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Apple Claims Ownership of Shareware

(54)T-Dub writes "Cricket Media recently released 'Netflix Fanatic', an OSX based shareware app that lets you manage your rental queue without logging on to Netflix. An article on Think Secret reveals the reason behind it's mysterious disappearance. Apparently the developer's employer, Apple, has claimed ownership over the application's name and source code. The developer claims that under Section 2870 of the California Labor Code this is illegal. The law states that if a company has an employment agreement with provisions saying employees must assign the rights of their inventions to their employer, those sections do not apply if the employee developed it on his or her own time, without using the employer's equipment, supplies, facilities, or trade secret information. Within Apple, there's unsubstantiated speculation that Apple wants to include the Netflix Fanatic code in a new version of Sherlock." Also, they're presumably not too worried with employee morale.

21 of 759 comments (clear)

  1. apple? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    more like CRAPPLE am i rite folks?

    1. Re:apple? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      *rimshot*

      Fuckin' genius, man. That's a classic!

    2. Re:apple? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Please try to keep posts on topic.
      Try to reply to other people's comments instead of starting new threads.
      Read other people's messages before posting your own to avoid simply duplicating what has already been said.
      Use a clear subject that describes what your message is about.
      Offtopic, Inflammatory, Inappropriate, Illegal, or Offensive comments might be moderated. (You can read everything, even moderated posts, by adjusting your threshold on the User Preferences Page)
      If you want replies to your comments sent to you, consider logging in or creating an account.

  2. Another Idiotic Rambling Apple Bashing Story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Yawn.

  3. Why not in the Apple section? by waitigetit · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Why is this story not in the Apple section? Do only positive stories go there or something?

    --
    I could care less, but not without a lobotomy
  4. Application for new tub girl. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    After Eugina Loli Queru, aka Tubgirl left for a job in Linux consolting. We now have a position for a new tub girl. Job description and duties : To perform various acrobatics in a bath tub while shitting overyourself. Candidates must
    • Have at least 2 years linux experience
    • Have experience of online forums
    • 3 Years trolling Experience
    This postion pays 10 Euros/h. Please send all resumes, CVs and portfolios to careers@tubgirl.com. No Phonecalls, Agencies, or Apple Zealots.
  5. I'm a Republican! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Oh, I'm a Republican
    I got a small schling
    I like to bomb niggahs
    and make a lot o' bling

    I got a bunch o' friends
    in high up places
    They helps me get dem
    government graces.

    You think I'm smart
    I just know who's who
    I couldn't run a fruit stand
    without the red white & blue

    I fancy myself
    A brilliant tactician
    But neither me nor m'buddies
    Could even pass basic trainin'

    See, I'm above all that
    A fightin' and shootin'
    I just say "Sic em!"
    Then run the other direction

    Don't need no history
    Don't need no schoolin'
    I got my ideology
    To keep me a shootin'

    Liberals! Faggots!
    Commies and queers!
    Socialist hippies
    Full o' pussy tears!

    I'll drop some crap
    about Jesus the Christ
    You'll buy it all
    and vote for me twice

    'Fact, Jesus is comin'!
    Real soon, now!
    So we gotta prop up Israel
    That ol' sacred cow

    Propaganda's m'friend
    But I calls it "fact"
    Even though I don't read
    'Cept for Chick tracts

    Facts? No! Don't need em here!
    We're conservatives! We work on FEAR!
    Don't like what we say?
    Well FUCK YOU, bud!
    We'll shove it down yer throat
    and tell ya it's good!

  6. Time to switch to Linux. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Throw out that $3000 cheese Grater and buy your self a nice Linux box, but don't switch to Redhat, Gnome or Debian, they are evil too.

  7. Time to switch to Linux. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
  8. Re:Apple compote by mirko · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    BTW, /. just rejected the following submission :
    Apple just released a new 20 inch TFT iMac (other specs remain close to the existing 17 inch model. They also released a new bi-1.8GHz G5 Powermac.

    This is whhat I called "innovation" : a cheap but powerful iMac with a 20" inch screen.

    Would they rather call them evil than seducing ?

    --
    Trolling using another account since 2005.
  9. Re:code in your own time - not your own product??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    This is a true story. It was nearly seventeen years ago that i began my training as Mistress Michelle's sex slave. i was twenty-four when i signed myself over to Her and not really that experienced sexually. But i was eager to explore new sexual horizons and expand my limits. i wanted to be degraded and humiliated, and i asked Mistress Michelle to do this to me. She realized my submissive nature and eagerly accepted me as one of Her slaves.

