Apple Sued an iPhone Repair Shop Owner in Norway and Lost • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple Sued an iPhone Repair Shop Owner in Norway and Lost

#101

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Apr 13, 2018, 7:36 PM UTC

eesmith wrote: post #95

comboy wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think they want to squeeze every cent. I think they just care about the brand. They want people who bought iphone to have the best experience they prepared for them. Even if you buy some used iphone. If somebody buys some used iphone and it acts weird or the build quality seems imperfect because some parts were replaced, then this person may spread opinion that iphones suck. I'd guess that's their reasoning.…

At Ford™ we care about our brand. We want people who bought a Ford™ car to have the best experience we prepared for them. Other fuels may contain additives which make your Ford™ engine seem imperfect. A few misguided people are tempted by the siren call of the independent fuel suppliers to use something other than the Ford™ fuel specially made for your needs. When things go wrong, they spread rumors that Ford™ vehicl…

[deleted]

Re: Apple Sued an iPhone Repair Shop Owner in Norway and Lost

#102

Post by mattsfrey » Fri, Apr 13, 2018, 7:38 PM UTC

intopieces wrote: post #57

mattsfrey wrote: post #30

"Apple does not ‘own’ the product after they have sold it" I think this is the crux of the issue. The guy was importing refurbished parts with the logos covered even. They weren't counterfeits. How does a manufacturer have the right to sue for copyright infringement when it's just end users reselling authentic parts? The owner even states he in no way markets them as OEM parts. Frankly I think it's pretty obvious app…

>How does a manufacturer have the right to sue for copyright infringement when it's just end users reselling authentic parts? I'm not sure this is an accurate representation of Apple's case. First, it seems like they are suing for trademark infringement, not for copyright infringement. Second, the repair shop owner is by no stretch of the imagination the end user of this product. Wikipedia gives this definition of en…

First two points - semantics.

The point is that once the physical product was sold, consumers have the right to do whatever the hell they like with it, including sell it.

As to your latter statements, opinions will vary on this, but I believe it is well known that this guy's shop is not official / authorized by apple. People coming to this guy's shop are doing so to specifically avoid the drastically higher costs of seeking an authorized repair / replacement from apple. It'd be much easier to just mail it to apple, so I think there is an implied cognizance in seeking his services as an alternative. So I personally think as long as he is honest about not being an official apple repair shop, doesn't brandish their logos or in any way affirmatively hijack their brand, he should be safe from penalty of law.

Re: Apple Sued an iPhone Repair Shop Owner in Norway and Lost

#103

Post by FireBeyond » Fri, Apr 13, 2018, 7:39 PM UTC

rasz wrote: post #96

comboy wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think they want to squeeze every cent. I think they just care about the brand. They want people who bought iphone to have the best experience they prepared for them. Even if you buy some used iphone. If somebody buys some used iphone and it acts weird or the build quality seems imperfect because some parts were replaced, then this person may spread opinion that iphones suck. I'd guess that's their reasoning.…

HAHAHA NO. The first thing you are being told when becoming Apple Authorized Service provider is UP-SELL. Your main function and profit source is telling people "cant be repaired/repair will cost as much as new one, would you like this new model?"

> The first thing you are being told when becoming Apple Authorized Service provider is UP-SELL. Your main function and profit source is telling people "cant be repaired/repair will cost as much as new one, would you like this new model?"

I had water damage to a 2013 MBP, minor but nonetheless.

It passed all diagnostics. Ran fine on AC power. Battery diagnostics were fine too. But it wouldn't charge. "Charge circuit error".

No problem, I think. That's where the water damage was, no doubt. So I take it to Apple (in 2014, probably 18 months after purchase). I set my expectations, hmm, maybe $200-300? Let's go with $300, after labor, etc.

Haha.

"Sir, the charge circuitry is damaged and we need to replace that. You're looking at $899. Perhaps we should talk about you buying a new MacBook? Have you seen the latest?"

So, there's labor, etc. But you're going to tell me that to repair something, that by your own diagnostics, is fine except for this one part costs 70% of the new purchase price? I paid $1300, if I recall for the MBP. Take away something for labor, etc, and apparently the charging circuit is worth more than the CPU, the memory, the SSD, the screen?

No, now it serves as a driver for my step daughter's Garage Brand / Logic Pro setup with MIDI drums, keyboard, etc., remains on AC and has worked fine for several more years.

Re: Apple Sued an iPhone Repair Shop Owner in Norway and Lost

#104

Post by mehrdadn » Fri, Apr 13, 2018, 7:39 PM UTC

agumonkey wrote: post #99

in case you never saw them, Louis Rossman has many videos about apple products. I can accept a bit of excentric design when you're pushing the boundaries of style and thinness but some things are just mindblowingly flabbergasting (fragile keyboard and rivetted to chassis; as repairable as a renaissance painting)

That guy is freaking awesome. Smart, to the point, insightful, and with lots of integrity. Definitely worth hearing what he has to say.

Re: Apple Sued an iPhone Repair Shop Owner in Norway and Lost

#105

Post by eesmith » Fri, Apr 13, 2018, 7:40 PM UTC

snowwrestler wrote: post #90

geezerjay wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They want people who bought iphone to have the best experience they prepared for them. It's quite obvious that, to put it mildly, that's wishful thinking inspired by a heavily rose-tainted view of Apple. Meanwhile, Apple is known for their extreme price gouging complemented with extreme actions to stop even their very own customers from even repairing their broken products, let alone upgrade them to a usable state.

> complemented with extreme actions to stop even their very own customers from even repairing their broken products Like what kind of actions? I can go to ifixit.com right now, order parts for my iPhone, order tools to work on my iPhone, and watch detailed instructions about how to repair my iPhone. (or Mac, or iPad, etc.) The products are NOT easy to work on, but I am not aware of any action that Apple has taken aga…

Actions like fighting right-to-repair bills in many states.

