The Negativland vs. U2 iPod: Can Apple lay off the lawsuit crack?
Will the case of Francis Hwang’s attempted sale of a “Negativland vs. U2″ iPod mark Apple’s descent from merely litigious to schizophrenically paranoid? Perhaps.
Let’s just say this: Apple has not handled their recent success well. Everyone seems to love the iPod, and it’s allowed Apple to appeal to a broader range of consumers, but with that popularity comes a responsibility to a be a little more professional and a little less off-the-cuff. Put another way, it would behoove Apple to be more corporate. I’m serious. For example, the cutesy crap in their FAQ a few months ago just doesn’t fly if you want to play with the big boys (Microsoft, Dell, Intel, etc.).
Apple would be wise to lay off a lawsuit against Hwang, since they haven’t a leg to stand on, but lately they’ve been making corporate lawyers everywhere veerrrry wealthy. They’ve been suing Macintosh enthusiasts, suing other companies, suing anyone they can find. Prudence in jurisprudence never was the forte of Apple.