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Apple Files Lawsuit Against White iPhone Kid

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Re: Apple Files Lawsuit Against White iPhone Kid

#11

Post by SriniK »

wccrawford wrote: post #3

That's pretty cold and heartless. I understand defending your trademarks and all, but beating a 9 yr old into the ground AFTER he complies with everything you asked is too much. ALL his profits? Ugh. He never pretended to be Apple and it was very clear that they weren't official Apple products.

Sick to see apple following sony in suing a hacker - in this case hacker in cutting their supply chain.

Irony is Jobs and Woz were known to have hacked the telephone system. Jobs accepted it as his start, his interest into getting into electronics and roots of apple.

Re: Apple Files Lawsuit Against White iPhone Kid

#12

Post by eck »

tsuraan wrote: post #7
eck wrote: post #4

He sold a product with the trademarked Apple logo on it without authorization from Apple, and they're protecting their trademark. How is this a story? Is there a trademark exception for being a kid? No. Is there a trademark exception for "same shape as different colored component of product"? No. Now, had he sold a white case without the logo, that would be a totally different story...

He stopped when they told him to. He complied with their requests, and now they're suing him and his parents. They aren't just protecting their trademark at this point, they're going for blood.

If it were acceptable to infringe a trademark for a few months and make $130k, and the only consequence was being forced to stop, a lot of people would think (correctly) that doing so is a profitable activity. Apple is demonstrating that it is not.

Re: Apple Files Lawsuit Against White iPhone Kid

#13

Post by mbrubeck »

jrspruitt wrote: post #10

I think it will be interesting to see if he is tried as an adult or not. Seems a bit odd, someone his age has the potential for a lesser sentence had he committed a violent crime, but perhaps not for copyright infringement. Either way, I think the MPAA/RIAA proved legally roughing up kids isn't the best habit to have.

This is a trademark infringement suit, not a criminal trial. (This means he is not being "tried" or "sentenced" and it's not like he's risking jail time.)

Update: It actually is possible for willful trademark infringement to lead to changes of "criminal counterfeiting" although this particular case was a civil suit brought by Apple, not a criminal case brought by the state.

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/US_Trademark_Law#Criminal_count...

Re: Apple Files Lawsuit Against White iPhone Kid

#15

Post by glenra »

Apple filed suit to put on record that it's illegal to sell (and profit from) white iPhones that customers might confuse with the official ones. But then they appear to have settled out of court with the family, making this a non-story. Quote:

"Apple did, however, also file a voluntary dismissal of the lawsuit at the same time, suggesting that a settlement has may have been reached, although Apple's request for dismissal without prejudice means that the company reserves the right to refile the claim at some point in the future."

Source: http://www.macrumors.com/2011/05/26/apple-files-lawsuit-agai...

Re: Apple Files Lawsuit Against White iPhone Kid

#16

Post by ahi »

xxpor wrote: post #9
qq66 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No he is not. http://www.apple.com/pr/bios/bod.html

Thanks for that link. I'm surprised at who's on that board. CEO of Avon? Seems pretty random.

They are legally required to have some number of independent directors. This is to prevent executive backscratching, self-dealing, etc. The CEO of Avon is probably on the board precisely because it's kind of random. Their job is to read the financials and keep an eye on the board members that have experience in the industry.

Re: Apple Files Lawsuit Against White iPhone Kid

#17

Post by SeoxyS »

wccrawford wrote: post #3

That's pretty cold and heartless. I understand defending your trademarks and all, but beating a 9 yr old into the ground AFTER he complies with everything you asked is too much. ALL his profits? Ugh. He never pretended to be Apple and it was very clear that they weren't official Apple products.

Terribly misinformed comment. First of all, he's is definitely not a 9 year old. He's 17. Also this is one of the least objective stories I've seen on HN in a while. It makes no mention of Apple withdrawing the suit upon successful settlement.

Re: Apple Files Lawsuit Against White iPhone Kid

#18

Post by redthrowaway »

xxpor wrote: post #2

Is Woz on Apple's board? Wouldn't it be inappropriate for him to help Fei if he is?

Woz has a habit of saying things that go against the official Apple line, be it praising competitors or sounding off on the "death grip" problem. He generally walks to the beat of his own drummer.

Re: Apple Files Lawsuit Against White iPhone Kid

#19

Post by AllenKids »

wccrawford wrote: post #3

That's pretty cold and heartless. I understand defending your trademarks and all, but beating a 9 yr old into the ground AFTER he complies with everything you asked is too much. ALL his profits? Ugh. He never pretended to be Apple and it was very clear that they weren't official Apple products.

1. The lawsuit was filed and dismissed at the same day, all by the plaintiff, Apple.

2. The kid is 17.

3. The panels were Apple's components, just faulty ones that should never be released to the public.

4. Don't want be sued? Don't infringe other's lawful right. Want live like a true pirate? Prepare to get shot at. All is fair game.

Re: Apple Files Lawsuit Against White iPhone Kid

#20

Post by wccrawford »

wccrawford wrote: post #3

That's pretty cold and heartless. I understand defending your trademarks and all, but beating a 9 yr old into the ground AFTER he complies with everything you asked is too much. ALL his profits? Ugh. He never pretended to be Apple and it was very clear that they weren't official Apple products.

My mistake. I see where I got 9 from.

So... Yeah, not as cold and heartless as I thought then. By 17, he should be able to understand trademarks and whatnot.

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