Apple demands halt to publication of tell-all App Store book over confidentiality issues
Apple is taking legal action against former german App Store manager Tom Sadowski and publisher Murmann Verlag to stop circulation of a book about his work, under allegations it reveals confidential "business secrets" that the author wasn't allowed to disclose.
Lawyers working for Apple have ordered Sadowski and his publisher to cease deliveries of book orders, to recall all copies of the book that are already in circulation, and to destroy all manuscripts of the book. Publisher Murmann and the author have so far resisted the demands from the iPhone maker.
Focus reports Apple believes there are confidentiality violations of Sadowski's employment contract with the company due to the book's publication, as it contains "business secrets" that are "of considerable economic value."
Apple insisted to the report it has "long supported a free press and supports authors of all kinds," but in this case Sadowski had "violated his employment relationship." This includes Apple's employment guidelines, which are "applied equally and fairly" to all employees.
Released on Tuesday in Germany, the book "App Store Confidential" by Sadowski is said to be a behind-the-scenes view of how the App Store works from the former manager's viewpoint. The book details Sadowski's journey into Apple, his personal experiences in working inside the App Store, and his meetings with Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Sadowski was an employee with Apple for ten years, working for iTunes marketing for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland before heading up the App Store's efforts in Germany until November 2019. After Apple, Sadowski moved to offering coaching to startups, and provides advice to companies about their apps and monetization strategies.
Lawyers working for Apple have ordered Sadowski and his publisher to cease deliveries of book orders, to recall all copies of the book that are already in circulation, and to destroy all manuscripts of the book. Publisher Murmann and the author have so far resisted the demands from the iPhone maker.
Focus reports Apple believes there are confidentiality violations of Sadowski's employment contract with the company due to the book's publication, as it contains "business secrets" that are "of considerable economic value."
Apple insisted to the report it has "long supported a free press and supports authors of all kinds," but in this case Sadowski had "violated his employment relationship." This includes Apple's employment guidelines, which are "applied equally and fairly" to all employees.
Released on Tuesday in Germany, the book "App Store Confidential" by Sadowski is said to be a behind-the-scenes view of how the App Store works from the former manager's viewpoint. The book details Sadowski's journey into Apple, his personal experiences in working inside the App Store, and his meetings with Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Sadowski was an employee with Apple for ten years, working for iTunes marketing for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland before heading up the App Store's efforts in Germany until November 2019. After Apple, Sadowski moved to offering coaching to startups, and provides advice to companies about their apps and monetization strategies.
Comments
This thread will explode here I'm sure. It's perfect clickbait.
(u) Crap. I found it on Amazon but it's in German. Never mind.
The book has an insider's view of how to game the App Store as I understand it, not a bunch of "oh my gawd, APPLE!" stuff. Don't think there's anything to be indignant about. Instead it's stuff we, or more importantly developers, don't know about how the App Store works from the manager's point of view.
According to a few reviews, there aren't any ground breaking revelations in the book. One person described it as more of a field report than an in-depth tell-all.
The author wrote something that roughly translates to someone having the cojones to implement something - does not seem like something worth my time.
The speculation is that Apple is objecting to the details of the feedbacks from upper management for apps, that were in the book.
I just checked my slightly old Kindle Fire and it does not even do that, it only provides dictionary definitions.