EFF Sues Apple Over BluWiki Legal Threats

Hugh Pickens writes "The Electronic Frontier Foundation has filed suit against Apple to defend the First Amendment rights of BluWiki, a noncommercial, public Internet 'wiki' site operated by OdioWorks. Last year, BluWiki users began a discussion about making some Apple iPods and iPhones interoperate with software other than Apple's iTunes. Apple lawyers demanded removal of the content (pdf) sending a letter to OdioWorks, alleging that the discussions constituted copyright infringement and a violation of the DMCA's prohibition on circumventing copy protection measures. Fearing legal action by Apple, OdioWorks took down the discussions from the BluWiki site but has now filed a lawsuit to vindicate its right to restore those discussions (pdf) and seeking a declaratory judgment that the discussions do not violate any of the DMCA's anti-circumvention provisions, and do not infringe any copyrights owned by Apple. 'I take the free speech rights of BluWiki users seriously,' said Sam Odio, owner of OdioWorks. 'Companies like Apple should not be able to censor online discussions by making baseless legal threats against services like BluWiki that host the discussions.'" Random BedHead Ed adds ZDNet quotes EFF's Fred von Lohmann, who says that this is an issue of censorship. 'Wikis and other community sites are home to many vibrant discussions among hobbyists and tinkerers. It's legal to engage in reverse engineering in order to create a competing product, it's legal to talk about reverse engineering, and it's legal for a public wiki to host those discussions.'"

Comments

Re:What's the Story

[David Gerard]

Indeed. Facts, pfeh! You can use "facts" to prove anything that's remotely true.

Re:This is how we negotiate

[maxume]

Grammar advice is best dispensed from a house with sturdy brick walls.

Re:First Amendment

[Jurily]

Censorship is nothing but just that: Outlawing certain information, or the spreading thereof.

The Thought Police has noted your contribution. Thank you for your input, citizen.

P.S. You have three minutes. I suggest you start running.

Re:Apple

[Jurily]

Anal rape in every box.

Where can I get one for my ex?

Re:Why do these idiots keep buying iPods

[Anonymous Coward]

DRM and DMCA, baby.

Don't you love the USA?

Re:First Amendment

[Yvan256]

Dear Thought Police. You have made public the response time of our units.

P.S.: your office doors are now locked, no need to run. We'll be there shortly.

Re:First Amendment

[Jurily]

P.S.: your office doors are now locked, no need to run. We'll be there shortly.

Tell them to be careful, I ate beans yesterday.

Re:What's the Story

[Cajun Hell]

Yeah, that's my complaint about the EFF too. They're so biased against abusing law to fuck innocent people over. Why don't they ever advocate the other side, explaining that freedom is a bad thing and we need to pass more laws for the purpose of harming the public? I'm getting sick and tired of these people always being so consistently anti-evil. EFF is so predictably transparent.

Re:First Amendment

[Opportunist]

I will not run. Kill me if you have to, dying as a free man is better than living the life of a slave.

Re:First Amendment

[daid303]

I ate beans yesterday.

We know.

Re:First Amendment

[Thaelon]

Clever. Now all they have to do is look for the guy that just started running.

Re:!streissandeffect

[ivucica]

Who on the other platforms WANTS zunes to work on non-Windows platforms? ;)

Re:w00t for the EFF

[DoofusOfDeath]

So thank them.

But then it wouldn't be thankless. Are you trying to put the poor sap into a race condition???

Re:Thank you, Spartacus

[MadnessASAP]

Our studies have shown that the use of large words and complex sentences upset the citizens, please refrain from further violations. Furthermore we advise you to lay down on the floor, assume the party position and await the arrival of the happiness officers.