December 23, 2011 37

Think Apple Supports SOPA? Check Your Facts

By John Fox in Featured

Not sure where the rumor that Apple supports SOPA started, but honestly, the Apple haters really should check their facts before spewing the garbage rumors all over the Internet.

Apple, as well as Microsoft, Intuit, Intel, Dell and many others are members of the Business Software Alliance (BSA), which until very recently supported the Stop Online Piracy Act, currently under markup in the House Judiciary Committee. The whole “guilt by association” theme that these rumor mongers are using as their logic just doesn’t fly. That’s like saying that if the Better Business Bureau supported the death penalty for shoplifters that every business who is a member of the BBB also supports it.

I get that there is mass anger at GoDaddy for supporting SOPA, and rightfully so, but let’s stop attacking companies based on a tacit (at best) association with a supporter of this legislation. Attacking tech sector businesses with weak evidence like this is only going to help spread FUD among the protestors and weaken our cause immensely. And that’s what the supporters of SOPA want.

When Apple publicly comes out in support of SOPA or any bill like it now or in the future, I will be the first to condemn them. Until then, check your goddamn facts, Apple haters.

Tags: Apple, fact check, Open Act, PIPA, privacy, security, SOPA

Tylar Clark

uhh dude.. in your own argument you are making to point out the claim that apple doesn’t support SOPA states that they formally did support SOPA… How do you attack people for believing a claim that you think is completely made up and in your own argument give the evidence of why such a claim would ever be made in the first place. It’s easy, Apple is part of BSA which supported SOPA. Call me crazy, but I think your argument should be pointed at apple for associating themselves with a group that supports bad causes.. not the people that point out the obvious!

http://www.classicyuppie.com classicyuppie

Tylar, thanks for the comment.

I think you need to go back and re-read what I’ve posted and the article to which I have linked. At no point did the article I linked to state that Apple directly supports SOPA. The BSA supports SOPA and I believe I’ve adequately addressed the illogic of attacking a company based on their professional trade affiliations. To put it more bluntly, do ALL artists that are members of ASCAP, AFM, AFTRA, SAG, and other trade orgs support SOPA? I’m sure there’s a few dissenting members that disagree with the politics at hand – yet ignorant people such as yourself, by the “guilt-by-assocation” logic you tout say that all members of these organizations are guilty. All rights holders can and should be allowed to protect their copyright. No one is questioning that in the slightest. That’s why we have the DMCA. I’m not saying that it’s perfect, but when compared to SOPA/PIPA, it leaves the new legislation seeming a bit Draconian.

I won’t argue about reasoning behind the BSA pulling it’s support of SOPA, because I sense that we’re on the same side of being against SOPA. Let me be a bit more blunt and reiterate (and broaden) my previous statement: When Apple, Microsoft, Dell or any other BSA member (or any entity period) openly makes a statement in support of SOPA, PIPA or any other piece of legislation designed to curtail the freedom we so take for granted on the Internet, then I will be the first to condemn. Until that happens, please, get a clue and stop spreading FUD around. It’s going to do more damage to the anti-SOPA/PIPA cause than you realize.

http://twitter.com/jeux999 Daner Doodle

So you don’t think it matters that Apple has more than %25 of online music & video sales? Did you really just write off the way Apple utilized DRM? Are you unaware that Apple is in bed with Pixar & Disney? Maybe you conveniently forgot that Apple’s currently trying to sue every other phone OEM out of existence right now. I’m sorry mate, but Apple lives for stuff like SOPA. It wasn’t ever “guilt-by-association” – it was “they-do-shit-like-this-all-the-time.”

http://www.classicyuppie.com classicyuppie

Daner,

I won’t disagree that DRM in the iTunes Music Store sucks beyond belief and for that reason I’ve started buying my music from Amazon at a cheaper price and I refuse to sign up for iTunes Match. However, the whole reason that Apple was able to put together an online music store in the first place was because the RIAA was insistent on copy protection.

You can purchase music now without DRM on those tracks at a higher price. Originally Apple wanted to simplify it’s pricing structure with $0.99 tracks, but the record companies wanted the music to be DRM’d at that rate. What changed is that Apple now offers DRM-free tracks, but as a concession, needed to implement a variable pricing structure in its music store. You might be interested in reading this article which outlines DRM-free music on the iTunes Store: http://www.macworld.com/article/138000/2009/01/drm_faq.html

I am fully aware that Steve Jobs founded Pixar and the two companies are related.

