Apple Threatens Site For Highlighting A Product Flaw
from the shouldn't-they-want-people-to-do-this? dept
Several months ago, a member of the message board Something Awful posted a pictorial on how to tweak a Macbook Pro so that it was less likely to overheat. Now Apple has sent a letter demanding that one of the pictures be taken down because it is a copyrighted image. What's concerning the company, most likely, is not that the copyright was violated, but that the image is evidence that some poor manufacturing resulted in overheating. But wouldn't they have been better admitting that there was a manufacturing problem and publicizing the fix? Now, because they've resorted to legal measures, the images are everywhere and they look like bullies who are unconcerned about product quality. Furthermore, by now they should know that trying to keep suppress a photo online is always a losing battle.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Mac hardware = t3h sux!
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Re: Mac hardware = t3h sux!
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Re: Re: Mac hardware = t3h sux!
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Re: Re: Mac hardware = t3h sux!
How are they insecure?
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Re: Re: Re: Mac hardware = t3h sux!
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1956652,00.asp?kc=ewnws050306dtx1k0000599
A missing () did it...
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Mac hardware = t3h sux!
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Mac hardware = t3h sux!
And no ... OS X doesnt use the same X BSD uses ...
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Re: Re: Mac hardware = t3h sux!
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Boo
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What copyright?
If the photo was a promotional photo of Apple's and they have terms of use listed for it, then they have a case and have every right to ask that it be taken down.
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Hooray
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Apple Grease ?
Pear Grease might be better.
Personally I'd go for heatsink compound.
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Apple should either make its hardware easier for users to tweak or get out of the business. Putting Windows on your computers will not get you more customers, it just shows that you want the easier fix. People want a PC that they can do anything with, not something that a company puts rules and restrictions on because they "own the rights". Sell them the whole damn thing.
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Re:
(Also, please note that when I say majority of end users, I mean the majority of computer customers, not the small minority of elitists like you and I who know how, and aren't afraid, to crack open their case and fix what is wrong.)
These people, the customers, want a product that when they turn it on, it just works. They do want a computer they can do anything with, they just don't care how it does it.
Whether we like it or not, Apple is tremendously successful at computers for the masses that are reliable, and the PC is a long, long way from their level of one touch computing.
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Re: Re: LMFAO
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How much do you think Macs are different now?
But, this can't be said anymore.
CPU = same as PC
Chipsets = same as PC
video card = same as PC
hard drive = same as PC
optical drive = same as PC
IO chipset = same as PC.
RAM = same as PC.
LCD = same as PC (actually, most other PC notebooks use better screens with higher resolutions).
The only difference of a MacBook compared to ANY Intel Duo Core PC is that the MacBooks use EFI BIOS.
Where I do give Apple some credit is in their ability to package these components into their timy form factors. But, I mean, this doesn't mean their components are any more superior to PC's, just placed differently.
However, even with their small form factor designs, the new MacBooks still get way too hot for my tastes even though they are using a CPU that dissipates far less heat then the G4's. The case is basically a big heatsink, and I find it really poor design that the keyboard gets almost too hot to touch in the area you know the CPU is under.
Apple should sacrifice a little bit of form for better function. Even if their MacBook was 1/4" thicker just to put a little more heatpipes or larger fan would make more sense.
I am typing this on my Acer PC with never gets so hot that you can't touch it or it becomes uncomfortable.
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Re: How much do you think Macs are different now?
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--Not for Posting or Redistribution--
Via Email
May 2, 2006
Re: Infringement of Apple's Intellectual Property Rights [email]webmaster@somethingawful.com[/email]
Dear WebMaster:
Apple Computer, Inc. ("Apple") recently noticed that Apple's copyrighted material is available for download at your website [url]http://somethingawful.com[/url]. Specifically, there is a link to Apple's Service Source manual for the MacBook Pro in the discussion thread at [url]http://forums.somethingawful.com/sh...readid=1864582[/url].
The Service Source manual for the MacBook Pro is Apple's intellectual property and is protected by U.S. copyright law. Linking to the manual on your website is an infringement of Apple's copyrights. We therefore must insist that you immediately take all necessary steps to remove the Service Source manual and any other Apple copyrighted material from your site and to prevent further unauthorized use or distribution of Apple intellectual property.