While you may have the right to do that yourself, they don't want you to have the right to hire someone else to do it for you.

They also don't want you to have the right to get those parts for your iPhone.

Apple goes after producers and technicians, and not so much end-users. For one, I think end-users have rights, like the first-sale doctrine, which makes it harder for Apple to do anything to you other than terminate your warranty coverage.

Though I think they really would have preferred if they could sue you for jailbreaking an iPhone - they lost that court case.

Re: Apple Sued an iPhone Repair Shop Owner in Norway and Lost

#106

Post by FireBeyond » Fri, Apr 13, 2018, 7:40 PM UTC

yitchelle wrote: post #69

comboy wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think they want to squeeze every cent. I think they just care about the brand. They want people who bought iphone to have the best experience they prepared for them. Even if you buy some used iphone. If somebody buys some used iphone and it acts weird or the build quality seems imperfect because some parts were replaced, then this person may spread opinion that iphones suck. I'd guess that's their reasoning.…

> They want people who bought iphone to have the best experience they prepared for them. Adding further to this, Apple also wants 100% control over that experience and how that experience is deployed, including how and what can be repaired.

> Apple also wants 100% control over that experience and how that experience is deployed, including how and what can be repaired.

They can want it all they like, they just have no implicit right to it.

Re: Apple Sued an iPhone Repair Shop Owner in Norway and Lost

#107

Post by jimktrains2 » Fri, Apr 13, 2018, 7:40 PM UTC

bluescrn wrote: post #70

Someone1234 wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't this exactly how iOS works currently? You literally cannot develop for it without signing an Apple contract (even non-App store apps require a user account/agreement).

And with rumours of Apple moving to ARM chips for their laptops, they could well try to take the opportunity to lock out unsigned code entirely... Before long they could even choose to make you buy an expensive Mac Pro or iMac Pro, or even require an 'iOS dev kit' if you want to develop for their platform. And if Microsoft had succeeded in the mobile/tablet space, they'd be doing exactly the same...

> And with rumours of Apple moving to ARM chips for their laptops, they could well try to take the opportunity to lock out unsigned code entirely...

Why do these two things have any relationship to each other? They can and do lock down x86-64 machines, you're just able to "opt-out" right now[1].

[1] https://it.nmu.edu/docs/allowing-third-party-applications-in...

Re: Apple Sued an iPhone Repair Shop Owner in Norway and Lost

#108

Post by conradev » Fri, Apr 13, 2018, 7:40 PM UTC

comboy wrote: post #47

mattsfrey wrote: post #30

"Apple does not ‘own’ the product after they have sold it" I think this is the crux of the issue. The guy was importing refurbished parts with the logos covered even. They weren't counterfeits. How does a manufacturer have the right to sue for copyright infringement when it's just end users reselling authentic parts? The owner even states he in no way markets them as OEM parts. Frankly I think it's pretty obvious app…

I don't think they want to squeeze every cent. I think they just care about the brand. They want people who bought iphone to have the best experience they prepared for them. Even if you buy some used iphone. If somebody buys some used iphone and it acts weird or the build quality seems imperfect because some parts were replaced, then this person may spread opinion that iphones suck. I'd guess that's their reasoning.…

This has happened multiple times:

1. Users swap parts in a way Apple didn't account for in software

2. Something goes wrong, users blame Apple for intentionally breaking third party repairs

3. Apple deals with it

Touch ID mismatch: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/feb/19/error-53-...

Third party screens: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208067#1103

Third party screens, again: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/apr/10/iphone-8-...

Re: Apple Sued an iPhone Repair Shop Owner in Norway and Lost

#109

Post by Techowl » Fri, Apr 13, 2018, 7:40 PM UTC

eesmith wrote: post #95

comboy wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think they want to squeeze every cent. I think they just care about the brand. They want people who bought iphone to have the best experience they prepared for them. Even if you buy some used iphone. If somebody buys some used iphone and it acts weird or the build quality seems imperfect because some parts were replaced, then this person may spread opinion that iphones suck. I'd guess that's their reasoning.…

At Ford™ we care about our brand. We want people who bought a Ford™ car to have the best experience we prepared for them. Other fuels may contain additives which make your Ford™ engine seem imperfect. A few misguided people are tempted by the siren call of the independent fuel suppliers to use something other than the Ford™ fuel specially made for your needs. When things go wrong, they spread rumors that Ford™ vehicl…

Wouldn't car parts be a much more accurate analogy, though? Apple isn't suing anyone for not using Apple-branded electricity to power their phone.

Re: Apple Sued an iPhone Repair Shop Owner in Norway and Lost

#110

Post by ilyanep » Fri, Apr 13, 2018, 7:41 PM UTC

eesmith wrote: post #95

comboy wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think they want to squeeze every cent. I think they just care about the brand. They want people who bought iphone to have the best experience they prepared for them. Even if you buy some used iphone. If somebody buys some used iphone and it acts weird or the build quality seems imperfect because some parts were replaced, then this person may spread opinion that iphones suck. I'd guess that's their reasoning.…

At Ford™ we care about our brand. We want people who bought a Ford™ car to have the best experience we prepared for them. Other fuels may contain additives which make your Ford™ engine seem imperfect. A few misguided people are tempted by the siren call of the independent fuel suppliers to use something other than the Ford™ fuel specially made for your needs. When things go wrong, they spread rumors that Ford™ vehicl…

It's really more like getting a Ford vs third-party part for your car, which yes, every car manufacturer will recommend. It's not like Apple is trying to sell you Apple electricity.

Regardless, this is a pretty low-effort attempt to make a point.