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Apple Sues Three For 'Tiger' Posting on Web (UPDATE)

Apple Sues Three For 'Tiger' Posting on Web (UPDATE)

by , 3:50 PM EST, December 21st, 2004

Apple Computer has filed suit against three individuals it alledges posted illegal test versions of its next version of Mac OS X, code-named "Tiger", it was reported Tuesday.

The Reuters news agency reported (link attribution: MacMinute) the three unidenitifed men, members of Apple Developer Connection, posted copies of the operating system on the Internet on or about Oct. 30 and Dec. 8 of this year in BitTorrent format.

"Members of Apple Developer Connection receive advance copies of Apple software under strict confidentiality agreements, which we take very seriously to protect our intellectual property," the company said in its civil complaint. "Apple's future operating results and financial condition are substantially dependent on its ability to continue to develop improvements to the Mac OS and related software applications in order to maintain perceived design and functional advantages over competing platforms."

The lawsuit was filed on Monday in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, San Jose.

On Dec. 13 Apple filed a lawsuit against unnamed individuals who leaked details about new products by posting information on the Internet. As reported first by TMO on Monday, Apple was granted a request to serve subpoenas on three Mac rumor Web sites seeking information on who leaked facts about an un-announced audio hardware product code named "Asteroid" or "Q97".

"Apple has filed a civil complaint against three individuals who posted prerelease versions of Mac OS X version 10.4 'Tiger' to a file-swapping website," Apple said in a statement provided to The Mac Observer. "Members of Apple Developer Connection receive advance copies of Apple software under strict confidentiality agreements, which we take very seriously to protect our intellectual property."

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:Guest
Subject: All of sudden, the Mothership is leaking...

Why the heck are these leaks happening?

Opportunity? Greed? Self aggrandizement? Financial? What?

Ah well, one can suppose this is a rhetorical question...

Guest, since 1989 - LC II, 6100, Bondi Blue iMac, LCD iMac

Close Name:SWFan Posts: 484 Joined: 23 Jan 2002
Subject: Re: All of sudden, the Mothership is leaking...

Quote
Anonymous wrote:
Why the heck are these leaks happening?



Its happening for nothing more than bragging rights. These folks want other people to know they got the goods before anyone else.

Close Name:Mace Posts: 9604 Joined: 07 Aug 2003
Subject:

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Bit Torrent BAH

Oh cmon, im a student developer, its $99 and they send you FREE COPIES OF THE CURRENT OPERATING SYSTEM AND FREE COPIES OF ALL SUBSEQUENT OSes to be created. Im a member until MAY of 05 so Ill get Tiger for free, and if I wished I could DL the test versions off of http://developer.apple.com.

As for Bit Torrent, those guys (though they have made it almost impossible to be anyone but a regular software pirater, not that there is anything wrong with pirating software) over at MacTorrentsKickAss.com have ALWAYS had test and PreGold versions of the latest OSes, obviously from developers. And to be honest, apple shouldnt give a $#!%, its BETA TESTING SOFTWARE, and not the retail versions, so who cares who uses it.

Now when the developers, like me, get our hands on our free copy of Tiger, and then post it to BitTorrent, yeah then get mad, but &#%! YOU &#%! i bought yer &#%! machine i aint buying another OS, ill just goto an Apple store, make frends and get their copies they have in the back to load onto the test and floor models. HINT HINT.


[edited for language - bweels]

Close Name:Guest
Subject:

Quote
Guest wrote:


As for Bit Torrent, those guys (though they have made it almost impossible to be anyone but a regular software pirater, not that there is anything wrong with pirating software)


Why, that's so much like stealing that it's... stealing!

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