Apple Sues Think Secret

[GFLPraxis]

Market share is not in direct relation to your number of users, i.e. you can have a lower market share but more users.

Fictionnal exemple:
- 1990: Microsoft has 9 users, Apple has 1. Apple has 10% marketshare. Great!
- 1995: Microsoft has 95 users, Apple has 5. Apple has dropped to 5% marketshare (even though they have 5 times more users than before).
- 2000: Microsoft has 9900 users, Apple has 100. Apple is now "down to only 1% marketshare, man we're losing everyone and they're switching to MS" but still have 20 times more users than before.

Marketshare != Users base.

Actually you're using % of users rather than actual marketshare. Marketshare is the amount sold that year IIRC.

I may be mistaken, but if I'm remembering right...

If 1 in 10 people use a Mac, but this year only 1 in 20 of new computer buyers buy a new Mac, then the Mac will have a 10% user base...but only 5% market share.

Thing is, most people KEEP their Macs over twice as long as most people keep their Windows PC's. So the marketshare for Macs is deceptively low, because people don't buy the Macs as often but keep using them much longer.

 

[Object-X]

It's all about the money

I'm split about this!

In one way, Apple are completely right about rivals, etc. Plus someone has breached their confidentiality agreement somewhere. Think secret has provided really specific details.

However, like someone said above... rumour sites make people interested. They hype things so a lot more people buy in the first week! I mean, I watch the Apple Expo streams because I want to see which rumours were true and which i wanna buy

Sueing may be a bit extreme. Telling them to remove information is acceptable. But ThinkSecret has been warned in the past! So what is he thinking?

Specific details is the key along with timing. It is no longer a rumor when you get the complete spec sheet. TS has been getting increasingly specific in their postings. I don't think anything would have happened this time, but the rumors came too early and now it's in the mainstream media news. If they had released this info a day or two before the keynote Apple would have ignored it.

But when it gets into the mainsteam media it becomes a serious problem for Apple. Stock holders are looking at this information, recommendations are being offered, ect. What if Apple wasn't coming out with a $499 headless mac? What if they wanted to change their minds at the last minute, or had technical issues preventing the announcement. This would cause them serious problems and could affect their stock price. $$$

Bye bye TS, it's been nice knowing you.

 

[xsedrinam]

Hostile Makeover

What with all the suing going on, are we being set up for yet another TV Series?

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

The Pc market is a growing market so Apple isnt going to be hurting even at 2%. Apple isnt going anywhere anytime soon but it sure would be nice to be able to SEE or touch anything Mac in even a few stores. As it is now they arent growing in this growing market and hovering at 2% doesnt inspire anyone to make stuff for Mac does it. Thanks for the marketshare definition Yvan256. Still why would apple resort to this kind of thing if they dont care about marketshare? Perhaps there is more to marketshare then just your definition heh?

 

[AndreMA]

Apple has a legitimate gripe here. Its one thing for something like asteroid to be leaked, or even iLife 05 (it stands to reason that every year an incremental release version of iLife will be rife with rumor speculation).

But the headless mac, if true, is a huge mindset shift for Apple, and a big risk. They are going to want maximum buzz on the day that they launch. They are going to want 'shock and awe'. Now thats not going to happen, is it?

Apple certainly has a legitamate gripe against whoever (presumably) violated their NDA. Even if TS actively solicited it, though, I think it's a case of "shooting the messenger". If Apple can't find trustworthy people to, err, entrust with their secrets, that's hardly the fault of a third party like TS.

 

[Macmaniac]

Next thing we know Law and Order will do a knock off of a case like this. Its going to be very interesting to see what happens because both sides have reasons to argue a case.
It will be interesting to see if Apple actually release a lot of these rumored products, because in a way they are partially admitting they exist. I hope its the $499 mac

 

[Marble]

Lawsuits seem to be the fad this winter.

 

[Doctor Q]

If the case really goes through, I wonder how much detail will be revealed, after the fact, about what really happened behind the scenes with these news leaks. I expect that the case will be dropped after Apple finishes dealing with the leakers, or that some arrangement will be made behind closed doors.

 

[fpnc]

In the past (but perhaps not currently), didn't one of the rumor sites state openly that they would offer a free "...Rumors/Secret/Insider/Spy..." labeled coffee mug for Mac related tips? Could Apple be trying to reach back and use this as the claimed enticement?

I think the only part of this rumor that could be really harmful is the often quoted $500 price. If Apple doesn't match that then there will be disappointment at probably all levels of interest. Problem is, that may be the least accurate aspect of the rumor and that may be why Apple is so upset by this leak/rumor (still unconfirmed, actually).

