Seems that Apple Computer Inc’s ridiculous claims that Jailbreaking an iPhone breaks the law have been firmly rejected by the US Copyright Office and the Library of Congress. Apple attempted to hoodwink the US authorities by alleging that jailbreaking infringed its copyright because the process relies on pirated copies of the bootloader and operating system.
However, the decision announced 2010-07-26 by US Librarian of Congress James Billington, specifically adds jailbreaking to the list of practices that do not violate the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
“When one jailbreaks a smartphone in order to make the operating system on that phone interoperable with an independently created application that has not been approved by the maker of the smartphone or the maker of its operating system, the modifications that are made purely for the purpose of such interoperability are fair uses,” Marybeth Peters, Register of Copyrights, wrote in the ruling, approved by Mr Billington.
Ms Peters also rejected Apple’s 2009 claim that hacking the iPhone violated copyright law because the practice relied on pirated copies of the smartphone’s bootloader and operating system. Full story:-
http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=107913C8-1A64-67EA-E4D2905186EAFF34
http://www.copyright.gov/1201/2010/Librarian-of-Congress-1201-Statement.html
Sadly, Apple has made a complete ass of itself with this debacle. Attempting to force users to use only the software that Apple approves of makes as much sense as Ford telling you that you can only run your Ford Focus on roads that Ford approves of! Apple’s public image as a “fab & groovy” company that makes elegant, sophisticated products for free-thinking people is now severely and irreparably tarnished. But the news for Apple Computer Inc. is about to get much, much worse. Seems US chain Kmart will be retailing the new Gentiouch (an open source, Android-powered tablet computer) in the United States for under $150 (US) within the next few weeks:-
More information:-
Source:-
http://www.slashgear.com/augen-gentouch-78-149-android-tablet-headed-to-kmart-2795429/
As mentioned in a previous post, it seems the Gentouch is not the only generic touchpad on its way to a store near you! In addition to those under development in China, seems other developing nations are entering the fray. According to BBC News, an Indian company, with the help of the Indian Government plans to make & market a similar device for twenty five quid (about 35 bucks)!
I guess the good folks @ Apple Computer Inc. feel they have to “make hay while the sun shines“. Hence all the misinformation and restrictive practices in its unseemly scramble to fleece the punter for as much cash as possible. And poor old Steve Jobs is not a well man and no doubt feels his days are numbered anyway, poor fellow. So you cannot blame Apple for its “both front-feet in the trough” business strategy I suppose? But I fear Apple’s current prosperity will be short lived.
In any event, this is probably not a good time to buy shares in Apple Computer Inc. methinks! lol 🙂
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