Filed under: OS, Software, Apple, Leopard, Snow Leopard
The Register fighting Apple takedown notice
'Twas the night before Snow Leopard, and all through the 'net, Apple was sending takedowns for previews of software that technically wasn't out yet... Snow Leopard is almost out, but "almost" isn't quite good enough for Apple. Apparently they sent a last-minute takedown notice to The Register for posting their Snow Leopard preview a little early, and The Register is declining to do anything about it. Similar previews have appeared around the 'net (our friends at Engadget have published their own review), and while Apple claims that images and descriptions in the post are still confidential, The Register disagrees, saying that many features of Snow Leopard were seen and known way before this week.
So. Will Apple be angry? Will The Register be locked out of any future events (actually, we can identify with that one, given our metaliveblogging chops here on TUAW)? Will they care? It does seem a bit strange that Apple has targeted them with a takedown -- we doubt, as The Register suspects, that Walt Mossberg will be getting any takedown notices. Then again, maybe Apple was just trying (or their lawyers were just aiming for some extra legal fees), and they won't bother enforcing what seems like a shaky case anyway.
Most likely Apple will pass. We'll probably hear them exclaim, however, though it may be less staunch: Merry updates to all, and to all a good launch!
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
dagamer43 said 7:06PM on 8-27-2009
Probably just legal saber rattling. The law is pretty clear that if you don't try to defend your IP, it's the same as giving them permission.
Just as Kleenex.
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ipodrulz said 7:09PM on 8-27-2009
Will The Register be locked out of any future events (actually, we can identify with that one, given our metaliveblogging chops here on TUAW)?
What does that mean? Were you guys blocked out of Apple events?
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Look said 8:02PM on 8-27-2009
Interesting, so were you guys blocked out of Apple events?
MRCUR said 9:41PM on 8-27-2009
I second this request!
DCG said 12:42AM on 8-28-2009
I have often been curious why you are the kings of the metaliveblogging world because you aren't at an event. I'd always assumed it was because Engadget is invited and you are sister sites. Anyone care to shed any light?
dTondro said 3:16AM on 8-28-2009
Yeah... You need to explain that comment... Seriously, TUAW, elaborate further.... Did Apple lock you guys out for live blogging?
hd said 7:50PM on 8-27-2009
What a bunch of babies. I love Apple products, but am growing weary of all the megalomania when Apple's getting FREE ADVERTISING from thousands of loyal followers who happened to love the products Apple pumps out.
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Pete said 8:12PM on 8-27-2009
C'mon, Apple has to legally defend it's IP. You would too if it was your company. Get over it. Every company does this. More Apple is evil BS.
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ipodrulz said 8:15PM on 8-27-2009
I understand defending your IP. but The Register wasn't the only Snow Leopard preview out there! Also there was ONE day till launch! Is MSFT or and other company gonna take The Register's review and copy all the features to make a new OS!?
sepirioth said 9:23PM on 8-27-2009
yeah they are protecting their IP but why wait till the day before its out? by the time they can actually do anything about it legally it'll be out to the public so... too bad this time apple? :)
gavinovz said 8:39PM on 8-27-2009
I think the The Register has the upper hand against Apple. Apple publicly announced many of the new features of Snow Leopard at WWDC this Summer. There isn't much people don't already know about the OS to keep secret.
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Buran said 10:29PM on 8-27-2009
I don't get why Apple is threatening the Register with the DMCA. Why does it think a company that's not in the US is subject to US law? Sorry, Apple -- you can't threaten another country with US laws. Threaten them with the California Civil Code all you want -- California is a big state, but it doesn't contain the UK!
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artifex said 8:43PM on 8-28-2009
"I don't get why Apple is threatening the Register with the DMCA. Why does it think a company that's not in the US is subject to US law?"
My traceroute to the reghardware website goes to a Rackspace server in Dallas, TX.
US server = US laws apply.
mech said 11:23PM on 8-27-2009
I guess Apple isn't smart enough to implement an "IP blocker"
:p
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xbit said 9:12AM on 8-28-2009
"Will The Register be locked out of any future events (actually, we can identify with that one, given our metaliveblogging chops here on TUAW)?"
I was under the impression that The Register are *already* locked out of Apple events. They got banned long ago, before Apple's current golden era, and the ban was never lifted.
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Tony Smith said 9:36AM on 8-28-2009
Yup, we've been banned from events by Apple for years, both in the US and here in the UK. We are never sent review kit - no loss, we have our ways around this - and requests for comment are never answered, even when the only likely answer is 'no comment'.
Apple likes to manage the media. If the media is happy to be managed, it gets on the guest list; if not, you become persona non grata at Cupertino.
Tony Smith,
Editor,
Register Hardware
www.reghardware.co.uk
tyr.goossens said 9:42AM on 8-28-2009
"I've been using a release candidate cut of the OS [...] I can't promise you that this is the final version, although some web forum posters have suggested that it is."
In other words just before the release they printed a review based on an RC, probably torrented. Apple doesn't want customers basing their opinion on a release of unknown origin do they ?
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jb510 said 10:32AM on 8-28-2009
No, that's probably not what they want, but when it comes to reprting I don't really care what they want
The register (disclaimer. I haven't seen the review, just the quotes here) seems to of clear stated they were reviewing a release canidate, good for them for Clearly stathnx their source and doing some actual journalism rather than regurgitating press releases.
artifex said 5:05PM on 8-28-2009
Pogue and Snell had previews/reviews out a couple of days ago.
You know Apple won't say anything to *them*
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