|
|
| |
March 14, 2005Apple's shameful lawsuit against their blogging fans“A California judge ruled on Friday that Apple Computer could force bloggers to turn over e-mails from their sources inside the company, which leaked sensitive information about Apple's new products.” My, my, how things have changed. Apple used to be known as the cutting razor edge of technology. Early incarnations like the Apple II, the Lisa, and the Apple III sparked lots of consumer interest, certainly enough to make for black entries in the books. The Macintosh turned the world on its ear, and made home computing, long promised, a legitimate and affordable option. Of course, we all know what happened next. IBM paved the way for personal computers to be clones of Big Blue itself, opening the doors to an opportunist named Bill Gates. Apple saw its market share start to slide, eventually turning into a landslide that threatened the company’s existence. Through it all, Apple’s fans were the most rabid in the computing world. Commodore, Atari, and Sinclair had their nostalgic buffs who kept the dreams alive, but APPLE fans were the ones you didn’t mess with! Just write something less than complimentary about Apple, and watch out! The loyal would make your posterior look like a well-done rump roast. Now, the tide has turned for the Apple empire. The iPod, the iMac, and the Mac Mini are major hits, and Windows users weary of being hacked, worm-exploited, and spyware-infected are buying Apples in droves. Through it all, the good and the bad, the fans have supported their beleaguered company. How are they rewarded? With a lawsuit for “leaking” “confidential” product info. Mr. Jobs, THAT is exactly what your fans have done FOR YEARS! Up until now, it has been to your company’s benefit. The alleged leaks that you are so furiously pursuing apparently did no harm whatsoever to Apple, in fact they probably just whetted consumer appetites, contributing to (all together now) HIGHER PROFITS! Steve, you should be ashamed of the legal action that is ensuing. PUT A STOP TO IT! Posted by baldguy at March 14, 2005 03:11 PM |
|
Comments
The rumors aren't just fun and games. Read this: http://daringfireball.net/2005/01/the_rumor_game
Posted by: DBird | March 22, 2005 08:27 AM
I am pretty sure that if Apple does not pursue things, that can be held against them later. IBM lost an OS that way in the 80s I think.
Rumors - Fine. Getting inside info from Apple employees? Not fine. Apple needed to put some serious scare into employees leaking stuff. They have too much riding on things now, unlike 4-5 years ago when they had nothing to lose.
Posted by: Steve | March 22, 2005 11:55 AM
i'd rather have leaks, even better if it was managed properly. banning 'leaks' would be the same as banning 'teaser trailers'.
Posted by: Alex | March 22, 2005 02:39 PM
I'm with you, Alex. Are fans going to be afraid to talk about Apple's next blockbuster release?
Posted by: Ron Enderland | March 24, 2005 06:48 AM
The most shameful thing in this article is the misleading title. Apple is not suing their fans. They are taking legal action to obtain the names of the people within their organization who violated their non-disclosure agreements. Apple has a right to expect people on the inside to abide by those agreements, just as any other company does. The handful of INDIVIDUALS with the names of the those leaking info are refusing to give up their sources, claiming they are entitled to the same source-confidentiality privileges as the regular media. Apple is challenging that in court. It is a handful of INDIVIDUALS that are the defendants in the suit. Should Apple win, those individuals will merely be required to turn over information that will lead Apple to the people who betrayed the company's trust. That's a far cry from your reckless "lawsuit-against-their-fans" title.
To justify the breach of contract by saying it will ultimately help Apple financially misses the point entirely. Regardless, Apple knows perfectly well how to market its products. It doesn't need leaks from within to do that. And for the record, leaks do not benefit a company finacially. New products sell best when the buzz is at its peak. That's where Apple's marketing department comes in. Product announcements and releases are carefully timed to take maximum advantage of the hype. Also, leaks tip off competitors of new innovations and give them more time to get competing products ready. To say these leaks are going to help Apple is as misguided as the title of this article.
Posted by: Mac | March 25, 2005 12:53 AM