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http://www.macnn.com/articles/02/02/15/os.x/

OS X themes for Win removed at Apple request

updated 06:05 pm EST, Fri February 15, 2002

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Apple has asked makers and distributors of Mac OS X themes for Windows XP to cease distribution of such material as it is a "violation of our copyrights and intellectual property." A c|net News.com article notes that Apple asked Web site ThemeXP to stop offering two "desktop themes" that let Windows XP users make the OS resemble the Apple's own Mac OS X.

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02/15, 07:25pm | report spam | close Reply |
Good

If they want a Mac, then they need to go buy one. It should be illegal to have a nice GUI like Mac OS X be in the same area or state as Windows XP's playtoy platic kiddy interface.

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02/15, 07:46pm | report spam | close Reply |
Mac is too expensive

And many people can't afford it.

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02/15, 07:50pm | report spam | close Reply |
cant' afford it?

maybe if they sold their pc's and win xp they would have more than enough for a decent mac

Kor

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02/15, 08:47pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Ridiculous, as usual.

Steve Jobs & Co. are moronic sometimes. I have Kaleidoscope themes modeled after several flavors of Windows, and I don�t see Bill Gates sending Cease & Desist warnings. This is ridiculous.

Hemingray
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02/15, 08:51pm | report spam | close Reply |
Ridiculous?

It's called copyright. I'd like to see you publish something, have someone else copyright it, and you sit back and not give a rat's a**. That'll be a laugh!

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02/15, 09:05pm | report spam | close Reply |
Can't afford it?

Then you don't get it.

I can't afford a dual 1 GHz G4, so can I go take one from the local apple store?

Want a Mac? Buy one. Apple has put more money than I'll probably ever see into OS X development, and they don't need a bunch of windozers ripping off their artwork and sticking it on the god forsaken Windozer XP. It comes down to copyright. And Apple is in the right this time, and I agree with it 100%. No, it won't stop people from using the themes. But it'll be harder for people to get them from public sites, so atleast Apple's stolen artwork won't be on public display at major sites.

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02/15, 09:08pm | report spam | close Reply |
re:ridiculous, as usual

yeah. the reason why Microsoft don't go after themes modelled on Windows is because they don't give a toss; the whole interface probably took about 5 minutes to knock up.

Apple probably spent more time designing the AppleSystemProfiler OSX icon than Microsoft did on the entire windows 2000 GUI :)

g3towerdude
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02/15, 09:39pm | report spam | close Reply |
why?

It's kind of funny. You would think that if Apple is so confident that their OS is superior, they wouldn't be too worried about a cheap knockoff.

If anything, these stupid themes expose the Mac look and feel to others who might not otherwise see it.

Ironically, this is a missed marketing opportunity for Apple - by creating and using OS X - like themes, these folks have shown they are interested in the new OS! Apple should be figuring out a way to get Macs in front of them, rather than alienating them.

jpellino
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02/15, 09:41pm | report spam | close Reply |
sheesh...

Well, windows is a ripoff of the mac gui anyway. That's already established. And mac is derivative of lots of other work. Apple chooses to defend their link in the chain, as does Xerox. Fine with me. MS chooses to defend threats to their position by what - defending look and feel? Nope - by such solid actions as claiming open source is everything from the antichrist to the source of cooties ("Linux is a cancer..." - Steve Ballmer).

Apple defends its work. They're entitled to.

Maybe it has something to do with the agreement that settled the look and feel suit?

These things can start with a trickle and get big.

Dr Seuss' estate had to start manufacturing stuff besides books because others were about to put the cat in the hat and more in the public domain from unlicensed use.

There have been countless coronaries created in merchandiser's chests by the decision the creator of Calvin & Hobbes to not license even one piece of merchandise (yes, boys and girls, every shirt and window sticker you see is bootleged. every last one - "Only thieves and vandals have made money on 'Calvin and Hobbes' merchandise." - Bill Watterson quote.)

Think apple wants to be in that pile? Think again.

They are simply saying, you want our technology? It's our lifeblood. Pay for it.

Plus - We Don't Care How They Do It In Redmond. Just because MS chooses not to go after Win themes doesn't mean Apple is wrong in doing so.

As for the cost thing? Show yer face and then go spec out a flat screen Gateway with a real processor (P4) and feature match it to the new iMac even with a SuperDrive.

(sound of crickets)

Didn't think so.

