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iCommune Retools Itself as Standalone Open Source App
Doctor Beavis writes "As noted previously, Apple ordered developer James Speth to return his iTunes software developer kit and to stop distributing the iCommune plug-in for iTunes. Today, CNET has a story with further details and developments. Speth said that he will honor Apple's request to stop distributing his software, but he will build the same features into a standalone application. The next version of iCommune will work with iTunes and potentially other digital music players and will use Rendezvous, Apple's implementation of a protocol for automatic discovery of network-connected devices. Speth also said that the new version will be Open Source under the GPL."
XDarwin is open source. Aqua is not.
So, their window manager is not, that doesn't mean the OS isn't.
Safari's core is open source. The layout is not. Hmm... I notice a pattern.
Apple "steals" code from Open source projects who agree to these terms, make the backend better, leave that open, but makes their interface closed (and much better)
Now this guy used the iTools SDK, develops something the terms said he couldn't, and he's the hero? Apple obeys the terms of the license, this guy didn't.
It's not also about competition, I refer you to the case of X11 on OS X.
It seems to me that Apple was just trying to protect their own flank in this one. I mean, they're already getting flack from the dark side for strongly supporting a format which allows easy copying of copyrighted material, and now a guy comes along and takes one of their programs and turns it into something where the blatant purpose is simply copying music. Of course they came down on him, because they don't want to get hit themselves. It's not their responsibility when a person writes a third-party trading app and makes it run on OS X, but when their own programs are being used for the purpose, their butts are in the bulls-eye. Frankly, I think they've been doing a very good job of supporting the free music movement, but I certainly don't expect them to become the new champions. After all, they are a company, and their biggest responsiblity has to be to their investors. Law-suits cause stock prices to drop. Pure and simple.