 

[rdowns]

The Pc market is a growing market so Apple isnt going to be hurting even at 2%. Apple isnt going anywhere anytime soon but it sure would be nice to be able to SEE or touch anything Mac in even a few stores. As it is now they arent growing in this growing market and hovering at 2% doesnt inspire anyone to make stuff for Mac does it. Thanks for the marketshare definition Yvan256. Still why would apple resort to this kind of thing if they dont care about marketshare? Perhaps there is more to marketshare then just your definition heh?

Enough with the same post time after time. Are you a sales and marketing person? You need to stop only looking at these rumors, their PC specs etc. as a consumer.

I am VP of Sales and Marketing. Believe me, there are reasons to everything. My best guess, until the success of the iPod, a low cost Mac would only serve to cannibalize sales of their higher margin bread and butter units. The time is now to take advantage of this so-called halo effect.

 

[asphalt-proof]

the question we should be asking is "Did Apple sue Time magazine for their published iMAc article before it was announced by Apple? I think that TS could legitiamtely referred to as part of the Press. The Press IS allowed to ask questions be it politicians, average Joe's and yes, employees of businesses. What apple seems to be saying with the "solicitation" statement is that nobody should be asking their employees questions because the employee may be too weak to resist spilling the beans. Apple is lashing out TS in order to find the leak. Nothing more. This is blantant intimidation. If a congressman did this we would all be up in arms defending the Press's right to seek out and report information. This even has implications for people who are whistle blowers. Basically their are saying that nobody has the right to publish information obtained through their employees except for the PR people. Apple is usng this lawsuit in order to intimidate TS into coughing up its source. Apple can come after their own employee for breaking the NDA but its ridiculous to go after the messenger. The messenger can say anything they want... nobody has to believe them. (Think Dan Rather).
The other point I want to make is: TS is a rumor sight! If they published outlandish claims of what will be introduced at the next convention. So be it. Again: Nobody HAS to believe them. If they are worried about adverse affects to their business then they need to change their method of releasing information, not sue whomever they want to because they don't like what they have to say. No matter how you slice it it comes down to a freedom of speech.
Soembody mentioned earlier in the thread that this was spying. No its not. TS is not profiting by the information... merely reporting what they heard. By that logic The Wall Street Journal, NYTimes, et. al. are all spies.


I really think that Apple is shooting themselves in the foot with this. They are making themselves look petty, hostile to the media, and thuggish.

 

[sushi]

im not 100% sure they are doing the right thing in trying to stop this type of site,

there are 100s of thousands that access and use these sites, it gets people...... "apple hyped"

maybe its not the right thing, as for MR getting in trouble i cant see it happening because there rumours are very very carfully put up here, normally quoting thinksecret! good move MR

Love your avatar! Applies well to the topic at hand.

Sushi

 

[WannaWiki]

I like surprises

Personally I kept up with all the rumors surronding this macworld, and i have a pretty good feeling that I won't be suprised much. This is kinda sad though, i like the wow facter that I used to get before following the rumors.

I'm saying that it's good in some respect that apple is tightening its belt, but sad that they had to go after the mac faithful. You can only push apple so far before it starts pushing back. WannaWiki?

 

[B_Gates]

Are you kidding? Dell sells $499 PC's with 2 GHz Celerons. If that's not 2 year old technology, I don't know what is.

Yeah I know & your going to tell me that the G4 1.25 GHz with its 133 MHz FSB is going to out perform a 2.40GHz Celeron with its 533 FSB.

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

Enough with the same post time after time. Are you a sales and marketing person? You need to stop only looking at these rumors, their PC specs etc. as a consumer.

I am VP of Sales and Marketing. Believe me, there are reasons to everything. My best guess, until the success of the iPod, a low cost Mac would only serve to cannibalize sales of their higher margin bread and butter units. The time is now to take advantage of this so-called halo effect.

Like others have said Rdowns why now? this could have been done before. All of a suddden they are interested in that market that Jobs clearly said they werent interested in. Why and why now? perhaps volume business has its rewards and they have seen it with Pod?

 

[Yvan256]

Pc world allready has cheap machines that can surf the net,email and music. this may be BIG for Apple but in the PC world they have been making cheap boxes and living room PCs for awhile.

Indeed. And those boxes all have the same microsoft problems as the more expensive Alienware boxes (i.e., they run virus-prone Microsoft OS/software, i.e. Windows XP, Internet Explorer, MSN, etc).

