research and publications on
    the topics of open source software, virtualization software
    and system software in general." one would assume that
    you knew that the SCO saber rattling was just that - saber
    rattling - they didn't have a leg to stand on since being
    bought out by a team of lawyers just trying to clean up and
    not by any actual talent or credible team.

    Apple HAVE to protect their interests - just because
    someone wants something to go open source doesn't mean
    they can force it. The EFF have gone too far in this case.
    FFS they have Linux - make do with that - just don't go
    out into the world and steal stuff. That's called stealing. It
    is a crime.
    jgpmolloy
    • How is jailbreaking stealing?

      I have paid for my device.
      I have paid for the media content on it.
      I have paid for the applications that request payment from the App Store.

      I'm missing where jailbreaking (the ability to run non-Apple blessed applications on the iPhone) is akin to theft. Can you explain that?

      Joey
      voyager529
      • Cuz Apple says so....that's how.

        NT
        MGP2
      • Stealing from AT&T really.

        Their service is required for the iPhone, as sold. Jailbreaking lets one bypass that requirement. That is where the theft come in.
        No More Microsoft Software Ever!