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Inside Apple's iPhone SDK Gag Order

Posted by samzenpus on from the the-first-rule-of-iPhone dept.

snydeq writes "InfoWorld's Tom Yager takes a closer look at Apple's iPhone SDK confidentiality agreement, which restricts developers from discussing the SDK or exchanging ideas with others, thereby leaving no room for forums, newsgroups, open source projects, tutorials, magazine articles, users' groups, or books. But because anyone is free to obtain the iPhone SDK by signing up for it, Apple is essentially branding publicly available information as confidential. This 'puzzling contradiction' is the 'antithesis of the developer-friendly Apple Developer Connection' on which the iPhone SDK program is based, Yager contends. 'You'll see arguments from armchair legal analysts that the iPhone developer Agreements won't stand up in court — but those analysts certainly won't stand up in court on your behalf.' Anyone planning to launch an iPhone forum or open source project should have 'a lawyer draft your request for exemption, and make sure that the Apple staffer granting it personally commits to status as authorized to approve exceptions to the iPhone Registered Developer and iPhone SDK Agreements,' Yager warns."

4 of 495 comments (clear)

  1. Linux is illegal! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Linux is illegal! You are breaking the law, and hurting yourself and your family with your illegal software. Your IP has been noted and is being forwarded to the SPA with a recommendation that they investigate your criminal activity. Please destroy all your unpatriotic linux software before the government finally cracks down on you people and you all end up as lampshades or soap.

  2. Try not to choke. by Leftist+Troll · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Mac users know all about gag orders.

    1. Re:Try not to choke. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Would the fine folks who are currently DDOSing 4chan please stop so this idiot can go back where he belongs?

  3. Hmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Oddly enough winpwn 2.0 was released within minutes of this posting oO