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02/15, 09:46pm | report spam | close Reply |
I think its f'n funny

that you never hear about mac people downloading windows themes by the millions.

ps. apple has every right to do this. its called protecting their copyright but in this age of napster i doubt many people under 25 know what that is.

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02/15, 09:55pm | report spam | close Reply |
Why the h***?

Why in bloody h*** would Mac users want to make their system like Windows? That's just...wrong and goes against good taste.

testudo
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02/15, 11:21pm | report spam | close Reply |
Windows theme

I have Kaleidoscope themes modeled after several flavors of Windows, and I don�t see Bill Gates sending Cease & Desist warnings.

Making a Mac look like Windoze? I'd be more worried that you're family is putting together commitment papers for you.

And the reason Apple goes after these kind of things each and every time is that if they let just one go, some lawyer could argue that it implied Apple did not believe it held rights to whatever it was, and therefore all like actions were not contestable, or some such nonesense.

larry56073

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02/15, 11:44pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
4%

They have to do this, they are down to only a single digit marketshare. . .

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02/15, 11:59pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: why?

It's kind of funny. You would think that if Apple is so confident that their OS is superior, they wouldn't be too worried about a cheap knockoff.

Apple is likely not really terribly worried about someone copying their GUI (although that is certainly part of this). Of greater concern is that someone might actually use XP with this skin and mistake that piece of c*** for OS X.

If anything, these stupid themes expose the Mac look and feel to others who might not otherwise see it.

At *best*, it might expose someone to the look of Aqua (at least some elements). It in no way is going to expose them to the feel of using OS X. Like I said, you're more likely to confuse someone and put them off.
Ironically, this is a missed marketing opportunity for Apple - by creating and using OS X - like themes, these folks have shown they are interested in the new OS! Apple should be figuring out a way to get Macs in front of them, rather than alienating them.

This is hardly a missed marketing opportunity. I highly doubt that even one user would purchase a Mac w/OS X just b/c they saw or used a hacked Aqua skin on XP. I agree that Apple should be figuring out more ways to put Macs and OS X in front of people, but allowing someone to violate your copyrights with a half-assed skin for a c*** OS definitely isn't the way to do it.

dneuman

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02/16, 12:31am | report spam | close Reply | delete
if ThemeXP can, so can MS

If Apple looks the other way on any company that copies their look and feel, then Apple won't have a leg to stand on should Microsoft (or any other company) decide to copy it.

While I wouldn't mind having the office WinXP box I'm forced to use look like my MacOSX box at home, Apple can't let that happen.

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02/16, 05:22am | report spam | close Reply |
Your point is?

1: The OS X themes looked c*** anyway. Like a half finished Aqua with obvious problems - typical wirey Windows font not even correctly centred in buttons, proportions all wrong...

2: By banning these thems Apple will only increase interest in them. Plus a whole lot of people will be discussing Apple's actions. And perhaps there's no such thing as bad publicity...:-)

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02/16, 06:26am | report spam | close Reply |
Copyright

PC users don't care about copyright.

You see, in the PC world, 9 out of 10 copies of Windows is pirated.

Infact most of my PC Using friends use nothing but pirated software (yes even pirated software from little companies), they don't understand the concept of spending the money that's due in order to support the company. They don't give a c***.

This is the very reason why they don't own a Macintosh, it involves them spending money - and God forbid - actually supporting the company that develops the technology they use.

Most PC users are hypocrites, they claim Windows is better - but they didn't put their money where their mouth is and actually pay for it.

studio52

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02/16, 09:50am | report spam | close Reply | delete
Windows themes

Steve Jobs & Co. are moronic sometimes. I have Kaleidoscope themes modeled after several flavors of Windows, and I don�t see Bill Gates sending Cease & Desist warnings. This is ridiculous.

Wait a minute! YOU have several Windows themes in your Mac and JOBS & CO. are moronic?

hughjaas
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02/16, 12:54pm | report spam | close Reply |
No choice

I use OS X at home, but I have no choice but to use a PieCe (PC) at work. I didn't even know there were OS X themes available until now. Too bad Apple is forcing them to take it down. I know others at my work would be curious about the theme I was using (just as everyone notices everyone else's screen savers), and it would look so much better than XP. I did find another site that had it that Apple hasn't notified yet:
http://www.xptheme.info
It's called: EclipseOSX_v440_(Update).zip
Get it before it's too late.

0hwgray1
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02/16, 03:37pm | report spam | close Reply |
The saying is...