But the users of those cheap machines will never buy an Apple computer because it's too expensive. And now Apple is trying to make a "cheap machine" for those people, to at least give them the real option of being able to buy a Mac instead of another windows box that will be useless in 6-12 months (yes, some people really do purchase another box when their old one gets too bugged down. Do you think Microsoft and Intel don't like that situation? Keep selling crap, stupid user will buy again because there's no other option in the same price range).

So yes, this IS big news for Apple (and every computer user on the planet, if you ask me).

 

[rdowns]

Love your avatar! Applies well to the topic at hand.

Sushi

OT, but speaking of avatars, what is yours? It creeps me out, looks like Jean Bene Ramsey (sp?).

 

[Yvan256]

I'm not so sure they care about TS as much as they guy that is feeding them. Have you ever noticed that both TS and AI have the same rumors that appear at nearly the same time? Aside from one copying the other, I think its probably one guy that is feeding both of them... one guy!

When that guy is found, expect an upsidedown crucifixion.

With an Apple logo at the top of the white cross.

 

[rdowns]

Like others have said Rdowns why now? this could have been done before. All of a suddden they are interested in that market that Jobs clearly said they werent interested in. Why and why now? perhaps volume business has its rewards and they have seen it with Pod?

If you read my post, I answered the question, why now?

 

[B_Gates]

The Pc market is a growing market so Apple isnt going to be hurting even at 2%. Apple isnt going anywhere anytime soon but it sure would be nice to be able to SEE or touch anything Mac in even a few stores. As it is now they arent growing in this growing market and hovering at 2% doesnt inspire anyone to make stuff for Mac does it. Thanks for the marketshare definition Yvan256. Still why would apple resort to this kind of thing if they dont care about marketshare? Perhaps there is more to marketshare then just your definition heh?

I think Apple has dropped to 1.7% market share when it comes to PC, they were at 2.1%.

 

[asphalt-proof]

Your Friendly Constitutional Scholar® here to help:

Think Secret will not get 1st Amendment protection here. They do not exist to report the news or provide social commentary. From a court perspective, they do not serve a public interest, even if we all love reading their rumors.

Think Secret is a for-profit business which makes money by soliciting Apple property and knowingly publishing this information without permission from Apple. And the key thing here is for-profit. This is not some charity.

They will not get any freedom of the press protection. They are breaking the law and damaging Apple, so at best, they will be shut down. At worst, the owner of the company is going to get cleaned out.

Either way, if Apple wants to push this, TS and it's owners are done.

I'm not sure if any news organization are a non-profit org. Does NYT get sued by a company if they publish rumors even though they turn a profit? It doesn't matter if TS is a niche player in the Press. They are simply passing on information freely given to them by someone. I think that Apple would have a hard time proving that TS does NOT provide a public good by publishing rumors and speculation. Many newsstories are based on less informaion. They would have to prove they they DON"T provide a public interest. By making a profit: Nope all news org. make an effort to turn a profit. Because they are only focused on Apple? No they are really serving a specifc niche.

 

[gwangung]

the question we should be asking is "Did Apple sue Time magazine for their published iMAc article before it was announced by Apple? I think that TS could legitiamtely referred to as part of the Press. The Press IS allowed to ask questions be it politicians, average Joe's and yes, employees of businesses.

Yes, but they are NOT allowed to disseminate trade secrets...at least not without consequences.

Y'all think if the NY TIMES published the formula for Coca-Cola, they wouldn't get slapped for damages?

Try looking up some material on "trade secrets"...then lets talk from there.

 

[asphalt-proof]

OT, but speaking of avatars, what is yours? It creeps me out, looks like Jean Bene Ramsey (sp?).

I second that. Everytime I run across one of your posts I have to take a second look... then shiver.

 

[Photorun]

Lawsuits seem to be the fad this winter.

Lawsuits are the new black.

 

[gwangung]

I'm not sure if any news organization are a non-profit org. Does NYT get sued by a company if they publish rumors even though they turn a profit? It doesn't matter if TS is a niche player in the Press. They are simply passing on information freely given to them by someone. I think that Apple would have a hard time proving that TS does NOT provide a public good by publishing rumors and speculation. Many newsstories are based on less informaion. They would have to prove they they DON"T provide a public interest. By making a profit: Nope all news org. make an effort to turn a profit. Because they are only focused on Apple? No they are really serving a specifc niche.

Be careful here. Don't conflate rumor with trade secret. They're treated very differently in legal matters. And they actually do have different ramifications in the real world. What's perfectly fine for rumors is NOT perfectly fine for trade secrets.