    The phone rang and i jumped. i always jumped whenever the phone rang now. i was a slave and the property of Mistress Michelle. It was my duty to serve Her and to please Her in any manner possible. Of course, i had a new reason to be on edge, for a little more than a month now, Mistress Michelle had started me on a new training program, she was training me to fuck her dog. Yes, i'm talking about bestiality. Yes, i'm an animal fuck slave. i guess most people would be embarrassed if they had to admit that they've fucked more animals than women in their life, but as a slave, i've come to be proud of my accomplishments. I have in fact only used my penis eleven times in my life to fuck women; i've used it to fuck animals a good fifteen hundred to two thousand times. There's a reason for this which you'll learn as you continue reading.

    It all began one day when Mistress Michelle called me up on the phone and told me to come over to Her place. When She let me in, it was to find that two of Her female friends where there with her. "gary, I have a problem, " my Mistress suddenly told me, "My dog, Duchess, went into heat and I don't want to have her fixed and deprive her of a sex life, but at the same time, don't want her to get pregnant fucking other dogs." She paused for a moment before continuing. "The solution is obvious - train a slave to fuck her and satisfy her sexual needs." i looked at Her blankly, "I've chosen you for this privilege!" i was shocked, i didn't know what to say. Mistress Michelle and Her friends were leering at me and began to laugh. i realized that i had an erection and my dick was throbbing wildly upon hearing the news. i knew immediately that i was going to do it - i also knew that's why Mistress Michelle chose me for this! "This position is permanent!" She went on, "I intend to fully train you as My dog fucker, you'll fuck other animals as well, but you'll fuck only animals from this moment on. I'm going to have you sign a contract agreeing only to fuck animals for the rest of your life!" "Yes, Mistress." i stammered. It's not everyday a slave has such mind blowing news is dropped upon them. But there comes a time in every slave's life where he or she is given an opportunity to truly submit themselves to their Master's or Mistress' will. This was my chance to prove myself worthy of my Mistress and to show Her i was completely Her slave and committed to satisfying Her desires. She produced the new contract i was to sign. i read it aloud while the three women listened. my voice cracked as i read the line in which i agreed to only fuck animals for the remainder of my life. The women watched as i signed the document before them. i knew that as i touched the pen to the paper that i would keep my word. i'm sure other slaves have made this same agreement, but even so, i have never met one. There were actually three copies. Mistress Michelle kept one and gave a copy to each of Her friends to hold as Her witnesses. Then one of Her other slaves brought Her dog, Duchess, into the room. Needless to say, a few minutes later, i found myself with my cock firmly planted inside the dog's body. Fucking the animal while my Mistress and Her friends watched and laughed at me brought me a new sense of freedom i had never experienced with any other form of sex. At last, my Mistress had found a purpose and use for my penis, and as the next few years passed, i realized that this was the reason i was born with one in the first place.

    Anyhow, back to my story. The phone rang. i knew my Mistress was throwing a party this weekend for a couple dozen of her friends and She t

  10. I'm a Democrat! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Oh, I'm a Democrat
    I.ve got no small schling
    I like to bomb niggahs
    and make a lot o' bling

    I got a bunch o' friends
    in high up places
    They helps me get dem
    government graces.

    You think I'm smart
    I just know who's who
    I couldn't run a fruit stand
    without the red white & blue

    I fancy myself
    A brilliant tactician
    But neither me nor m'buddies
    Could even pass basic trainin'

    See, I'm above all that
    A fightin' and shootin'
    I just say "Sic em!"
    Then run the other direction

    Don't need no history
    Don't need no schoolin'
    I got my ideology
    To keep me a shootin'

    Christians! Straights!
    Free marketeers!
    Anti-Communist douche bags
    Full o' pussy tears!

    I'll drop some hate
    about Jesus the Christ
    You'll buy it all
    and vote for me twice

    'Fact, Jesus is a scam'!
    Just like 'Nam!
    So we gotta prop up Israel
    That ol' sacred cow

    Propaganda's m'friend
    But I calls it "fact"
    Even though I don't read
    'Cept for Chick tracts

    Facts? No! Don't need em here!
    We're liberals! We work on HATE!
    Don't like what we say?
    Well FUCK YOU, bud!
    We'll call you racist and a homophobe
    while we shove it down yer throat
    and tell ya it's good!

  11. Re:Shocking... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    You'll get modded down for this!

    slashdot staff

  12. Re:Program under a psudoname by TopShelf · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    The poor sap shoulda posted as AC, eh?

    --
    Stop by my site where I write about ERP systems & more
  13. Switch to Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I was writing Apple Software when all of a sudden Xcode went beepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbe epbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeep. And my 5000 ObjC file was gone. I had to rewrite again and it wasn't as good. Then I Switched to Debian gnu/Linux, and life was good.

    I'm Co Ward, And I am a Linux Zealot.

  14. Re:That's how it works... by lowmagnet · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    And I still don't use stickies. What a dumb application. "Let's model something from the real world but on the monitor!" Yeah, right. You have to LAUNCH the stickies app for it to show your stickies. Not very handy. If it were a built-in to the WM, I'd use it all the time, though. Attaching certain stickies to windows would be better than a separate application that does just stickies.

