Apple Declares DRM War On Sneaker Hackers

theodp writes "Nicholas Carr is not pleased that Apple has applied for a patent to extend DRM to tennis shoes and other articles of clothing. Apple apparently views tennis-shoe DRM as a way to head off a potential plague of sneaker hacking. 'Some people,' the patent application observes, 'have taken it upon themselves to remove the sensor from the special pocket of the [iPod-linked] Nike+ shoe and place it at inappropriate locations (shoelaces, for example) or place it on non-Nike+ model shoes.'"

Comments

The realm of what shouldn't be...

[Provos]

I'm not sure which is more ridiculous - the patent application or the fact that there's an iPod link in a shoe.

Re:The realm of what shouldn't be...

[cgenman]

It's still just a pedometer attached to a descently written application. There is no reason this would necessarily need to take place on an iPod or a Nike^TM brand shoe. This could just as easily be connecting a hip-mounted sensor to your Nokia.

Further than that, the GPS in the iPhone should make that pretty much obsolete. Heck, use the GPS to detect distance, the built in accelerometer to detect impact, and the built in network connection to upload your data in realtime to a web server tracking your workouts. Suddenly you know exactly how far you went in exactly how many steps, and can compare that to a history of everything you've done at the gym on other machines. Gratuitous shoe tie-in not required.

I think that's the rub, really. The patent is entirely gratuitous. The only reason that patents like this exists is to prevent other shoe makers from creating compatible shoes, and to prevent other exercise software makers from creating compatible systems. The patent exists only to stifle competition from interacting, as the systems have basically no merit on their own. Apple's own description is that the patent exists to stop legitimate competition. That just doesn't seem like the original intention of the patent system.

Re:The realm of what shouldn't be...

[Anonymous Coward]

While the shoe connects with the iPod to do data acquisition, and you can track your workout on the iPod, you can also share your workout stats with others, help build community, etc - sort of the antithesis of the "isolated runner with headphones on" kind of thing. Very Web 2.0.

Except for that whole headphones-on-ensuring-no-one-talks-to-you-and-you're-not-as-aware-of-your-surroundings-as-an-average-person thing. I love it how people use new technology to isolate themselves socially from their surroundings and then consider themselves more connected, when whatever communication is usually to people much farther away and about shit of no real importance - no better topics than you could have with an average stranger and much less interesting and thought-provoking exchanges than you could have with a lot of the people around you. I mean I pretend to use my iPhone when crazy homeless guy on the Muni (bus) starts talking to me, but outside of the obviously insane it's kind of sad that an already socially inept country like America is becoming even more socially isolated outside of bars, schools, stadiums, work, and the internet. Pretty soon the Scandinavians will start looking like Brazilians compared to us in terms being socially welcoming.

Re:The realm of what shouldn't be...

[davester666]

"Pretty sure the patent app is only to satisfy their branding agreement with Nike."

Unfortunately, I don't think so, giving the other wacky thing they done. To get video-out, which is an advertised feature of the iPod, you need to buy an adapter. However, Apple changed their implementation from just patching the iPod plug to video-plugs, to requiring a little DRM chip that tells the iPod the cable manufacturer paid an extra fee. So, if you actually want to use the feature that you have already paid for, you have to pay an extra, hidden Apple-tax to do so.

Beware of those "acting in your best interest"

[nathan.fulton]

What is it with evilness generally claiming that they have to protect the stupid halfwits from themselves? Apple's patent app:
"Since only authorized garments are configured to electronically pair with authenticated sensors, a user (or manufacturer) can be assured that the sensing data received by the sensor is both accurate and consistent with its intended use (a sensor designed for use with running shoes can not properly be used with dance shoes, for example)."

Dear Corporate World:
We are not complete tools... we can take care of ourselves. Believe it or not, we know the difference between dancing and running.
Thanks Much
-Consumers of the World.

Re:Bye-bye Apple

[Lord Kano]

I was exclusively a Mac user from 1990 through 1997. From 1997 through 2000 I was a three platform user. Windows for games, Mac for art and linux for servers. Steve Jobs' return to Apple crushed the core of the spirit that made me a loyal user. My computer is not a status symbol. It's not a lifestyle choice. It's not a part of my image. It's a tool. When Apple shifted back to the current "Image above all else" mode, I went to Win/Lin PCs. I don't have the time of the money to stroke Steve Jobs' ego.

LK