Tuesday, 16 January 2007

Apple Sues Over Copycat iPhone Skins

In a funny turn of events, inspite of Apple being sued by Cisco for having copied the latter’s trademark name—the 'iPhone', Apple seems to be making a beeline to sue people who are coyping the iPhone appearance. Apple claims that the user interface that the iPhone is using is patented...

In a funny turn of events, inspite of Apple being sued by Cisco for having copied the latter’s trademark name—the 'iPhone', Apple seems to be making a beeline to sue people who are coyping the iPhone appearance. Apple claims that the user interface that the iPhone is using is patented, and Apple is more than willing to protect its development, quite irritated by 'copycats'.

MoDaCo, has developed a screen shot of the UI that users can download and install as a 'skin' on their PocketPC device. Companies like MoDaCo and certain coders have developed iPhone 'skins' that work with most smartphones based on the Windows Mobile and Palm operating systems.

The skins don't add any new functionality to the devices, but make use of the iPhone's copyrighted icons to create a UI that distinctly resembles Apple's hybrid mobile phone.

Apple's lawyers allegedly sent letters to journalists who reported on the fact that the skins were available. "It has come to our attention that you have posted a screenshot of Apple's new iPhone and links that facilitate the installation of that screenshot on a PocketPC device," law firm O'Melveny & Myers LLP wrote to Paul O'Brien, who runs the MoDaCo web site.

"While we appreciate your interest in the iPhone, the icons and screenshot displayed on your website are copyrighted by Apple.

"Apple therefore demands that you remove this screenshot from your website and refrain from facilitating the further dissemination of Apple's copyrighted material by removing the link, where said icons and screenshot are being distributed."

"I think this is all complete nonsense," Michael Arrington, of the influential technology blog TechCrunch, said.

"If Apple wants to go after the guy that made the Windows Mobile skin that looks like the iPhone, fine. But to bully bloggers who are simply reporting on this is another matter", he continued.

What is really ironic in this aggressive need to protect one’s Intellectual Property (IP) is that Apple has been accused of infringing on Cisco’s IP as well.