Apple Bans iFixit Developer Account and Removes App After Apple TV Teardown

[Kroo]

IMO, this is a legal gray zone. While there is a confidentially agreement with the existing Apple TV beta, iFixIt is a journalism site.

There are many court cases where journalists have been off the hook from any liability on breaking confidentially on grounds of First Amendment. In fact, Apple's actions could be viewed as an vengeful act. It was Apple's mistake to send an Apple TV beta to a developer that's a known journalist. Was the Apple TV beta developer list generated from the lottery reviewed by personnel or was it just sent off to a distribution center?

If any attorney starting their career is interested in making a name for themselves, taking on Apple on this issue pro-bono or share of settlement could be a good one.

What bull. NDA's are clear and airtight. Any dumb lawyer wanting to lose would take your advice. Everyone should remember the old saying, don't bite the hand that feeds you. Why do people think they're entitled to breach confidences and non disclosure agreements? Oh, that's right. This generation are entitled to whatever they want. Silly me.

 

[Mascots]

I don't understand why they couldn't have waited...

I know it's exciting, but as a major publication with exposure along with the in-depth review of every component, I think airing on the safe side should have been priority.

 

[Yebubbleman]

This makes me both sad and angry. Why ban an entire development account? Seems to me that it would make more sense to put a ban on all pre-release software/hardware instead.

 

[J. Jizzle]

Apple did the right thing. iFixIt knew better than to take unreleased software and publicly upload & expose it's internals. They (iFixIt) should also be fined.

 

[roland.g]

Thanks iFixit however, you guys should have really respected Apple's NDA.

Exactly. I do respect what they have to offer but a teardown prior to a public release of a product is plain an simple disrespect. If you get prerelease product you have to honor and obey the NDA.

Not that they care, but now I have no respect for iFixit. And I thought they actually provided a fairly decent service.

 

[bladerunner2000]

Hard for the apple fanboys to defend this, huh?

 

[KiwiAdventure]

iFixit you deserved what Apple has done. Your company agreed to Apples terms.

 

[anotherarunan]

Let's be honest - I don't think iFixit are too bothered about this. More publicity for them, and all they lose is an app that they aren't even bothered to rewrite/reupload.

Petty of Apple to attack the little guy here. Legally of course Apple have every right, but this really doesn't affect Apple in any way whatsoever.

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

Is there a preferred way to contact Apple in iFixIt's defense?

What defense? iFixIt violated a contract.

 

[SlipperySlop]

This is incredibly petty of Apple. It's not like iFixIt showing us the guts of the Apple TV hurt them in any way.

It sounds like this is them "making an example out of" iFixIt to scare other devs into following the agreements to the letter. Still, pretty petty in my opinion. iFixIt contributes a lot to the community.

Please. Apple has every right to set their policy. If you agree with it, then violate it, you are at fault. It's as simple as that. If you don't like Apple's policies, then don't participate. I can't believe those of you who feel entitled to the world and constantly make Apple out to be the villain. iFixIt was absolutely wrong. They deserve whatever they get. So many don't seem to care about personal responsibility and integrity. That's what is shameful around here.

 

[thewap]

From ifixit's tone, it seems that they had already no real concern to break the DNA or loose their account with Apple.
Not surprising, after all Apple and ifixit are completely in opposition concerning the rights of owners to fix their own hardware, and environmental issues associated with planned obsolescence of goods.
Perhaps ifixit will now have all the new mac repair manuals listed under *I can't fix it* , which is more appropriate IMO.

 

[SlipperySlop]

IMO, this is a legal gray zone. While there is a confidentially agreement with the existing Apple TV beta, iFixIt is a journalism site.

There are many court cases where journalists have been off the hook from any liability on breaking confidentially on grounds of First Amendment. In fact, Apple's actions could be viewed as an vengeful act. It was Apple's mistake to send an Apple TV beta to a developer that's a known journalist. Was the Apple TV beta developer list generated from the lottery reviewed by personnel or was it just sent off to a distribution center?

If any attorney starting their career is interested in making a name for themselves, taking on Apple on this issue pro-bono or share of settlement could be a good one.

That's absolute crap. To think that just because the call it "journalism", they can get away with anything is pure rubbish. And it's anything but traditional journalism. It's profit motivated, pure and simple. Some of you people are so anxious to bash apple that you are completely blind to reality and common sense.

 

[Krevnik]

What bull. NDA's are clear and airtight. Any dumb lawyer wanting to lose would take your advice. Everyone should remember the old saying, don't bite the hand that feeds you. Why do people think they're entitled to breach confidences and non disclosure agreements? Oh, that's right. This generation are entitled to whatever they want. Silly me.

Well, to be fair, journalists do tend to get a pass if there is a compelling public interest in the information, to speak to CFreymarc's argument. But they'd have to show there was a compelling public interest here. And the guts of an electronics gadget ahead of release is mostly a compelling interest to competitors, not the general public.