Apple reserves its right to contact your Internet Service Provider in the event you do not comply with these demands.
The foregoing is not intended to be a complete statement of the facts, and shall not constitute a waiver of any of Apple’s rights or remedies, all of which are expressly reserved.
We would appreciate a reply by email to [email]copyrightagent@apple.com[/email] that you have complied, and we anticipate and appreciate your immediate cooperation.
Sincerely,
Sue Carroll
Apple Legal
copyrightagent@apple.com
This transmission may be privileged and may contain confidential information intended only for the person(s) named above. Any other distribution, re-transmission, copying or disclosure is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify me immediately by telephone or return e-mail, and delete this file/message from your system.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ;>>>>>>>>>>>>
CC my email:
Dear Ms Carroll
You seem confused,
1. A Confidentiality Agreement requires, well, an agreement entered into by both parties.
2. If you host something on a website and fail to either encrypt it or place password access to it, deep linking is fair game.
3. Holding a copyright does not preclude fair use rights especially in direct relationship to an "issue" and subsequent "news"
4. Pressuring an ISP and invoking DMCA protections over a matter such as this, is not only an abuse of the provisions but will ensure this issue will quickly be hosted and rehashed ad nauseam outside their jurisdiction.
Thank you for pumping more air into this, it was a slow news day.
Ive personally exercised my rights under fair use to make a copy of the material in the event anyone ever forgets this issue.
Ice Czar
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>
on the contrary they need to be slapped and hard
this is not protected content, that is not what copyrights are for
this is baldfaced bully tactics and they not only need to be called on them but made an example of.
They have absolutely no legal rights to protect the image now that it is directly tied into the context of this news issue
nor do they have the right to threaten a third party to suppress the issue.
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The guy that commented about the hardware saying 'just paced differently'; you really have no clue what you are talking about or what goes into designing digital boards with the capabilities and tollerances these do. Educate yourself a few years in electeonics and micros then say sorry.
Hardware issues with the Macs these days are now down to the custom built way they are made. There is no modular slot in, slap on plug in way like regular ATXx's. And being of custom design it is hard to train to repair them or even troubleshoot them unless u have at least a little electronics nounce.
In my experience far less than 3% of all machines im asked to look at are Macs, and thats not through lack of them. Kids/students love em, even old folk like the 1 button not complicated approach. So theres plenty out there, they just dont break, and when they do, its severe, sent back and replaced. PCs, you just buy a new bit to replace the one that broke. pretty much what they do with the mac, only you dont get to buy the bit. That in my opinion is the only part of Apple that needs changing. People like playing with new parts, fitting them etc. well i do :p
p.s. Mr. S Mcgee: seek help.
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The origin of the picture
The picture shows someone applying thermal grease to a cpu. But in the picture, it looks like a huge amount of thermal grease is being applied when in fact, very little should be applied.
Several people have opened their MacBooks and seen a lot more thermal grease on the chips than what is usually recommended. Its definitely a manufacturing quality issue and one that Apple will eventually own up to. Just like usual, they deny it for 6 months, then finally announce a program to fix the issues.
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Clueless
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Re: Clueless
Whether or not people actually *do* customize there machines is one thing, but it's nice ot have the *ability* to do it without scouring the earth in search of parts. It's the principle of the thing.
From having to upgrade/fix my fiancee's Mac a few times, I've learned the hard way that doing so is not a fun or easy task. Granted this is mainly on older hardware but I don't like having my ability to fix a machine dictated by Jobs or Wozniak's whimsy.
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the copyright protection does NOT preclude fair use in this issue, its a published service manual. It directly illustrates a proceedure impacting on the issue. The work is not reproduced in whole and being redistributed.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode17/usc_sec_17_00000102----000-.html
In no case does copyright protection for an original work of authorship extend to any idea, procedure, process, system, method of operation, concept, principle, or discovery, regardless of the form in which it is described, explained, illustrated, or embodied in such work.
as soon as you start putting that photo on shirts and its not related to a news item THEN its protected
not till then
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Apple Security?
http://savemybutt.com/blog
"McAfee bites into Apple security"
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