However, the reason why Apple is suing other phone manufacturers “out of existence” is because, well, simply put, they own the patent to the technology in question. If you owned a patent for a certain piece of technology, and people were infringing on it, you’d be upset as well. Apple has ever right to defend it’s patents, trademarks and copyrights within the law.

Quite simply, I’m not denying that Apple has it’s fair share of discrepancies when it comes to this sort of thing, but cherry picking examples to make your case isn’t what I call a solid argument.

james

When did apple ever sue another company to protect another company? NEVER! it’s not cherry picking when they are solid facts and facts makes a solid argument. I would wish that you point out one example where apple did good for piracy or copyright infringement
http://www.classicyuppie.com classicyuppie

It’s not a solid argument when you’re ignoring what I wrote:

“However, the reason why Apple is suing other phone manufacturers “out of existence” is because, well, simply put, they own the patent to the technology in question.”

I never said that another Apple sued another company to protect another company.

Also, I would never say that Apple has done good for piracy or copyright infringement because they haven’t. You’re twisting my words. What I said was that Apple has every right to pursue it’s rights under copyright law. Stealing software from anyone – an individual developer or a large company – is wrong, plain and simple. Like I said before, Apple (and every other company, for that matter) has the perfect right to defend it’s copyrights, trademarks and patents in accordance with existing law. What I am opposed to is that new laws be put into place to stop piracy and copyright infringement.

If you, along with everyone else who has negatively commented on this post bothered to read what I’ve written, you’d understand that. Barring that, it just makes you sound like a bitter Apple hater, rather than a level-headed anti-SOPA activist.

Brian

You’re stupid, the whole point of this article is saying that you shouldn’t say that apple is in support of SOPA when infact they have yet to comment on the bill. Again what people keep not understanding is that a company associating with another person or company does not at all mean they share the same views. I have very different views than my best friend, so we agree to disagree.

Now it is true that apple makes lots of money off things that can be pirated so it would be understandable that they wouldn’t want people pirating music/software, but remember SOPA goes way beyond “stopping online piracy” and maybe apple is against piracy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are in favor of sopa. Didn’t judge apple until they comment on sopa. Personally I hope they stay out of politics.

Anonymous

I don’t agree. By being a member of BSA you support SOPA. Kaspersky at least had the balls to leave BSA because of that http://www.csoonline.com/article/696031/bsa-red-faced-as-kaspersky-quits-over-sopa-support

http://www.classicyuppie.com classicyuppie

I agree with you that Apple should leave the BSA, but idealism isn’t practical in a corporate society. Apple has ever right to protect it’s assets. You can love it or hate it, but the bottom line is that just because they don’t immediately leave the BSA because of their SOPA stance is ridiculous. I don’t see anyone who has commented on this post stating that Microsoft should leave the BSA as a result. For that matter, no one is even bothering to acknowledge Microsoft’s apparently implied complicity with supporting SOPA, to the same level that everyone is accusing Apple.

guest

That’s because Microsoft never attempted to paint itself as customer-centric. People expect Microsoft to behave exactly like the corporation it is. Apple markets via feeling, using innovations such as facetime to make an emotional connection with their customers. This leads people to have a higher expectation of Apple’s behavior.

http://www.classicyuppie.com classicyuppie

I think that it’s a little more than shady to say that Microsoft never attempted to paint itself as customer-centric? If they weren’t trying to appeal to consumers in addition to enterprise clients, why would they be on Twitter? Why also would they have made consumer-centric devices like the Zune and endless mice and keyboards sold in big-box stores since their advent, not to mention that release cycles for Microsoft Windows mirror that of Mac OS X.

No, I think this argument is another point of FUD – fear, uncertainty and doubt – set to discredit Apple. You can’t win the argument by simply saying that MS isn’t customer centric. The facts just don’t add up.

Apple does market via feelings and emotion and that makes them a better marketer, but don’t for a minute confuse that with the fact they care about you. Yes, you might go into an Apple store and have a Genius bar associate take pity on you because the home button on your iPhone went out three days out of warranty, but that doesn’t mean they care about you as a person. They simply care about making the next sale.

In the end, it all comes down to marketing, and the fact that you’re starting to believe the hype is a testament to the power of it. But you’re really starting to drink the Kool-Aid if you think that Apple cares more about you then anyone else.

