Apple says hardware leaks harm consumers
Apple firmed up its stance on hardware leaks in a cease and desist letter addressed to a Chinese citizen in June, saying the publicization of unreleased products hurts consumers.
In the letter, penned by Apple lawyers and sent to a known Chinese leaker and seller of prototype hardware, the company argues unauthorized advertisements pertaining to rumored or unreleased products harm consumer interests by diminishing launch day surprises, reports Motherboard.
"Such situations harm the interests of consumers and Apple. Therefore, it is obvious that when the unpublished information about the design and performance of Apple's products is kept confidential, it has actual and potential commercial value," Apple's letter reads, according to the report.
The tech giant takes pride in its ability to "surprise and delight," though a deluge of leaks from factories in China have severely hampered its ability to do so over the past decade. With leakers, analysts and major media outlets all eager to be the first to detail new facets of Apple's operation, true surprises are few and far between.
"Apple has made every effort to take strict measures to maintain confidentiality for any information about Apple's products before their official release to ensure that every time Apple releases a new product, it can surprise the public. The secret of Apple's latest technological innovation is an important part of the company DNA," Apple's letter reads.
Interestingly, Apple in part defends third-party accessory makers, or at least their customers, by noting these smaller companies "may develop and sell mobile phone cases and other accessories that are not actually compatible with the unreleased products."
It is unclear how Apple squares this logic. Many case makers seek out leaked schematics and other unofficial information to get a head start on production before a product's debut. The practice is well known and accessories for unreleased devices often pop up online months ahead of launch, meaning accessory manufacturers at least amplify the problem.
Apple also claims advertisement of unreleased hardware amounts to illegal disclosure of trade secrets. In this case, the Chinese leaker published "a large amount of information related to Apple's unreleased and rumored products" to gain "widespread recognition and a large number of followers" on social media platforms.
Today's report offers further background on a report covering a cease and desist letter first published on Wednesday.
Demand for information about iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac and other Apple product lines have created a cottage industry of sorts for people who can get their hands on unreleased devices. A number of high-profile leakers obtain hardware from insiders at Apple's Chinese plants, then publish pictures of their spoils online. Some sell the goods to buyers ranging from Apple fans to developers on the hunt for obscure software vulnerabilities.
Apple began to crack down on leaks in earnest last month when cease and desist letters were sent to at least two popular online personalities. The company is also rumored to be seeding disinformation about upcoming product launches to ferret out overly forthcoming employees.
Read on AppleInsider
In the letter, penned by Apple lawyers and sent to a known Chinese leaker and seller of prototype hardware, the company argues unauthorized advertisements pertaining to rumored or unreleased products harm consumer interests by diminishing launch day surprises, reports Motherboard.
"Such situations harm the interests of consumers and Apple. Therefore, it is obvious that when the unpublished information about the design and performance of Apple's products is kept confidential, it has actual and potential commercial value," Apple's letter reads, according to the report.
The tech giant takes pride in its ability to "surprise and delight," though a deluge of leaks from factories in China have severely hampered its ability to do so over the past decade. With leakers, analysts and major media outlets all eager to be the first to detail new facets of Apple's operation, true surprises are few and far between.
"Apple has made every effort to take strict measures to maintain confidentiality for any information about Apple's products before their official release to ensure that every time Apple releases a new product, it can surprise the public. The secret of Apple's latest technological innovation is an important part of the company DNA," Apple's letter reads.
Interestingly, Apple in part defends third-party accessory makers, or at least their customers, by noting these smaller companies "may develop and sell mobile phone cases and other accessories that are not actually compatible with the unreleased products."
It is unclear how Apple squares this logic. Many case makers seek out leaked schematics and other unofficial information to get a head start on production before a product's debut. The practice is well known and accessories for unreleased devices often pop up online months ahead of launch, meaning accessory manufacturers at least amplify the problem.
Apple also claims advertisement of unreleased hardware amounts to illegal disclosure of trade secrets. In this case, the Chinese leaker published "a large amount of information related to Apple's unreleased and rumored products" to gain "widespread recognition and a large number of followers" on social media platforms.
Today's report offers further background on a report covering a cease and desist letter first published on Wednesday.
Demand for information about iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac and other Apple product lines have created a cottage industry of sorts for people who can get their hands on unreleased devices. A number of high-profile leakers obtain hardware from insiders at Apple's Chinese plants, then publish pictures of their spoils online. Some sell the goods to buyers ranging from Apple fans to developers on the hunt for obscure software vulnerabilities.
Apple began to crack down on leaks in earnest last month when cease and desist letters were sent to at least two popular online personalities. The company is also rumored to be seeding disinformation about upcoming product launches to ferret out overly forthcoming employees.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
All leakers seek to profit from the practice in one form or another.
I have to admit I kinda miss the days of "one more thing."
We all know exactly why we’re here.
False and confusing information is absolutely a harm to customers. "Leaks" assist in the mass of confusing information that us consumers already deal with (including, ahem, trolls that purposefully look to confuse the issue including disinformation posts, spreading gossip "leaks", troll farming/ruining products ratings systems).
It is completely unneeded confusion (a.k.a. harm) to consumers when current buying information available is clear: right now company A offers X and company B offers Z.. That's it for consumers. Now you want to speculate that Apple is likely to offer a new product in September -- as that is their schedule -- and what features you'd like? Perfectly fine but that isn't people with marginal knowledge branding their words as "leaks". To make that point clearer, did you buy the big Apple Television or buy stock in Apple because they are now a green energy electric vehicle maker? I know you wouldn't buy anything Apple but I'm sure you get the point.
Here's good news for you. If you want to know what Apple(you don't) or Google or Samsung is going to release including the specs, those companies shockingly will announce it/release information on it when it's ready. Of course you may feel entitled to know anytime you want and laughably claim that's best for everyone -- back here in the real world you don't and it's not.
Off the top of my head -- some harms to consumers :
* leak may not be correct or Apple may change a feature or product at the last minute. Any decisions made by consumer based on leaked info are based on bad or incorrect info.
* leak may be incorrect. 3rd party accessory manufactured based on leak may not actually work correctly or fit. Consumer buying said accessory ahead of release in order to have it when the new Apple product arrives at their door has a piece of useless 3rd party junk.
* Apple may decide not to announce leaked product or hold it back for more work and consumers who pushed off buying something they needed in anticipation of the newer one now are SOL.
There are probably a dozen more obvious harms that you could come up with with a half hour of thought.
There are also advantages consumers gain by leaks, such as, if the leak is correct, advance knowledge that may help them make a "better" decision on a coming purchase
You say there are probably dozens more you could come up with, but you haven't actually come up with one real harm to consumers. You've simply highlighted examples of people who make bad purchasing decisions. It's not really the same thing. In fact, I can't really think of a single time an Apple leak as caused harm to consumers. Can you? I doubt Apple could either, or else they probably would have mentioned it as an example of the "harm".
Leaks are a business issue. Consumer issue? Not so much.
... It was made by a lawyer. That explains it.
A 'leak' only becomes a leak once the product or service is confirmed. Until that moment it's simply a rumour.
Secrecy actually helps to spin the rumour mill so if they want to stretch things in one direction, they can easily be stretched in the other, too.