Microsoft bribes bloggers; Apple sues them
Apple does not think that “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”, especially when it comes to the look of it’s new iPhone cell phone interface.
Enterprising coders have developed iPhone “skins” for Windows and Palm-based cell phones. The skins don’t add functionality; they just make the phone’s user interface look similar to the iPhone’s.
Apple’s legal team has not only written “cease and desist” letters to the web sites disseminating the iPhone skins, but also to at least one blogger, Paul O’Brien, of MoDaco.
From the letter:
“It has come to our attention that you have posted a screenshot of Apple’s new iPhone and links that facilitate the installation of that screenshot on a PocketPC device.
“The post in question is located at http://www.modaco.com/index.php?showtopic=251112.
“While we appreciate your interest in the iPhone, 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 and refrain from facilitating the further dissemination of Apple’s copyrighted material by removing the link to http://forum.xda-developers.com, where said icons and screenshot are being distributed.”
This is not the first time that Apple has used such heavy handed tactics. In 2004 Apple sued three bloggers who had, Apple claims, revealed trade secrets.
I can’t help comparing this incident with the Microsoft laptop scandal of a couple a weeks ago. On the one hand Microsoft tries to bribe its way to bloggers’ hearts, on the other hand, Apple tries to strike fear into the hearts of bloggers.
I wonder how long it will take the so-called leaders of the digital age, Microsoft and Apple, to really understand what the digital age is all about.
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January 15th, 2007
Please remove this article, as the use of iPhone is copyright protected by Apple. Thank you
January 16th, 2007
Nice products; shame about the company
January 16th, 2007
How goofey can you get?
The digital age is not about
humor or about personal opinions.
The digital age is about money.
January 16th, 2007
“I wonder how long it will take the so-called leaders of the digital age, Microsoft and Apple, to really understand what the digital age is all about.”
When I blog, I like to use completely hasty generalizations that don’t really make any sense or apply to anything as well.
January 16th, 2007
Hilarious.
APPLE: OH NOES COPYWRITED!
Uh, yeah. Sure. I can claim stuff too.
January 24th, 2007
Microsoft has been shameless enough to bribe even when it comes to video games. Don’t tell me Bill(bill gates) hasn’t offered Ign(Ign.com) editor’s a chance to sleep with his daughter’s to get prox360 articles and anti ps3 articles published on the site.
more over ” tech blorge ” your news is outdated, The world knows when more then a million shameless, corrupt & mother milking retards died bill gates and his company came into this world to replace their absence
January 24th, 2007
also checkout http://antixbox.blogspot.com
it’s my public presentation service for ” Microsoft Politics “