Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Developer of Fake Driver's License App Responds to Apple
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
It's also illegal to drive drunk, so we should take away alcohol (this was actually tried about 80 years ago...). It's illegal to shoot someone, better take guns away. It's also illegal to try to kill you with a knife, bat, car etc.. Should we take away anything and everything that makes it possible to break a law? C'mon man use your head.
Perhaps we should take away every apple device that exists, because some how, some way, you can break a law with it.
It's more like a friend calling your mom to complain that you still have his Van Halen bootlegs!
Seriously why should Apple spend a minute of their time fighting for the developer. Regardless if your app is free or making Apple 30% of $2000.00.
If EA's Madden 2012 infringed on any laws I doubt John Madden would call his local Target so they pull it off the shelf. It's an issue between the developer and the complainer.
What usually happens is that if Apple gets a legal complain of an app, that Apple forwards it to the Developer (since the Developer is responsible for that stuff) and attaches a deadline to respond to it and only if not respond to or otherwise resolved it is getting pulled. That said, I don't know if that original complain was forwarded to the Developer (he claims not) - so not sure why it didn't go the usual route.
not illegal
Is Monopoly money illegal? No. It's illegal to use a true fake ID for the purpose of identification, it's not illegal to play with pretend IDs for fun. This app doesn't even come close to meeting the minimum criteria for creating a document that would even plausibly pass as the real thing. Are you going to start sending the authorities over to arrest my kids for making their play "sheriff" badges? Apparently you and the dear Senator need to get a life.
Is Monopoly money illegal? No. It's illegal to use a true fake ID for the purpose of identification, it's not illegal to play with pretend IDs for fun. This app doesn't even come close to meeting the minimum criteria for creating a document that would even plausibly pass as the real thing. Are you going to start sending the authorities over to arrest my kids for making their play "sheriff" badges? Apparently you and the dear Senator need to get a life.
The "very tiny letters" is what gets you into trouble. Big letters solves the problem.
The example image to the story has some small "mock" lettering. If the image had said "Mock Drivers License" instead of just "Drivers License" then this likely wouldn't be a pulled app.
If substantially fewer people are going to buy it if "mock disclaimers" are of equal size then it is rather disingenuous to say that buyers of the app are not putting a high value on being passable as a real drivers license.
If you makes something that very closely mimics US currency except for some very small flaws... expect a visit from the Secret Service at some point. "Joke" money all have prominent "this is not legal tender" notices. You can't make it small or put in subtle flaws and then claim to get a pass on counterfeiting because the copy is slightly flawed.
Last edited:
Thank you.
Its up to apple to PROVE the app has broken the law is some jurisdiction. They have not, and therefore should not be able to invoke that section of their TOS.
It seems to me that Apple is reaching for some legitimate reason, and likely pulled it without one to justify the action.
Those are the risks you take as an "entrepreneur." Them's the breaks. Apple doesn't owe anyone a living.
Considering that many employees don't check to make sure the ID is actually valid, it IS a threat.
Many employees don't check valid IDs to even see if the picture matches the face of the person presenting the ID. You can't legislate away stupidity. This app is not a threat.
If you wan't someone to manage every aspect of your life, go move to North Korea, and leave those of us who actually like freedom, even with all its potential pitfalls.
Any developer that bet their livelihood on an ultimately useless app like this was asking for it, especially given Apple's behavior towards legally questionable apps in the past.
Everyone gets their 15 minutes of fame, this must be his.
With that said I think:
1. He needs to get laid
2. He needs to actually do Senator stuff
3. He needs to get laid
You mean they don't ask for one ... or they can't tell that it is a low quality ink jet print out with all the holograms and security features missing and not sealed in plastic? ... get real, if they really look at it or touch, it jumps in their face that it is fake ... if they don't really look at it, well, that is a problem that is not solved by banning this app.
Indeed. If they pass it could destroy the internet as we know it.
Which is why many people pirate photoshop. There are also free alternatives which could get the job done.
I'm fairly sure there are templates and tutorials out there.
Last edited:
I didn't even know about this app until it was pulled.. sounds awesome, I WANT! hahah
(even though I am of age)
(even though I am of age)
Monopoly money is legal because it in no way includes words such as "United States of America", "Federal Reserve Note", "United States Treasury", etc.
The same is true with your kids fake sheriff badges.
However, this software includes the words "State of Arizona", "Commonwealth of Virginia", etc. in an official looking way.
The U.S. law prohibits any form of duplication of its money no matter how fake it looks.
State laws are different so I can only speak for Ohio. It is illegal to include the words "The State of Ohio" on any document or business name if it is done to look official, even as a joke. Thus even without printing the output of this app is in violation of Ohio law.
Apple was right.
BTW
Most (All?) states are getting very artistic with their driver's licenses. Look at the fancy fonts and backgrounds.
Most (All?) of these state designs are COPYRIGHTED materials. Thus there is probably of very serious copyright violation with this app.
Most (All?) states are getting very artistic with their driver's licenses. Look at the fancy fonts and backgrounds.
Most (All?) of these state designs are COPYRIGHTED materials. Thus there is probably of very serious copyright violation with this app.
Last edited:
Sorry, but you're wrong. Laws have *very* specific proscriptions and criteria for determining whether or not a given pictorial representation of currency is considered counterfeit, or just fake. For example, I could *legally* photocopy or scan and print $50 bills all day long (even double-sided) so long as the image is at least 150% normal size.
Maybe the government should ban Photoshop, too. Last I checked that made much more convincing fakes.
This is exactly why our government can't get anything done, because they spend too much time worrying about things that they ought not worry about. I think the larger problem than an iOS app that creates OBVIOUSLY fake IDs is the fact that some people selling alcohol and tobacco are stupid enough to accept a photo of an ID on an iPhone. These are way more fake looking than your average fake ID.
This is exactly why our government can't get anything done, because they spend too much time worrying about things that they ought not worry about. I think the larger problem than an iOS app that creates OBVIOUSLY fake IDs is the fact that some people selling alcohol and tobacco are stupid enough to accept a photo of an ID on an iPhone. These are way more fake looking than your average fake ID.