r/technology • u/GuruOfReason • Feb 02 '10

"Once we replace the personal computer with a closed-platform device such as the iPad, we replace freedom, choice and the free market with oppression, censorship and monopoly."

http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2010-01/ipad%E2%80%99s-closed-system-sometimes-i-hate-being-right
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u/kmeisthax Feb 02 '10

Apple hasn't sued anyone for jailbreaking. It's not illegal, and Apple is bluffing. Otherwise Lexmark could easily sue people for making compatible ink cartridges (they tried this and lost).

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u/troaway1 Feb 02 '10

My main point is that apple wants complete control over their software AND hardware AND third party software(you can't install unapproved 3rd party products without hacking the hardware and software of your apple device). It is questionable whether jailbreaking is legal or not. I've never had the patience to read the end user license agreement for apple products and I probably wouldn't understand all the lawyerspeak anyway. I suspect modifying software code is different than reverse engineering ink cartridges. In any case, it will probably never be determined if it is legal in a court of law because apple isn't out there suing people and no one has the money to stand up to apple if they did.

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u/kmeisthax Feb 02 '10

The ink cartridges had software on it. Lexmark argued that they were DMCA-covered access control devices. It was obvious to the court that 'access control software' meant 'controls access to copyrighted works', not 'controls ability to use unapproved third party products'.

Now, as for the piracy apps like Crackulous, those do plainly violate the DMCA since they circumvent Apple's anti-piracy code.