New York Times:
In an investigation involving guns and drugs, the Justice Department obtained a court order this summer demanding that Apple turn over, in real time, text messages between suspects using iPhones.
Apple’s response: Its iMessage system was encrypted and the company could not comply.
We need some disruption in the patent process. It’s too complex, too stifling to innovation, too unfriendly to the garage inventor.
Despicable.
Serenity Caldwell does a phenomenal job explaining the licensing rights associated with the various elements that make up Apple Music and why we should care. Great writing, great research.
Ever wonder why most restaurants sing some odd birthday, rather than the traditional version we’ve all grown up with? It’s all about a long brewing copyright battle.
Thanks to filmmaker Jennifer Nelson, that may be about to change. A fascinating story.
I think this letter has the potential to change things for Apple. Very specific allegations.
Cecilia Kang, writing for the Washington Post:
The Federal Trade Commission has launched an antitrust review into Apple’s treatment of competing music-streaming apps that are sold through its iTunes App Store, according to three people with direct knowledge of the matter.
Good change.
The attorneys general behind the 2013 eBook price fixing investigation are at it again.
A Google spokesperson gave a statement in response to my complaint about the privacy issue in the Google Photos license agreement.
The Hollywood Reporter:
A huge lawsuit against SiriusXM over its performance of pre-1972 sound recordings is officially no longer just about Flo & Eddie of The Turtles. On Wednesday, the high-stakes litigation took another major step forward after U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez granted a motion for class certification.
Big implications.
A major ruling dealt a setback to Personal Audio’s ability to demand fees from podcasters. Big win for the podcasting world.
Patent issue. Interesting that they can’t use the image of an apple, can’t use the word Apple. Trademarks can be odd ducks sometime.
BBC:
A group of users claim that Google bypassed security settings on the Safari browser to install tracking cookies on their computers in order to target them with advertising.
SmartFlash LLC follows their recent court victory with a follow-on lawsuit to include more recent devices. And Ericsson AB announced their own lawsuit against Apple, a bit of hardball following a failed licensing deal.
Bloomberg Business:
Apple Inc. was told to pay $532.9 million after a federal jury said the company’s iTunes software used a Texas company’s patented inventions without permission.
This one’s not over.
As of yesterday, February 11th, you now have the right to unlock your phone, provided you meet some basic criteria. Read on for the relevant links.
How the heck did Adobe find out about this? Whistleblower?
Pacific Standard:
Imagine your favorite musician, actor, filmmaker, or painter. Undoubtedly, each one grew up idolizing—emulating, even—their artistic heroes. As such, if you pay close enough attention, it’s not hard to see those influences permeating the artist’s work. But at what point does paying homage to source material become a swindle?
Be sure to watch the Sam Smith/Tom Petty side-by-side video.
New York Times:
A new website, called Hacker’s List, seeks to match hackers with people looking to gain access to email accounts, take down unflattering photos from a website or gain access to a company’s database. In less than three months of operation, over 500 hacking jobs have been put out to bid on the site, with hackers vying for the right to do the dirty work.
Yesterday, Apple was granted a patent for a Digital camera system having remote control. GoPro stock drops about 15%.
Apple has implemented a new policy to prevent abuse of its EU no-questions-asked 14 day refund agreement.
There’s been a lot of discussion about the lawsuit alleging that Apple is somehow defrauding its customers by selling a 16 Gig phone, which yields about 12 Gigs of usable space.
As Xiaomi contemplates entering western markets, it will no doubt have a strategy in hand for dealing with more stringent intellectual property protections. The question is, will it change its stripes? Here’s the latest and greatest example…
The Verge:
A California judge has denied a request from a trio of media outlets to make video deposition of late Apple CEO Steve Jobs available to the public.
As more and more sensitive material is leaked in the press, Sony is taking a legal route to solve their massive PR problem.
India is a huge market, second in importance to Xiaomi only to China. Ericsson certainly has Xiaomi’s attention now.
CNET:
Some of the last video footage taken of the late Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs shown in antitrust court last week may see the light of day after lawyers representing the Associated Press, Bloomberg and CNN filed a motion with the court to have it released.
BBC:
Lawyers for Apple have raised a last-minute challenge saying new evidence suggested that the two women named as plaintiffs may not have purchased iPod models covered by the lawsuit.
The iTunes antitrust trial started on Tuesday and the mud is definitely slinging.