Take action against the iPhone!
Apple's iPhone is a proprietary Unix operating system running on a small, portable computer. Apple's iPod Touch is the same hardware, without a phone, and many of the same arguments apply.
The Free Software Foundation will be treating this new proprietary platform as another threat to user and developer freedom, in the same way that we have worked to counter the threats posed by every other proprietary operating system, from Microsoft Windows in all its forms, to Apple's OS X and other proprietary Unix variants.
Help spread the word with our iPhone flyer
- 5 reasons to avoid iPhone 3g
- Give Apple the iPhone Challenge!
- Why free software and Apple's iPhone don't mix
- Apple says you can't have freedom because you might be clumsy, evil, and a drug dealer
You can help by writing Steve Jobs sjobs@apple.com and letting him know that you won't buy an iPhone because of its proprietary software and DRM. Please CC us on the mail at <campaigns@fsf.org>. Here's a great example sent by Ben Weissmann:
Mr. Jobs,
Upon hearing about the iPhone, I was excited. A powerful, easy-to-use smartphone. However, one of the most exciting things about smartphones is the ability to run a large variety of applications on them. You have provided a way to do this via the "app store." I was extremely disappointed to find out that Apple is using digital restrictions management (DRM) to restrict the freedom of those who choose to use the app store by forcing all applications to be signed by Apple and be subjected to a ridiculous license that prohibits creators of application from using a free software license. Even worse, you have used DRM to ensure that the only way to install applications for the iPhone is through the app store.
I see no reason why you would not allow developers to use a free software license for their application. It would be as ridiculous as if you did the same thing on OS X. Developers should be free to license their software under any terms they please. The iPhone should not include DRM or prohibit users from installing software not signed by Apple. There is no reason not to allow users to install application via methods other than the app store. Even propriety phones such as Windows Mobile, Palm, Symbian, and Blackberry phones allow the installation of free software, at least partially protecting the freedom of their users.
I will not purchase or support the iPhone until changes are made so that I can use it without sacrificing my freedom. I will encourage others to opt for a phone that does respect the freedom of its users. Apple needs to understand that potential users will not accept these restrictions. My freedom is more important than any device you could ever make. Please, allow free software to be used on your phones.