Apple Withdraws Lawsuit Against Wiki Site Owner Over iPhone/iPod Interoperability Hack Discussion

from the took-'em-long-enough dept

Thu, Jul 23rd 2009 2:19am — Mike Masnick

Last November, the EFF took Apple to task for threatening the owner of a wiki site. Apple claimed that an ongoing discussion on the site about how to build interoperability between iPods and iPhones and alternative software other than iTunes violated the DMCA -- which requires quite a novel interpretation of the DMCA. After Apple refused to back down, EFF sued in April. Somewhere along the way, it looks like Apple's lawyers started to realize that it had pretty close to no chance whatsoever and has now withdrawn this particular threat. The EFF is dropping the lawsuit, but isn't pleased that the whole thing had to happen in the first place:

"While we are glad that Apple retracted its baseless legal threats, we are disappointed that it only came after 7 months of censorship and a lawsuit," said EFF Senior Staff Attorney Fred von Lohmann. "Because Apple continues to use technical measures to lock iPod Touch and iPhone owners into -- and Palm Pre owners out of -- using Apple's iTunes software, I wouldn't be surprised if there are more discussions among frustrated customers about reverse engineering Apple products. We hope Apple has learned its lesson here and will give those online discussions a wide berth in the future."

Indeed. While the Palm Pre situation is in the other direction (interop between alternative hardware and iTunes software, rather than alternative software with Apple hardware), it shows again that Apple will do whatever possible to stop people from making legal use of products they purchased.

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Filed Under: bluwiki, interoperability, iphone, ipod, itunes, wiki
Companies: apple, eff

31 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 23 Jul 2009 @ 3:02am

Wyatt Cenac on Feuding iPhone Farters (The Daily Show)
Yes, because developers of iphone fart applications *should* need to consult with lawyers. The whole industry here being propped up by attorneys fees.

USA Mirror
Canada Mirror.
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Yosi, 23 Jul 2009 @ 3:35am

Let's be honest - Palm is wrong here
With all crap that Apple's lawyers can pull out, one need to note that it's Palm's own fault that it can't sync properly with iTunes.

First of all - it violated USB spec (following open standards, anyone?). Next it expected from Apple to violate USB spec too, while opened, documented API exists for iTunes sync. Nokia doing it OK without need to disguise itself to ipod.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Jul 2009 @ 4:03am

Missing a predicate in the first sentence Mike.
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Mike Masnick (profile), 23 Jul 2009 @ 4:24am

Re:
Heh. Actually those first few sentences were a total mess. Fixed them up a bit. Thanks.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Jul 2009 @ 4:27am

At first I thought Apple only did pretty computers that only a graphic designer could want. Then they started using Intel and they went to "Sony" category: overpriced, with some style. And then they created that phone and started acting like a total fascist: censoring applications with no reason, threatening competition with patent lawsuits, censoring discussions. I'm glad I never bought anything from them.
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Yosi, 23 Jul 2009 @ 4:47am

Re:
"Overpriced" part has been debunked times and times, over and over. And FYI, "some style" costs "some money" because it generally mean "pleasant to use". And many people value that "feel good to use" thing.

And for patent lawsuits - when you create so fucked up legal system don't be surprised that it's being abused.
Don't blame Apple, blame your lawmakers.
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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 23 Jul 2009 @ 5:02am

Re: Re:
""Overpriced" part has been debunked times and times, over and over. And FYI, "some style" costs "some money" because it generally mean "pleasant to use". And many people value that "feel good to use" thing."

Don't be an apple fan boy. Yes they cost more and yes they do less and yes you can get something that looks pleasant and feels good to use without spending $1800. But that's all preference (and what you plan to do with it), some like Mac, Some like Linux, some like Windows.
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Brave Sir Robin, 23 Jul 2009 @ 5:02am

Re:
@Yosi:
If something is abused, as you claim, it's only logical, and perfectly reasonable to blame the party commiting the abuse. That the system has been created in a way that makes it possible is a different matter altogether.
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Luci, 23 Jul 2009 @ 5:04am

Re: Re:
'Overpriced' is a relative term. To me, they are vastly overpriced, but then, I build my own boxes to dual-boot Linux/Windows.

I have never found an Apple 'pleasant to use.'
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yozoo, 23 Jul 2009 @ 5:57am

one reason
Apples closed prioprietary nature is one reason I have always avoided thier products. The other main reason is the fashion tax, its just not worth that much to look cool to me . . . maybe im too old to care anymore . . . I dunno
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Jul 2009 @ 6:18am

people whom bye into companies with this kind of rep deserve what they get.

STOP BYEING APPLE PRODUCTS! THEY WILL BURN YOU IN MORE WAYS THEN ONE (Batteries)
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richard, 23 Jul 2009 @ 6:24am

you can have
"I'm a Mac, and I'm a pc"

should be

"I'm ham and cheese and I'm Cheese and Ham"
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Yosi, 23 Jul 2009 @ 6:33am

Re: Re: Re:
Yes, they cost more, but no, they do not do less. It's bloody UNIX inside, don't ya know?
And some people (me included) think that well-working UNIX-based GUI is worth paying for.
You don't call Porsche/BMW/Mercedes "overpriced", right?

