Reliable Leaker 'Kang' Hit With Warning From Apple (macrumors.com) 38
The highly reliable Apple leaker known as "Kang" and a number of other unspecified leakers have reportedly received warnings from lawyers representing Apple. From a report: According to posts on Kang's Weibo account, Apple recently commissioned a law firm to send admonitory letters to a number of leakers. The letter purportedly cautioned leakers that they must not disclose information about unreleased Apple projects because it may give Apple's competitors valuable information and "mislead customers, because what is disclosed may not be accurate." Apple purportedly grabbed screenshots of Kang's Weibo as evidence, which included him talking about problems he experienced with the iPhone, product release dates, and purchase suggestions for his followers, as well as more casual posts. Kang went on to give his personal opinion on the situation. Kang explained that since "I have never published undisclosed product pictures" or sold his information, Apple must take exception to "riddles and dreams" about its undisclosed projects.
Apple leaks vaguely characterized as "dreams" have been popularized in recent years by leakers such as "L0vetodream," providing some insiders with a fun mechanism to hint at Apple's future plans without giving too much away. Even "dreaming will violate their confidentiality mechanism," according to Kang, who said that under Apple's logic "if I have a dream, Apple's competitors will obtain effective information." "Without sending pictures or leaking pictures, I am still used as a target," he said. Kang commented that "I won't post riddles and dreams in the future," suggested that he will be deleting some previous posts on social media, and expressed the need to "tone back" posting about Apple since "talking will be audited."
Apple leaks vaguely characterized as "dreams" have been popularized in recent years by leakers such as "L0vetodream," providing some insiders with a fun mechanism to hint at Apple's future plans without giving too much away. Even "dreaming will violate their confidentiality mechanism," according to Kang, who said that under Apple's logic "if I have a dream, Apple's competitors will obtain effective information." "Without sending pictures or leaking pictures, I am still used as a target," he said. Kang commented that "I won't post riddles and dreams in the future," suggested that he will be deleting some previous posts on social media, and expressed the need to "tone back" posting about Apple since "talking will be audited."
Weird reaction⦠(Score:1)
Weird that he now seems to refrain from posting certain stuff. Isnâ(TM)t anybody entitled to post about rumors?
Would Apple really be able to use the law against him?
Re:Weird reaction⦠(Score:5, Insightful)
Gotta read between the lines, this isn't the west. The threat is that Apple will use Chinese "law" on them.
They don't want to spend time in Chinese torture chairs, so they'll stop leaking.
Re: Weird reaction⦠(Score:1)
Iâ(TM)m pretty sure Apple is not going for the PR fallout that such a move would bring with it in the west.
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But do Apple have something leak-worthy?
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If he didn't have a nondisclosure agreement with Apple then he would have just told them to f off. I expect they reminded him that he does have such an agreement and consistently "dreaming" about actual new product launches constitutes a violation.
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Because getting NDA'd information even though he has not signed one would protect him in China, with its robust protection of journalism and free speech.
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Do you know anything about the Chinese legal system, or are you just propagandizing on Slashdot?
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You're not the original poster, but you have nevertheless answered the question.
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Do you? When legal records can simply disappear [latimes.com], you don't need to have a basis in law to detain someone, now do you.
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If he didn't have a nondisclosure agreement with Apple then he would have just told them to f off. I expect they reminded him that he does have such an agreement and consistently "dreaming" about actual new product launches constitutes a violation.
He's in China so much of US law is moot. IINAL, but there is such a thing as Tortious Interference, [wikipedia.org] which doesn't require an NDA or contract. It basically says you committed tortious interference if you interfere with a business contract, even if you are not party to it. You need to know a contract existed, get someone to breach it, and cause another party harm. Where and how he could be sued is another question.
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Re: Groovy (Score:3)
Re: Groovy (Score:2)
Apple hoping for the Streisand effect? (Score:2)
Anyone still silly enough to be excited by consumer electronics SHOULD be because it helps AAPL move product.
If the information is incorrect that's only the problem of the fools who made buying decisions based on it, but even the most expensive Apple gear is literally pocket change for many of their customers who have cash to burn.
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Lol someone still mad about Parler.
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Seriously, love to watch the trolls who are calling people "idiots" and "children" who don't accept their way of thinking: that we shouldn't accept Apple's way of thinking.
Bitter, much?
Re: It's Apple. (Score:3)
Apple is hiding from itself. Jobs knew the value of "Think Different". It wasn't just a corporate slogan or a call to action, it was an integral world view and an idealogical way of living. Jobs was keen to the cyclical ways of nature's forces. Sounds a bit hippy, but well...
People praising censorship from Apple don't understand the forces in play. It wasn't a short-term win, and it definitely won't be a long-term win. It was dumb.
Don't blame me (Score:2)
I got my Apple leaks from Kodos!
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Second reference about Kodos, but first one written in on-topic form instead of a direct off-topic quote.
No mod points, so virtual +1 Funny.
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I get my Apple leaks from Samsung.
Not honorable (Score:1)
They warned Kang (Score:2)
But what about Kor and Koloth?
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Apple has no honor!
Koloth will take revenge on Apple . It will be no tribble at all for him.
A shame Koth and his house can't help Koloth. It would have been glorious.
(hehe)
Is Apple ... (Score:2)
Dreams are important (Score:1)
Of course dreaming gives information to competitions. If people dream about something and the competitors manage to offer it before Apple, it is Apple's loss, isn't it?
Ideally, people would share their dreams with the company, not revealing anything to the public.