Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Apple Gets Testy About GUI

Posted by Hemos on from the look-and-feel-all-over-again dept.

ShogZilla writes "Apple threatened Skinz.org (a windows "skins" site) & Stardock (makers of the win32 app "windowblinds") with legal action if a certain skin The problem? The skin (winaqua) alters WinOS window frames to mimic the Mac OS Aqua appearance - kinda. It's very altered, the graphics are custom, & the layout is different - but that doesn't appear to matter. After the threat, both sites initially complied, but have reconsidered & have reposted the skin; it does not use any graphics from aqua, it does not contain any mac logos etc; it's an original work - just inspired by the aqua GUI. " I'm still waiting for an Aqua theme for E - Aqua just looks so darn /purty/.

6 of 579 comments (clear)

  1. Strange by Imperator · · Score: 5
    Why is it that Microsoft never has any trouble with anyone copying their GUI? You'd think with all the innovations they make in Windows Technology, they'd be suing some of the Linux longhairs for violating their intellectual property rights.

    :)

    --

    Gates' Law: Every 18 months, the speed of software halves.
  2. We should protect *some* artistic creations. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5

    A computer graphics professional should be able to protect his work, like any artist, against someone who creates a cheap rip-off. The Aqua interface (IMO) is beautiful, and the result of many hours of hard work, trial-and-error processes, refinements, etc.. That kind of investment doesn't deserve to be stolen by some mediocre photoshop kiddie who watched the MWSF keynote address and said "Hey, good idea, I think I'll swipe it."

    Gross.

  3. Re:It's really a shame, nah by SlashDread · · Score: 5

    Yes, Apple deserves to be able to protect their GUI. _If_ you define the GUI as the total of theme+window manager. In Apples case this means, theme+window manager+kernel.

    Does Apple have the right to protect a 'theme'?
    No, it does not. There are countless references to this, unless the copycat _duplicates_ an art _exactly_, this is when copyrights kick in, "design" an sich, is not protected.
    Relevant court material can probably be found in the Apple vs Microsoft "look and feel" case.

    Is it funny that Apple can protect their hardware looks, but not their software looks?

    Not really, just on the surface perhaps, but the fact is, Hardware lookalikes will directly impact Apple sales, this can be prooven.
    Software lookalikes will have NO IMPACT whatsoever on Apple sales, UNLESS the COMPLETE OS will be copied. I cannot imagine an Apple Artist buying a windowz workstation, JUST because theres an aqua theme. Its therefore utterly stupid to fight themes.

    It also contradicts the recent Apple "willingness and flirtations" with Open Source. It therefore is not even from a marketing viewpoint sensible. What? Open Sourcing the (parts of) OS but sueing on a theme?? Get a grip.

    (This should get through the ThickBoned Head of Marketing guru Jobs.)

    Greetz SlashDread

  4. Ownership of the 'look-and-feel'? by rawhide · · Score: 5

    How can one stake ownership to the aesthetic feel that a theme provides to it's underlying window manager. A theme by today's standards provides no more than this.

    In my opinion, the real situation would be different if the themes in question were able to provide functionality that could emulate the MacOS, but they cannot. They neither acheive this nor reproduce copyrighted material of Apple.

    What would follow next if Apple succeeded in their petty argument, would web designers be able to sue other sites for coding, from scratch, a site that has the same look and feel as their own?

    Perhaps Apple should be quiet and accept the fact that if people are going to the trouble of creating look-alike themes from scratch, then they are both advertising Apple's original OS existance and advertising how cool it is (Aqua, cool :).

    I neither use nor endorse Apple products, I find a bitter aftertaste from using previous products of theirs. But like many others, I find the existance of themes representing (read: merely looking-alike) the MacOS system making me more and more curious as to how 'cool' the original platform is.

    Perhaps because of these theme's creations, I may even purchase a new Mac since I have almost tried before I've buyed...

    --
    Cow of ThirdEye
  5. New Apple Slogan.. by drwiii · · Score: 5

    "Think Different. Or else."

  6. (OT) Irony by Bob+Ince · · Score: 5
    Alanis Morrisette doesn't know what Irony is either: "Rain on your wedding day" is not ironic.

    Nah, nah, nah, you've got it all wrong, mate.

    That none of the allegedly ironic examples given in the song are actually ironic is deliberate. It's ironic that the song, called Ironic, is not ironic, thus making the song ironic. Thus the non-ironic song is thus very ironic, which is itself doubly ironic, or meta-ironic... er... or something.

    Therefore Alanis is not a silly moo at all, but in fact very clever. Unless she really is dumb and is just being ironic about it all.


    --
    This comment was brought to you by And Clover.