    --
    Heute die Welt, morgen das Sonnensystem!
  15. WHOO HOO! by suso · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Yea! This is my first mod 5 comment in weeks. The past 20 or so comments I have made have just fallen by the way side I guess. Or, something is wrong with slashdot.

  16. Re:Are they psychic? by Sivaram_Velauthapill · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    This has nothing to do with capitalism. There isn't a real capitalist economy on the planet, just as there isn't a real communist economy or a real socialist economy.

    I agree that we aren't practicing PURE capitalism. However, countries like USA are on the path towards pure capitalism. It is more capitalistic than ever. It has more "free" markets, has open capital flow, financial systems, etc that go along with capitalism.

    USA (or for that matter most other countries) may not be practicing pure capitalism. But it is closer to capitalism any others. If it is not capitalism, then what is USA practicing? (Read my whole post first). Merchantilism? You mention things like pseudo-socialism, fascism, and plutocracy, but these are minor traits. USA practices more capitalism than these other competing systems.

    What do you say to people like me who theorize that free markets and capitalism will lead to oligopolies and monopolies? I believe that the so-called free market will lead to oligopolies or monopolies (if you want detailed view of why, let me know: I'm willing to type it up :) ). Essentially you will end up with large corporations controlling every aspect of life. The world is moving in that direction. You can already get a sense of that by observing how some corporations are already bigger than most of the small countries. Or how a few corporations dominate many sectors (eg. media, military weapons, oil, movies, cars, computers, etc). Things will just get worse. All you need are for a few of these corporations to merge a few more times (so far, anti-monopoly laws block these mergers but just wait until they are stricken down).

    Anyway, under my theory, you will end up with what I call corporatism (I guess somewhat akin what you are calling corporte feudalism, although under my view, the system will be very "democratic" (in the veins of the present) and everyone will be "free" (as in American Dream: free to do whatever but only a few succeed and those that do control everything)).

    What all this means is that the end-result is closer to capitalism than any other system. Even purists like you will probably count it as capitalism when it happens. Markets will be totally free, property rights will be strongly enforced, no corporate taxes, government intervention will not exist, etc. It's capitalism as capitalists like you want it to be. It's your dream except for one thing: instead of many little businesses ruling, you'll end up with a few large corporations. You might not want to call it capitalism but it will be for millions of people like me and others. In the end that's all that matters.

    What does all this have to do with the original message? Well, the people who control the current system are capitalists. If a few corporations start ruling it must NECESSARILY be considered as capitalism. After all, if the CATO institute, perhaps the most powerful economic-oriented political body in the world right now, is driving USA (and other countries), then is it not capitalism? CATO institute doesn't get all what it wants. However, the fact that they are the most powerful body means that they influence the government the most (especially the right wing) and the corporations.

    All the guys influencing the government, corporations, etc are CAPITALISTS. Read any economic book, or any speech given to CEOs, or what influences management (eg. Forbes, Wall Street Journal, etc) and you'll find that the capitalists have the power. If capitalists aren't running the show then who is? If USA isn't on the path towards capitalism, where is it headed? If Milton Friedman (God of capitalism) isn't influencing the world, who is? Karl Marx?

    To put it plainly, USA is practicing capitalism! It may not be pure capitalism but it is a whole lot closer to it than communism, socialism, anarchism, theocracy, monarchy or any other competiting systems.

    Having said this, capitalism is going to collapse

    --
    Sivaram Velauthapillai
    Seeking the meaning of life... @slashdot of all places ;)
  17. Re:Apple compote by mirko · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Not exactly : if the main topic of this story had been YRO, I'd have avoided it as I do not care about issues which mostly happen over the Atlantic Ocean.

    Now, the topic was Apple, hence the expectation.
    I do not exactly stand as a fan boy, Or maybe am I emphatical about most thing I will editorialize... :)

    --
    Trolling using another account since 2005.
  18. Re:Apple compote by j-turkey · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    Now, the topic was Apple, hence the expectation. I do not exactly stand as a fan boy, Or maybe am I emphatical about most thing I will editorialize... :)

    I hear what you're saying...but when there's an MS, or maybe more pertinently, a SCO story -- you surely can't expect it to be all cheers for SCO, no?

    Not exactly : if the main topic of this story had been YRO, I'd have avoided it as I do not care about issues which mostly happen over the Atlantic Ocean.

    What are you saying? That things happen on the eastern side of the Atlantic? ;)

    --Turkey
    --

    -Turkey

  19. Re:Apple compote by mirko · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I do not read SCO nor MS story, except when they announce new stuff.
    The longhorn stories were interesting, after all.

    But well, yeah, things happen my side of the Ocean : for example, Swiss people won the America Cup in 2003, which is... wow, especially for such a tiny mountain nation !

    --
    Trolling using another account since 2005.