PS – FTR, I have been with Apple since 1999 and I don’t expect more of them than anyone else. I expect them to screw me (either sooner or later) like every other company I’ve dealt with in my almost 30 years of being on this planet. That’s business.

guest

If Apple chooses to disagree with the BSA and is actually against sopa, then why does it not simply make a statement? This is a huge issue that impacts it’s customer base. If Apple doesn’t want to camouflage its position, a simple press release will do the trick.

If I were to hang out with a hate group and never object to the members racist comments or actions, you wouldn’t hesitate to call me a racist. Especially if I chose never to decry their actions as inappropriate or wrong. Guilt by association is acceptable in this case, as a simple statement would clarify Apple’s position.

If Apple is unwilling to make that statement, you have to believe its because the comment of that statement would be unpopular and bad for business.

http://www.classicyuppie.com classicyuppie

I agree that SOPA impacts Apple’s customer base, and I think they realize that full well. However, despite all the rhetoric you may have heard about how customer-centric the company claims to be (see my reply on your other comment), they have a business model and they stick to it.

I think comparing SOPA with a hate group is a bit much. Let’s not go overboard with comparisons and keep things in perspective.

Apple can be unwilling to make a statement for many different reasons. In keeping with Steve Jobs’ philosophy, the company does not engage in politics. I have to believe that it’s because of that reason, the company does not make a statement regarding SOPA and for no other reason. You, however, can choose to believe what you want to believe. Just make sure the rhetoric you believe and speak is based on fact, and not your opinion or based on Apple-hater chatter. Base it on something more solid, please.

http://twitter.com/w00tcollective Chris Marlatt

John, plz pull your head out of the sand. Apple has much to gain from supporting SOPA by way of people using iTunes instead of downloading illegally. On the other hand the people that purchase most of their products are young enough to understand and be disrupted by the censorship SOPA proposes. Apple is Microsoft in training and will not OFFICIALLY do anything to threaten their “Golden Goose”. Long live the greedy corporate fence sitter!!!

http://www.classicyuppie.com classicyuppie

Chris, thanks for the comment.

To clarify, my head is not in the sand. I’m simply exercising restraint when passing judgement. I’m simply waiting for an official say one way or the other before accusing a company of such treacherous behavior. I’m not saying that Apple has nothing to gain by the passage of such legislation, however, it seems that you’re a bit more anti-Apple than some of the other commenters on this thread.

I’ve already addressed the copyright issues presented in the iTunes Music Store in another reply to a comment and I suggest reading the entire comment thread to gain a better perspective of where I’m coming from.

I think that the whole “Apple is Microsoft in training” bit is harsh. While I’ve seen the company stray from it’s mantra of bucking the trend since turning from a computer company to a consumer electronics company, it’s hardly Microsoft. However, as I’ve said before, not one person on this thread has spoken to condemn Microsoft for it’s “approval” of SOPA – the same tacit “approval” that everyone who has commented thus far (with the exception of one other person) has touted as being treasonous.

People that are quick to condemn one over the other are only exhibiting their own jadedness towards the people who enjoy a computing lifestyle different than their own. For the record I’m platform agnostic and use all three types of consumer OSes. It just happens that I prefer to use OS X on a more regular basis.

Hunteriv4

Honestly Apple has as much to lose from this legislation as any other internet distribution company. iTunes could easily be accused of “facilitating piracy” simply because people can use iTunes to import non-DRM (assumed illegal, of course) music or videos.

The App Store is another place…even assuming there aren’t any infringing apps on their now (a pretty big assumption) there are illegal apps on the jailbroken version. Under SOPA, it won’t matter if Apple doesn’t support jailbreaking; they are still facilitating piracy. The iPod itself could be considered a piracy distribution system.Apple may be confident in their lawyers, but do you really want to pass a bill that’s nearly guaranteed to cause legal issues for your company? I’ll be honest, I’m in that “Apple hater” category, but Apple would have to be crazy to support this bill. I’m sure that they’re hoping they can get away with remaining silent so they can stay on the BSA’s good side while not publicly saying the support the bill and hoping giants like Google and Amazon take care of it for them.

They’ll probably remain so until it looks like they can’t get away without taking a stand anymore. Sony and Nintendo tried the same thing and it wasn’t until significant pressure from the internet community forced them to take a stand that they released their stance. Once Apple receives similar pressure they’ll probably say they’re against it like every other major computer company.
Anonymous

“That’s like saying that if the Better Business Bureau supported the death penalty for shoplifters that every business who is a member of the BBB also supports it.”

