Apple Cuts Off Under-18 Darwin Developer

Crispyking writes "Finlay Dobbie has been a leading contributor to the Darwin project, most notably helping track down the infamous PPP-hang bug. He's been nominated to become a Darwin contributor (which comes with limited check-in privileges) but when going through the process, Apple found out he's under 18 years old, and not only refused to let him be a contributor to this 'open source' project, but canceled his Apple Developer Connection membership (which gives him download access to the source code) on the grounds that because he's under 18, he can't be legally bound to the small-print agreement." Update: 03/26 00:26 GMT by P : Finlay wrote in email that he wasn't getting the Darwin source through his ADC account, but through a third party development project, which he resigned from as a result of all the red tape and the ADC account being disabled.

Comments

Re:So . .

[cbodine]

They should.

Welcome to the Open Source Movement , we will take anyone?

As long as you are a single white male over the age of 18 and under the age of 40
and have a love for the corporate giants that do stupid stuff like this.

Iam joking about the above , but it does bring up a point how open is open source.

I see where Apple is heading but it is just plain dumb.

Re:So . .

[mmaddox]

What's a house-elf to do!?

New Web Site

[pgpckt]

BEGIN MOCKING TONE

Welcome to the new Apple Teen Coder Site! Watch our barely legal teens respond to your commands! These young teens can code in PERL, Java, and even go down and dirty with all the C varients. Watch Our barely 18 teens sign NDAs on GPLed software. Download the movies to your Apple and IPod. Watch them as they help evolve Darwin!

Re:What about EULAs?

[AintTooProudToBeg]

Does this mean that minors
- cannot be prosecuted for violating NDAs
- can be prosecuting for using software they weren't granted rights to use under the EULA

On another note, has anyone ever tried returning their just opened copy of WindowsXP to CompUSA claiming that they don't agree to the EULA?

Re:What about EULAs?

[Fulcrum of Evil]

Show me some food that has a license agreement.

Monsanto Roundup.

You Eat that stuff?

The Apple sweatshop

[fmaxwell]

"Here with a News 7 exclusive is Senior Technology Reporter Jim Wright."

"Thank you Tom. It has just been revealed that Apple Computer, the corporate giant that manufactures the Macintosh computer line, has been using unpaid child labor to create the "operating system" that powers their successful computers. For those not familiar with the term, an operating system is a computer file that contains computer program instructions. These computer program instructions allow the computer system to operate -- hence the name "operating system."

According to sources close to the case, young Finlay Dobbie, has worked for hundreds of hours for Apple computer yet never received any pay. Apple, instead, has formed a cult-like group that refer to themselves as the "Open Source Movement." This group convinced Finlay and many others to spend countless hours writing and improving computer programs for Apple's operating system -- which Apple then sells at a tremendous profit.

When Finlay was released from the group, he staggered outside, pale, gaunt, and squinting his young eyes that have not seen sunlight in many months. I had trouble understanding what he was muttering exept for "pee, pee, pee" leaving this reporter wondering if Finlay's keepers have even been denying him the right to use a restroom.

Sources at Apple computer refused to return questions, stating that it was a matter being handled by their legal department.

Tom, back to you.

Re:Gotta Love Teenagers

[0xbaadf00d]

What are the parents of these kids lacing their children's Cheerios with that turns them into computer geniuses by the age of 6? Can you buy it at your local health food store? I'm 31, is it too late for it to work on me?

Sadly, no we can't...

[Art Tatum]

Love teenagers, go to jail. That's the law, unfortunately.

the infamous PPP-hang bug

[zaqattack911]

ppp bug? Who cares about that?!
Could someone please track down the Infamous "aqua won't run on x86" bug.

thanks.