Apple legal is slacking, Safari on non-Apple hardware prohibited

Quincy Pince-Nez
|
March 26, 2008
|
Share

Ah, Apple's legal department.  Our favorite group of &%# people ever.  Turns out someone over there hasn't been doing their homework.  According to Safari for Windows' Software License PDF, the software is only to be installed on Apple-labeled computers...

2. Permitted License Uses and Restrictions.

This License allows you to install and use one copy of the Apple Software on a single Apple-labeled computer at a time.  The Apple Software may be used to reproduce materials so long as such use is limited to reproduction of non-copyrighted materials, materials in which you own the copyright, or materials you are authorized or legally permitted to reproduce. This License does not allow the Apple Software to exist on more than one computer at a time, and you may not make the Apple Software available over a network where it could be used by multiple computers at the same time. You may make one copy of the Apple Software in machine-backup copy must include all copyright or other proprietary notices contained on the original.

This is in contrast to Windows iTunes license:

2. Permitted License Uses and Restrictions.

This License allows you to install and use one copy of the Apple Software.  The Apple Software may be used to reproduce materials

so long as such use is limited to reproduction of non-copyrighted materials...

So, unless you are running Windows Safari on Bootcamp, or on a Parallels or VMWare Fusion image, you are doing so against the terms of service that Apple provides - in other words, illegally.

Obviously, this is a typo on the part of Apple's legal team...but legal typos can be dangerous.

via

 

Comments (17)

Vaganza (not verified) | March 26, 2008 - 7:34am

Just add an Apple Sticker to the machine ;)

Apple Legal Beagle (not verified) | March 26, 2008 - 7:47am

That is no mistake! Now toss that sub-stadard POS computer out this instant and buy yourself a shiny new Mac to Bootcamp.
.
P.S. Marketing says you'll end up happier and look cooler anyway.

Anonymous Coward (not verified) | March 26, 2008 - 7:56am

Cut and Paste strikes again!

Anonymous Coward (not verified) | March 26, 2008 - 8:18am

Didn't that come from Xerox's PARC project?

Andrew (not verified) | March 26, 2008 - 8:25am

There's another way to read it -- and we know how picky the lawyers can be about language.

According to that, you can only have Safari installed on one *Apple* computer at a time, but it says nothing about how many *other* brands of computers you can have it on.

I read it as, "You can have it on one Apple-branded computer at a time, and as many non-Apple computers as you want."

Ah, the legal profession.

JohnnyK (not verified) | March 26, 2008 - 8:50am

Since it is free software that they would like everyone to use, why would there be this restriction anyway? Why would it matter if you use the FREE software on any and as many computers as you want?

Anonymous Sage (not verified) | March 26, 2008 - 9:01am

And of course, all those Windows users who had Safari installed automatically because it was in the iTunes Software Update are now breaking the law and can be prosecuted for piracy. What a joke...

Anonymous Coward (not verified) | March 26, 2008 - 1:20pm

This is not legal advice. It is my humble and often incorrect opinion:

First of all, violating this clause in the Apple agreement isn't breaking the law - it is breaking your agreement with Apple. No criminal court in the USA can pursue a violation of this clause.

Apple could sue you in civil court for failure to abide by the license that you (evidently) agreed to. But it seems quite unthinkable that Apple would pursue a violation of this particular clause - as it is fairly clear that the clause was not part of their intention.

I wouldn't worry about it. It would be a huge, laughable political error if Apple were to pursue a violation of this clause of the Safari for Windows license.

Anonymous Coward (not verified) | March 26, 2008 - 9:28am

People who think ripping DVD's are illegal will have to abide by this. It's the letter of the law. :-)

Taras (not verified) | March 26, 2008 - 10:12am

This is Apple's evil plot to get those they dupe into downloading Safari to buy an Apple-labeled computer (is that what those stickers are for)...

Anonymous Coward (not verified) | March 26, 2008 - 11:05am

Ouch... some newly graduated kid from Harvard Law just got fired. Good bye Porsche, $750,000 home, and $500,000 trophy wife...

Anonymous but not a Coward (not verified) | March 27, 2008 - 8:20am

Oh, puh-leez make the wife worth more than the home. Give her THAT much respect, at least.

Anonymous Coward (not verified) | March 26, 2008 - 4:10pm

people bother to read those agreements? someone wasted valuable time finding this out...

Anonymous Coward (not verified) | March 27, 2008 - 6:25am

Apple fanboys crack me up. Safari, quicktime, itunes or any of apple's overhyped useless crap will never be on my computer.

Anonymous. That is all. (not verified) | March 27, 2008 - 3:06pm

PC fanboys make me die of laughter, at least be a fan of something credible that does not generate errors or produce/attract spyware at the same time.

What do you PC fanboys talk about anyways? ....so how about that Norton 30-day trial....

Anonymous Coward (not verified) | March 27, 2008 - 8:52pm

Today Apple changed it's license agreement to fix the issue listed above. Good job 9-5!

lummie (not verified) | April 07, 2008 - 6:26am

I have release the "Apple Safari License Compliance Kit" to aid windows users in compliance with the license policy.

http://lummie.co.uk/?p=98