iPhone developer contract goes public

Apple's contract with iPhone developers has been released to the public thanks to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), says Geek.com.

When Nasa created its iPhone application, the EFF used the Freedom of Information Act to ask for a copy so the general public could see what rules controlled the technology.

The details in the agreement regulate that developers are strictly prohibited from divulging terms of the contract to third parties, especially to the public. It also highlights that reverse engineering isn't allowed, and that altering Apple's hardware or software in order to make an app compatible is also prohibited. Apple also commands a kill switch that remotely disables misbehaving software on users' devices.

A class-action lawsuit against Microsoft has been certified in British Columbia, alleging the software giant engaged in anti-competitive behaviour, states The Canadian Press.

The legal action against Microsoft started in 2006 on behalf of a number of indirect purchasers who acquired Microsoft software from resellers, and those who had Microsoft software pre-installed on computers.

Microsoft says around 582 operating systems and 879 applications are at issue in the litigation. There have been 23 similar lawsuits launched against Microsoft in various US courts, with a number of the class actions having been settled.

HP has filed patent-infringement complaints against MicroJet Technology and three other companies in patents related to printer cartridges, reports Top News.

Filed in the US District Court, San Francisco, HP accused the companies of having converted over 300 000 genuine HP print heads from HP facilities in Asia and selling them in the US and other parts of the world. HP is seeking a court order blocking the alleged infringement as well as undisclosed damages.

MicroJet spokesman Kuo Sen-pin says the firm neither sells its products in the US market, nor does it have any working relationship with HP.