I think we're eventually going to see legal action from one of the software developers against Apple. Is anyone an attorney here? Can you discuss this? How can Apple do this and avoid legal action?
Not a lawyer, did have some commentary earlier (post #203). By signing the agreement with Apple, you agree to abide by their rules, so in theory you would have no way to object to said rules.
However, that being said, if you do put an application in for approval, a legitimate one, and it is rejected, then Apple releases basically an identical application at some period later you may then be able to take them to court for copyright infringement etc as I would presume you would need to submit the application in full to Apple for approval and release, so they then could in thoery reverse engineer what you did or just recreate the functionality and sell it as their own.
Alternately if you make a legitimate application and it is rejected for no obvious reason but another application with similar/same functionality is approved you could also see this being court case potential. Even more so if the applications are the first of their type and not the 400th version of Texas Holdem being released.
Obviously this is more a topic for the high flying lawyers to debate but there is risk to Apple in setting things up the way they have.
I don't necessarily feel that Apple should limit the number of applications of a specific type as different applications can provide more levels, more skill, different price points, multiplayer vs single player options etc etc and they are all different ways to differientiate your product from mine, my game offers 10 levels for $2, but yours offers 20 levels for $5, both should be allowed. The consumer should decide which applications are worth buying ifg say I have fewer levels but charge more.
Apple should seriously consider a more open approach (already said this earlier in the thread). Set up a level system where you can have applications reviewed and ranked on specific criteria:
- Level 1 is any application that is not regarded as an obvious security or stability risk and the price has been reviewed. Prevent spyware, keystroke loggers and obvious attempts at way over charging. Good place for free apps and where no ongoing support would be required.
- Level 2 is where the consumer knows that the app has been reviewed by Apple and is trusted. Maybe it has completed some form of basic testing.
- Level 3 application can be one where the developer and Apple have had some kind of communication and reaches say an approved status, ie it provides what could be reasonably expected as a full application.
- Level 4 applications would be where the major vendors can have their applications, EA, SAP, Apple, Oracle, Microsoft, Google. The vendor would agree to providing their own support and other requirements as set forth by Apple.
- Level 5 applications would probably fall under the company specific applications that corporations develop for their own employees only, this might require something along the lines of purchasing management software from Apple to run on a server(s) as a delivery agent to the devices, in addition there would be an agreement where you cannot use the server software to distribute applications outside of your organization. Because of the risk here I would suggest there be some kind of logging enable to record all s/n's etc they software is pushed to so it can be audited by Apple etc.
This way very large companies like Apple itself, the major banks, insurance companies etc can deploy applications to large numbers of employees and remain in compliance and also it would encourage them to develop inhouse for the platform. Potentially Apple could have a system where by a Level 5 application could be moved over to the App store later on if the developing company so desires and have it done so in such a way that the review is different.
Obviously this is a very simple breakdown and doing it is this way would require more specifics etc. The one last thing they should do is have a way for the consumer to report potential issues so applications can be rereviewed if you find after the event that there is say a time limit on application which was not otherwise documented.
You're new to the forums so I'll let this one slide...
KICKING is a HUMAN behavior... Steve Jobs is not human. As a result, Steve simply moves his hands in a Vadar-Esque fashion and bam! The person chokes and falls to the ground.
rofl! got to give you a +1 for that, I would give you the internet but Apple might not approve.