So yeah, in this case, I have to agree.

Hard for the apple fanboys to defend this, huh?

What is there to defend? NDAs serve a purpose across the industry, especially when looking to limit the information competitors can glean ahead of public availability. My own company relies on NDAs for the purposes of being competitive in the marketplace. I can't really go "Oh hey, iFixit just leaked a ton of information by violating an NDA they had with Apple, how nice of them to help me compete better with them" when I expect my NDAs to be followed. No more than I can expect people to respect my copyrights if I don't respect those of others (including OSS).

iFixIt just did the one thing the NDAs are meant to protect against. Disclose information about an unreleased product that they signed an agreement saying they wouldn't disclose information about.

 

[MH01]

Corret result , Apple did the right thing once the teardown was posted.

Apple sending ifixit an early unit , stupid. Clearly someone at Apple has no idea what ifixit do.

As for the NDA, with the tv announced, and shipped to many developers early, it would be really easy for a competitor to get thier hands on one and tear it down .

 

[nutjob]

This makes me want to throw up. The Apple "ecosystem" is actually totalitarian regime.

 

[mgmt-drone]

This is incredibly petty of Apple. It's not like iFixIt showing us the guts of the Apple TV hurt them in any way.

It sounds like this is them "making an example out of" iFixIt to scare other devs into following the agreements to the letter. Still, pretty petty in my opinion. iFixIt contributes a lot to the community.

So your boss can just cut your pay, right? It's not hurting anything, I mean you still have a job. Who cares if you had an agreement on what your salary was. They contribute a job to you, you should be happy for that. It's just a silly little agreement, it doesn't mean anything. Complaining about the fact that you are about to loose your house is just petty. You still have a job, doesn't really hurt you.

Oh really, when you turn it around you don't like it?

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. iFixit knowingly violated the terms of the agreement, and Apple retaliated within the terms of said agreement. They aren't "making an example of" anyone. This is pretty much standard contract law that plays out every day in the US.

 

[nebo1ss]

And what exactly was Apple expecting IFixit to do with an AppleTV. Develop apps for it.

The consensus was that they were being selective about who was included in the program. Apple screwed up big time.

 

[terraphantm]

They really should have just waited for the official release.

 

[I7guy]

Hard for the apple fanboys to defend this, huh?

Not at all, it's very easy to defend (because it's little to do with apple and a lot to do with signing a contract) and ifixit is lucky if they don't face litigation over this. Apple could haul them into court for an expensive legal battle and put them out of business.

 

[Deadeyeshark]

okay.... so you're going to send iFixit a pre-release Apple TV..... whaddya think they're going to do with it? lol

Petty, but they don't seem too bothered and it's good publicity for their site, which I've found useful on many occasions.

They do need to bring back MJ tho, you could never ban her...

 

[jwm]

Maybe I'm naive, but I don't feel bad for iFixit. They signed a deal, and then went back on the deal. That means that their professional word is meaningless. Sorry, but where I come from, a promise is a promise, especially involving a business contract. "We weighed the risks, blithely tossed those risks over our shoulder, and tore down the Apple TV anyway" is unacceptable, because that means that they feel that they're above the people with whom they made agreements.

Also, shame on them for saying that their app was "riddled with bugs caused by iOS9." That's a cop-out from a developer that was just too lazy to keep their app current. If you're going to be a liar, and lazy, at least be adult enough to own it instead of blaming others for your POOR work ethic and lack of integrity.

Nicely put!

 

[RockSpider]

Apple fanboys, never upset them, it's like taking a Teddybear from a baby, love you iFixit, hope to see you do even more tear downs.

 

[gnasher729]

This makes me both sad and angry. Why ban an entire development account? Seems to me that it would make more sense to put a ban on all pre-release software/hardware instead.

Excuse me? Do I understand you right here, you demand that Apple should stop helping developers (that is thousands of development accounts) to get their products on the market early, because one bunch of (something I shouldn't say) fully understands what an NDA means, but thinks they have the right to ignore it?

As for the NDA, with the tv announced, and shipped to many developers early, it would be really easy for a competitor to get thier hands on one and tear it down .

Sure, but competitors can't get their hands on one _legally_. And that makes a huge difference. If a competitor bribed one of the many developers to hand over their AppleTV for a huge amount of cash, and took any action because of this, that competitor could be sued for lots of money or even face criminal charges, depending what exactly is in the NDA.

 

[Krevnik]

This makes me want to throw up. The Apple "ecosystem" is actually totalitarian regime.

You've never worked on a product that required an NDA, have you?

 

[2499723]

iFixIt is a great resource, but they could very well have waited to release their teardown until the date of release. I'm curious why in this instance they decided to do a teardown before the date of release. Is the TV that unique of a device that they felt that they owed it to the masses to release their teardown early? Seems like a bit of an extreme risk for little in the way of reward. I guess they'll quite easily just pick up the pieces, develop a new developer account and move on...