The only *bad* publicity is *no* pub;icity!

nufoto
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02/16, 07:56pm | report spam | close Reply |
Copyright

"PC users don't care about copyright.

You see, in the PC world, 9 out of 10 copies of Windows is pirated.

Infact most of my PC Using friends use nothing but pirated software (yes even pirated software from little companies), they don't understand the concept of spending the money that's due in order to support the company. They don't give a c***.

This is the very reason why they don't own a Macintosh, it involves them spending money - and God forbid - actually supporting the company that develops the technology they use.

Most PC users are hypocrites, they claim Windows is better - but they didn't put their money where their mouth is and actually pay for it."
there is Great Truth to this statement....when I up graded some Adobe software the Rep at Adobe was not surprized that I was a Mac user she said mostly Mac user's Purchase software from us ..strange considering the World domination of Wintel systems .....but then a again most of my PC buddys only buy games thats if they can't download'm from the net!

nufoto
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02/16, 08:02pm | report spam | close Reply |
Leave it UP!

Apple should have let them leave this Theme up so they XP users can get use to the look and might decide to purchase the real thing next time .

"Ain't nothing like the real thing Baby!"...lol

iczeph

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02/17, 08:21am | report spam | close Reply | delete
Re: your point is

1: The OS X themes looked c*** anyway. Like a half finished Aqua with obvious problems - typical wirey Windows font not even correctly centred in buttons, proportions all wrong...

Actually I think the reason Apple finally got involved was because the XP Aqua themes were starting to look better than the real thing (with more functionality)...

http://onyxcj.homestead.com/files/osxp.jpg

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02/17, 11:44pm | report spam | close Reply |
Doesn't matter

Though Microsoft claims otherwise, it really doesn't matter that many current XP installations are pirated.

You see, Microsoft has this nice little racket going where virtually EVERY PC SOLD IN THE WORLD has an OEM installation of a Windows operating system on it.

Very, very few boxes are sold without an OS at all, or with Linux installed. DELL tried it for a while then ceased Linux installations.

So all those P3 users running pirated XP will simply be contributing "invisibly" to Microsoft's coffers the next time they upgrade their hardware to a P4 or Athlon 1800+ etc.

So, we're talking $40-$60 for every PC sold every minute all around the world. Retail sales of XP are just icing on the cake, the real revenue comes from OEM licenses. (There's even a logical argument that piracy of an OS helps establish it as a standard.)

M$ knows all this. Look at their share price and market cap. Big company! Profitable company! And there's not a damn thing you can do ... 'cept use a Mac.

0hwgray1
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02/18, 12:51am | report spam | close Reply |
Re:�Rotten Apple�

I went to the XPThemes site and took a look at �Rotten apple.� It really takes the meat. In fact, it sucks the green wienie. Except for having the �recycle bin� located bottom right, there�s nothing much to connect this theme to any Macintosh desktop. I can see why Apple wouldn�t bother with it, though, IMO, they should. If you�re going to be a bear, be a grizzly.

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02/10, 02:17am | report spam | close Reply |
frree software

Hey,
Ive ben looking for some really good full versin software. I mean bootleged softwre. I ve been looking for macromedia Mx programs for free but can't find any. If any1 has any sites for free software or anything please e-mail me at McEntyre889@aol.com

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OS X themes for Win removed at Apple request

updated 06:05 pm EST, Fri February 15, 2002

Good

Mac is too expensive

cant' afford it?

Ridiculous, as usual.

Ridiculous?

Can't afford it?

re:ridiculous, as usual

why?

sheesh...

I think its f'n funny

Why the h***?

Windows theme

4%

Re: why?

if ThemeXP can, so can MS

Your point is?

Copyright

Windows themes

No choice

The saying is...

Copyright

Leave it UP!

Re: your point is

Doesn't matter

Re:�Rotten Apple�

frree software

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OS X themes for Win removed at Apple request

updated 06:05 pm EST, Fri February 15, 2002

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Good

Mac is too expensive

cant' afford it?

Ridiculous, as usual.

Ridiculous?

Can't afford it?

re:ridiculous, as usual

why?

sheesh...

I think its f'n funny

Why the h***?

Windows theme

4%

Re: why?

if ThemeXP can, so can MS

Your point is?

Copyright

Windows themes

No choice

The saying is...

Copyright

Leave it UP!

Re: your point is

Doesn't matter

Re:�Rotten Apple�

frree software

Login Here

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