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December 22, 2007

legal

Apple going after Fake Steve too?

Posted Dec. 22, ’07, 4:20 PM PT by Thomas Gagnon-van Leeuwen
Category | Legal

Update: it appears this is a fakestevejobsian holiday joke. Just checking if our dear readers are paying attention *wink wink*. At least I invented a new word. Didn’t you know December 22 was the new April 1?

Bad news: looks like Apple’s lawyers aren’t happy with what Fake Steve Jobs writes about the company. Just days after their settlement with Think Secret, they’re now threatening to sue everyone’s favorite Steve Jobs impersonator if he doesn’t shut down his blog. FSJ writes:

Bottom line is I’ve received an overture from the Mothership with a mention of a Think Secret type settlement if I’ll stop impersonating Dear Leader on the Web. Nothing nailed down at this point but frankly, honestly, I’m tempted to just take it.
Check out this other post for details on what can or can’t be done. Apparently, the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) declined to help him because: “We only help people we like. Good luck.” For an organization whose tagline is “Defending Freedom in the Digital World”, that statement isn’t particularly impressive.

Basically, FSJ is in hot water and I’m left wondering, “Why the heck is Apple doing this?”. Think Secret leaked product details, so at least there was an idea behind that. But wanting to shut down a blog parodying their CEO seems unnecessary and a little ridiculous when that very CEO said last May:

“I have read some of those Fake Steve Jobs blog entries lately, and I thought they were pretty funny. And I get asked a lot if I know who it is, but I don’t. And it is pretty funny,” he said.
Maybe the legal team is just being overzealous, or this is the latest example of Big Bully Apple. What do you think?

[Hat tip: reader Tuco]


13 Comments

captain obvious said:

it's a joke.

December 22, 2007 5:09 PM
PhoeniX42 said:

I don't think it's real. It sounds like another joke, especially the EFF quote. Ask the EFF if they really said it, I doubt it.

December 22, 2007 5:36 PM
Walt Author Profile Page said:

What do I think? It's another hoax. Funny you should display "news" quoting a satiracal blog as your "source."

If it was true, they'd be going after forbes, as the blog is a site owned by forbes. We wouldn't be hearing about it via FSJ.

Remember the last hoax? Last holiday - Thanksgiving. Bono.

December 22, 2007 5:40 PM
Who cares said:

Big Bully Apple at it again. They are a great company, why do they have to ruin it?


December 22, 2007 5:44 PM
Tao said:

Come on, you are not buying this are you?

December 22, 2007 5:45 PM
siegling Author Profile Page said:

I agree with Walt. If Apple were going to sue FSJ they would have long ago. Besides, parody and satire are about 180 degrees away from exposing trade secrets.

December 22, 2007 5:54 PM
Brian said:

Pretty obvious if you read his blog that this is a joke mocking the Think Secret settlement -- he jokes about them listing out his assets. Lighten up everyone, it's the holidays!


December 22, 2007 6:02 PM
Jeff Barbose Author Profile Page said:

I think FSJ had started abusing his popularity after his identity--and especially his conflict of interest with Forbes--were discovered.

I mean, who the hell attacks someone else's effort to bring computers to children in third-world countries to give them opportunities they'd never have?

I'll answer my own question: Forbes would, because they're pro-Microsoft, pro-capitalist and Mr. Negroponte's efforts would seem to be attempting to close off "new markets" for Microsoft and other large companies.

I think he should be allowed to say whatever he wants, no matter how Scrooge-y it is, no matter how cold-hearted....but not as anyone other than himself.

December 22, 2007 6:28 PM
Dom Bettinelli said:

I'm with Walt on this. It's a gag, a spoof on the Think Secret deal. Something to keep the FSJ blog active over Christmas while FSJ is doing the holiday thing.

December 22, 2007 6:30 PM
Aayush Arya Author Profile Page said:

Oh, I can't believe you fell for this, Thomas. It was pretty obvious. :p

December 22, 2007 8:52 PM
Goobimama said:

Anyway, Fakesteve has lost his charm after those whoever-people ratted him out. Now he's just a regular writer.

December 22, 2007 11:58 PM
Mark Levitt said:

Danny O'Brian from the EFF has already posted a comment clarifying that Daniel Lyons hasn't contacted them and they'd look at it if he did.

December 23, 2007 1:17 AM
Anonymous said:

NOT a good joke, as there is no way for people to "think about it" and guess that it isn't true.

Most people don't have time to read every article in MacUser - often we just skim the headlines. So many people are going to miss the disclaimer at the end, and think that this really happened. Mac User should pull this article, or at least put the disclaimer on the front page.

December 23, 2007 9:02 AM

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