A bit ironic that CNet is ripping off 2 other sites to tell us this.
Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design
81–90 of 260 posts
Re: Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design
#82Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sorry, I don't understand the satire here. It sounds like you're mimicking the response to claims that Apple stole designs from Braun? But the two situations are nothing alike -- cribbing industrial design elements from defunct products is a far cry from duplicating a trademarked image more or less exactly. It seems more likely you're trying to dig on Apple for going thermonuclear on trade dress while at the same tim…
People probably feel that it is hypocritical to sue one company for copying your designs, and then turn around and copy designs off someone else, especially when they happen right a few months apart. Personally, my moral compass immediately feels that this is worse than just plain copying, and I assume that is why people are reacting with a stronger anti-Apple sentiment here.
This is a digression, but I have trouble with the idea of hypocrisy in general. It's difficult for me to conceive that, morally, espousing wrong beliefs and adhering to them in one's personal life is better than espousing wrong beliefs while at least doing the right thing oneself.
(Assuming the people who made these decisions have any interaction with each other:) If intellectual property is well grounded, Apple is right to defend their own, but wrong to copy others'. If it is not, they are wrong to defend their own, but justified in using others'. Yes, they are wrong in either case, but tu quoque is the sorry refuge taken to avoid having to admit that they are also right in either.
Re: Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design
#83if we're being generous, maybe apple just thought that it was a Swiss train station clock nobody cares about (which, in a way, is what the clock actually was), which their team kind of just came across (maybe in switzerland!) and thought they liked it despite its being unremarkable and uncelebrated, like "found art". oops.
this just goes to show that good art really is timeless. it's not about bs marketing hyping up art that isn't art without the hype. as apple just found out, it's still art without the hype.
Re: Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design
#84Earlier quoted context omitted.
There is a difference between "homage" and "rip-off" Look at all of the designs that Dieter Rams did, that Apple used in their own products: http://gizmodo.com/343641/1960s-braun-products-hold-the-secr... And look what Dieter things about this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/8555503/Dieter-R... Can you not see the difference between what Apple is doing and what Samsung is doing?
This clock is a "slavish copy" of the Swiss clock, down to the weight of each element and the presence of the red hand. You can't possibly say it's an 'homage' any more than running the Mona Lisa through a color Xerox would be. Edit: It appears to be merely "almost" identical to the Swiss clock and instead is a slavish copy of the Austrian clock, given the weight of the minute hash marks.
But one question is, does Apple's copy do any damage to the original designer? It is obvious that Samsung is hoping to "steal" iPhone sales; it is obvious that Apple did not do Braun's defunct products any harm. But how about this case? I'm undecided, but I still think Apple should have licensed the design.
Re: Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design
#85Earlier quoted context omitted.
+1 great sarcasm. Apple is allowed to 'borrow' good ideas but not other companies.
In Steve's words, this is a great "steal". They probably thought the clock company should feel honored about it. I would like to see their faces now.
Remember the time Tim cook said, that Apple cannot be the developer for the whole world?
Re: Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design
#86Earlier quoted context omitted.
There is a difference between "homage" and "rip-off" Look at all of the designs that Dieter Rams did, that Apple used in their own products: http://gizmodo.com/343641/1960s-braun-products-hold-the-secr... And look what Dieter things about this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/8555503/Dieter-R... Can you not see the difference between what Apple is doing and what Samsung is doing?
This clock is a "slavish copy" of the Swiss clock, down to the weight of each element and the presence of the red hand. You can't possibly say it's an 'homage' any more than running the Mona Lisa through a color Xerox would be. Edit: It appears to be merely "almost" identical to the Swiss clock and instead is a slavish copy of the Austrian clock, given the weight of the minute hash marks.
The point is, Apple makes no bones about it being a carbon copy. If you asked them, they would throw their hands up in frustration and say, that is the entire point.
They absolutely intended for anyone who see's this clock to immediately recognize they were paying tribute to the original.
Traditionally, designers have appreciated these little nods of respect.
I'm not sure what happened with SBB, but I'm sure it will play out to their benefit.
In the case of Samsung, Apple _wanted_ Samsung to pull their product from the market. In the case of SBB, it would be slap to their face if Apple just decided to yank their clock off the iPad.
Hopefully it will all work out for the best - Apple will license the likeness for some moderate fee, and everyone walks away happy.
Re: Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design
#87Earlier quoted context omitted.
People probably feel that it is hypocritical to sue one company for copying your designs, and then turn around and copy designs off someone else, especially when they happen right a few months apart. Personally, my moral compass immediately feels that this is worse than just plain copying, and I assume that is why people are reacting with a stronger anti-Apple sentiment here.
This is a digression, but I have trouble with the idea of hypocrisy in general. It's difficult for me to conceive that, morally, espousing wrong beliefs and adhering to them in one's personal life is better than espousing wrong beliefs while at least doing the right thing oneself. (Assuming the people who made these decisions have any interaction with each other:) If intellectual property is well grounded, Apple is r…
I think hypocrisy is used most often when there's no consensus whether some beliefs are bad, and supporters of one view use hypocrisy of supporters of the other to make an argument.
When someone says "murdering people is OK" and then doesn't murder - nobody is going to accuse him of hypocrisy ;)
Re: Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design
#88Hellow world
Re: Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design
#89On an unrelated note, I wish there was a wall clock with the real Swiss stop-to-go[1] action... Edit: and [2] would make for a great 11.5" laptop sticker [1] http://www.3quarks.com/en/StationClock/index.html [2] http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b2/SBB-CFF-FFS.sv...
I'm pretty sure you can buy them from inside the SBB ticket centers, but you can at least buy wrist watches from mondaine:
http://www.mondaine.com/mondaine/
edit: Looks like you can buy the wall clocks online from SBB itself http://www.sbbshop.ch/pub/index.php?page=goods&c=8&s...
Re: Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design
#90what if the swiss rail system installs screens or develops tablets for its passengers one day that show the iconic clock? Could Apple sue them then?