That logic doesn’t fly either. Here you are equating the BBB and the BSA; however, they are very different organizations. The BBB purports to promote ethical business practices and acts as a third-party that judges the behavior of companies for the benefit of individuals and other businesses. The BSA is an industry trade group, which BY DEFINTION acts to promote the interests of its own members.

Let’s boil this down to individuals; perhaps that would make this more clear. Let’s say that you are a football star. In this scenario, the BBB would be an independent scout. This scout happens to commit adultery. That you associate with this scout does not make you complicit in his adultery or suggest that you support adultery.

The BSA in this situation would be your agent, your legal representative; at the same time, he represents other athletes as well. You and your fellow sportsmen have hired this agent, paid him good money, to represent you. In this capacity, he makes demands of your teams’ owners and management. Even if you make no comments asserting that you agree with the agent’s demands, the fact remains that you have previously retained him to act as YOUR representative.

If there comes a time when the agent’s words and actions no longer represent your desires, you have only one of two logical paths to go down: either you get your agent to act in accordance with your wishes, or you fire them. Until you do, it is not at all unreasonable to believe that your representative is promoting your interests. Until the BSA pulled their support of SOPA, “Apple, as well as Microsoft, Intuit, Intel, Dell and many others” were dawdling at this very fork in the road and deserved the consequences of their silence. Sometimes not making a choice is a choice itself.

cphoenix

I was gonna say…damn you for taking the words right from me. These were my thoughts as well when I read that line equating the BBB and BSA. They are, indeed, very different entities, and while the tacit approval of SOPA by BSA members was assumed, it was assumed wisely, with good reason.

Anonymous

Frankly I’m more amused by the fact that the fantastic Mr. Fox has taken the time to reply to every other person who disagreed with him except me, rather than this argument over SOPA, the motivations of corporations, and the like. As Orwell and his antecedents point out, it’s inevitable for those with power — especially those who can’t be held accountable by many (if any) others – to seek more power.

Bob

Apple still sucks.

Lilith

fuck you. You suck more than anyone

jake the snake

what kind of a name is lilith?

Luis Acuña

I only read this looking for an answer to Apple’s stand…did not find it
Tremec00

apple only sucks to the ones who cannot afford one

applefascist

edit: apple only sucks to the ones who think for themselves.
whoisyourdaddy

I bought an apple the other day…it was delicious

Onlinebackup17052010

Your word is as good as any one else’s… since you have provided no proof, so why should I believe this
WiefaS

They’re part of a few industry associations that support the stupid legislation. They also didn’t come out against it. They’re very much in favor.
Anonymous

I don’t know what your talking about they supported it until there best interests were compromised with their users. Meaning that they supported it until people took notice and changed their mind on which position to take, quietly.
http://twitter.com/MisterModular Jeff Thornton

So do they support it or not??

Chuck

Yes, but they pulled their official support when public opinion turned against it. Apple has a huge stake in SOPA and PIPA due to the iTunes store, and many of their competitors both legitimate and not could be put out of business by it.

Ryan N.

So how would “I’m a member of the Nazi party, but that doesn’t believe I agree with everything they do/say?” play with you?
Anonymous

Why wouldn’t they make a statement opposing it then? Using IP for financial gain is exactly what Apple does. It’s their shtick. I need to see them say they are against it before I blindly believe they aren’t. Being a member of the BSA means they are supporting it financially.

I know a lot of people feel the need to justify their fervent support of the company right now but don’t let it cloud your judgement too much.
victor elliott

They did support SOPA but they withdrew support after lose of users so how about you check your facts.
Profit>all

they didnt say, that they are agains SOPA. This and being in the BSA makes the assumption of them supprting it kinda obvious. Also it is quite obvious, that SOPA would increase their marketshare by a huge lot. While it might destroy big parts of one of their main rivals, Google, projects Apple has running, like apple tv or ITunes will become much bigger. They clearly profit alot from SOPA. So why would they not support it?
jake the snake

check your facts and stop preaching half truths apple fanboy

They initially supported SOPA – FACT They only withdrew support on the realization that most of their advertising is on websites that violate the bill, which in turn would create major losses for the company – FACT
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Think Apple Supports SOPA? Check Your Facts

by John Fox