But, as you say - don't like it - buy Windows. But please, get over this "overpriced and do less" bullshit.
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Yosi, 23 Jul 2009 @ 6:35am

Re:
True for all products of all kind. Next?
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Jul 2009 @ 7:21am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
Actually, I do call Porsche/BMW.Mercedes overpriced.

Especially Porsches and BMWs. They have a lot of glitz, and not much go. It's all about power to weight ratios you see, and Porsches just don't have it when compared to much cheaper motorcycles. Even BMW motorcycles don't have the power to weight ratio when compared to sport bikes (crotch rockets), or most customs (I'm not talking about special custom choppers, I'm talking about home built bikes).

Just remember, if your car has less than 600 hp and you haven't stripped all the weight possible out of it, you probably shouldn't be racing that motorcycle on a straightaway. Corners, now that's a different matter (and let's not get into it about grips, tire widths, track types, etc...)

Huh...just noticed that if you replace the word Porsche with Mac, BMW with windows, and every reference to motorcycles with Linux you have yourself a handy little analysis there.
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Yosi, 23 Jul 2009 @ 7:34am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
>> Actually, I do call Porsche/BMW/Mercedes overpriced.

Ah, now I see. Incompetent idiot. Nothing to see here, move along.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Jul 2009 @ 7:34am

b
o
r
i
n
g
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Wren (profile), 23 Jul 2009 @ 8:04am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Nope, just a different set of values, and a different point of view
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Floyd, 23 Jul 2009 @ 9:30am

Motorcycle vs. Porsche
Your motorcycle may be able to beat a Porsche, but it's nothing compared to an F-22, dumb***! Suck on that!

Seriously though, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but cars and motorcycles are not the same thing.

And I don't have any Mac computers, but I thouroughly enjoy my iPhone, which does whatever I want, including writing this post. $99 doesn't seem too overpriced to me. So you can't say all of their products are overpriced. I do agree that most of their desktops are, though (cept the mini) but it's still subjective.
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Idaho Potato Commisioner, 23 Jul 2009 @ 9:31am

Why doesn't my apple taste like my favorite fruit, the orange? Apples suck...
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Lickity Split, 23 Jul 2009 @ 9:34am

Re: Re: Let's be honest - Palm is wrong here
fucking spammer
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The Infamous Joe (profile), 23 Jul 2009 @ 9:56am

Re: Re: Re:
I've always wanted to try out Apple's OS, but for reasons I don't entirely understand I am not allowed to install it on my computer unless I buy that computer from them.

So, I'll stick with Linux.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Jul 2009 @ 9:56am

Re: Motorcycle vs. Porsche
Cars and motorcycles aren't both vehicles? Really? And here I was thinking they were both modes of transportation with different markets that the manufacturers have learned to cater to through the inclusion of different features and core capabilities.

I was speaking in terms of transportation. And as far as simple transportation goes, motorcycles tend to do it cheaper than cars (new at least, not speaking of the resell market) with better aspects in some areas (power to weight, speed, gas mileage, ) and worse in others (protection from elements, protection from other drivers, carrying capacity). Much like Macs and PCs serve the same basic purpose (computing) but differ in areas such as modification capabilities, software availability, price, etc...

So I guess what I'm saying is yeah, I'd fly and F-22 if I could.
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The Infamous Joe (profile), 23 Jul 2009 @ 10:03am

Crazy Talk
I feel I should preface this with the fact that I am a happy iPhone owner. (Jailbroken, of course!)

I just don't get what Apple is doing here. They no longer have DRM on their music, so there's no need to lock buying that music down with a (heavily bloated and nearly useless) application. (That I can't even run on Linux!)

It seems to me that they'd make more money if anyone with a web browser could open it up and buy music from them. Since they give away iTunes, there's no real sense in forcing me to use it, except that it's the only way to buy music from them.

Why intentionally limit their customer base?
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Jul 2009 @ 11:47am

Re: Re:
So... it's the legal system's fault that Apple is abusing it?

Go back to where you came from, fanboy.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Jul 2009 @ 12:28pm

fuck apple!
and all their shit!
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Jmotley (profile), 24 Jul 2009 @ 7:40am

Screw Apple
I'm cleaning this up a bit cause this is a public space but ___________________ Apple. I will never ever ever buy one of there products. They are seriously over priced. Why would any moron pay
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pavja2, 8 Aug 2009 @ 1:14pm

Hard times ahead for apple
Apple is swiftly andsurely coming to its downfall, jailbreaking will be made legal in a matter of weeks, google is developing apps for jailbreakers, flash still isnt on the iphone, chrome os is on its way and is going to do much harm to the windows apple world, and from the looks of it the SDK is coming to windows this year, but not from apple. I reccomend shorting some shares of aap
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voiture thermique, 26 Apr 2010 @ 7:57pm

crap
and all they bull crap.
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voiture thermique, 26 Apr 2010 @ 8:00pm

crap
and all they bull crap, sorry if this post comes out twice
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motoculteur, 18 Jun 2010 @ 5:21pm

agree
i agree with the comment above, it is a bunch of bull.
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