Just noticed this myself, but Xcode 3.1 and the iPhone SDK are under NDA. People on this forum may want to bear that in mind. Read the license agreement.
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macOS Xcode 3.1 and iPhone SDK under NDA.
- Thread starter Cromulent
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It's a good point. Although you need a Apple Developer Connection Account to download the SDK, you don't go through the normal ADC download page (which tells you that the software is under NDA at the top) to get the iPhone SDK.
Although, how do you accuse someone of spreading information when it's basically accessible to everyone?
Although, how do you accuse someone of spreading information when it's basically accessible to everyone?
It is not available to everyone. It is only available to those who have agreed to abide by the terms of the NDA. Subtle difference but it is important.
You and I cannot decide how the iPhone SDK can be distributed, only Apple can. When you download the SDK, you have to scroll through the license agreement, and two of the things in there are: Confidental information. You may be receiving information that is confidential, and you are not allowed to pass on such information. Redistribution: The right to download is only given to you and nobody else. You can't allow anyone else to download, you must guard your Apple ID, and you must not give copies to anyone else.
It's a private club. Even though membership is free, and Apple isn't very pick who they let in, it's still a private club.
As an example, if a competitor downloads the SDK, they cannot steal any ideas in it for their own phones, because they are bound by the NDA and the license terms of the SDK. For example, Nokia could download the SDK, write some really cool iPhone apps and sell them and make lots of money, but the NDA and license terms would prevent them from copying things they learnt through the SDK to their own phones.
Where precisely does it say that the SDK is under an NDA? Just saying you "may be" receiving confidential information and actually being under an NDA are two very different things. Not to mention it would be a pointless thing for them to do since anyone can download it for free by taking 30 seconds to fill out a form.
The point is: To get the information, you need to take the 30 seconds to fill out the form _and_ agree to the NDA. So Nokia or Microsoft can easily get all the information they want, but their knowledge would be covered by this NDA. And if they get the information from you (in breach of _your_ NDA), that doesn't help them, because they are Big Boys and Big Boys are not allowed to use information that they received because someone breached their NDA.
(Actually, these companies might tell their employees not to download the SDK, if they are working somewhere where information could easily move into their own products. So if the janitor at Nokia downloads the iPhone SDK, that is fine, but if a top phone-user-interface designer takes too close a look at the iPhone SDK, he could be in danger of copying things unconsciously and that would be a legal problem).
It's still unclear on what you can talk about and what you can't.
For example, When Gus Mueller (VoodooPad developer) posted on his blog about it with some specific details, is he breaking his NDA?
I find it hard that Apple would go after people, since it's not like the Leopard prerelease builds where you had to be at WWDC to access it, or be a select/premier member.
For example, When Gus Mueller (VoodooPad developer) posted on his blog about it with some specific details, is he breaking his NDA?
I find it hard that Apple would go after people, since it's not like the Leopard prerelease builds where you had to be at WWDC to access it, or be a select/premier member.
The NDA that Apple is talking about is mainly for those ADC members who file real bug reports and/or communicate information concerning things Apple may want to discuss with you . Say for example an update that only certain Devs may get.
Make any sense ?
no..hehe
Make any sense ?
no..hehe
Even Cnet posts a few quotes from the documentation: http://www.news.com/8301-13579_3-9888722-37.html
I'm not saying you'll get into trouble, I'm just saying if you are using the SDK to get a head start on a commercial application you may want to be a little careful.
The SDK is without a doubt under an NDA as a couple of questions on the mail list about it have been nullified by mods citing NDA's in order to prevent discussion... this will be interesting when they set-up an Core Touch mail list.
But more to the point podcasters, bloggers and people on forums must be careful what is described. This fits with the policy apple has for delegates at WWDC and for beta testers of other products like leopard etc.
But more to the point podcasters, bloggers and people on forums must be careful what is described. This fits with the policy apple has for delegates at WWDC and for beta testers of other products like leopard etc.
So let's say I had a problem with x-code. Do you think the NDA would limit me from asking for feedback on this forum?
This is pretty stupid seeing as how it's available for download by anybody. I've never heard of an NDA for openly available software that wasn't in some kind of closed beta. I mean there are already posts on the front page that would go against an NDA.
NDA in the UK is not legal unless it is signed and witnessed by a solicitor. I can tell you one thing, the NDA listed is not similar to other NDA's Apple give out. Some of them even restrict you from contributing on these forums.