http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/ Engadget Comments for Apple wants a 10% cut of all Made for iPod accessories http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
More and more companies are trying to force these kind of schemes on their distributers and 2rd party developers. Who is loosing in the long run? We, the consumer...]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
Pathetic.

What next? Suing anyone using 'i' in front of their product names?]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
But then I do live in London so have a fairly warped view of good value.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
But yeah, I agree that the customer loses out, possibly because the companies might just charge 10% more?

What I love is how people forget that Apple is a business, and businesses are out to make money. Apple doesn't do charity work for us Mac users -- I love how people think this company is a sister company of Heaven or something. Jesus!

Fishes,
narco.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
Not a bad thing, IMO. I owned a ipod photo 60 GB, I bought an Xtrememac leather case that said it worked with it, but when I tried the case, it was clearly not suited for use with that ipod. I ended up returning both. I am sure in other countries where it isn't as easy to return things, making sure that an accessory works the product has value to the customer.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
Anyway, for the uninitiated, take any news article that has "sources says" in the first paragraph with a grain of salt. 10% figure sounds rather high, I don't doubt that the anonymous source sold the reporter on a story using inflated numbers.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
So people are shocked — shocked— that Apple sues bloggers, charges money to its licensees, and enforces DRM on its iTunes tracks.

The "Made For iPod" program has a non-zero cost to Apple. They are effectively endorsing the accessory. They have to ensure that it is tested accordingly. This cost will be born by the consumer, whether Apple does it or iPodbeltloopz Inc. does it. What the 'Made for iPod" program does is formalize the role Apple plays in that process.

The DRM issue is similar. Is iTunes an improvement over Napster? Don't think so? Fine, keep stealing if that's your idea of a fun time. Just don't expect Apple to stand still while you find ways to steal ("share") iTunes tracks. Apple will keep reinforcing the DRM on iTunes to keep the labels on board. It's not about Apple's greed: it's about the labels and the solidity of the license Apple is granted to sell their tracks.

And the same can be said of the Thinksecret business. If Apple doesn't enforce their Non-Disclosure policy, that policy has no value. If I were to set up a blog whose sole purpose was to _damage_ Apple and I sought to _steal_ trade secrets from them, and publish them on the Net, would I be protected by the First Amendment from the legal consequences of those action?

What if I was being paid by another, say, LARGER corporation to do so? Would I (and they) still be immune from prosecution because I set myself up to look like a fan site or an investigative reporter?

Apple exists in the same world as everybody else. If one values Apple's products, one ought also to value their ability to survive, and even profit, from making those products and selling them.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
those little people who makes those ipod accesories are infact doing more good for ipod sale, that should be enough for apple, but it wants a slice of their pie as well,]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
They're just as bad in my book. At least MS was successful for the most part, in it's monopolistic attempt.

Steve Jobs is just as bad as Bill Gates.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
What LucasFilm charges for the THX certification is said to be absurd. Of course, it's kept quite secret, as any Made For iPod charge is supposed to be.
]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
This is how the world works folks. Always has. It's no big deal and it's a good deal for Griffin et.al and consumers. Apple has a lab where they are gonna test these accessories, that's a good thing.

And for companies that participate they get prime retail space @ the Apple store and will sell more product. When they sell more product, the cost per unit goes down and profit go up!

Apple's business practices are no better or worse than anyone else. If you don't like Apple or it's products don't buy them, but please quit whining, it's really getting boring.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
The consumer is really the loser in all this. 3rd party developers will raise the price to cover this cost and still others will refuse to pay it and will get out of the iPod business all together.

Once a tax is in place, it's almost impossible to get it removed. Who's to say next year the tax doesn't go up to 12%? or 15%? They will continue to tax them as long as they continue to pay. To see companies like Belkin and Griffin just roll over and pay it is an embarrassment(way to fight guys!). Van Harlingen is wrong when he says he doesn't see any reason for the prices to go up. Companies aren't going to lower their margins to make up the difference for this tax.

And there are NO benefits to this logo. Apple will not be testing this equipment any more than it does now. You're paying 10% for the logo on your box and the right to have it sold through their sales channels.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
Just think of Sony and the Discman back in the 90s. Instead of making it easier to own an iPod and iPod extras they're making it harder and as they loose market share to iAudio, iRiver, and Creative don't you think the companies making accessories will also go that way.

Apple's always a been a 'my way or the highway' company. I guess that's why the highway is so congested.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/You don't honestly believe that people are buying more iPods because they like the ACCESSORIES, do you. They buy iPods because they value the product. Accessories are purchased after consumers have the iPod itself. The only reason there's a market at all for these accessories is because of Apple. So, it's perfectly reasonable for them to want a share of the profits from accessories. The badge will be a sign of quality, something that reassures consumers that someone has actually tested that the product works as advertised.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
http://www.grouchygolf.blogspot.com/]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
Well, the big difference is that MS (note: no "$") is a convicted monopolist. Apple is not.

It's like saying the high school bully down the street from you is no different than Jeffrey Dahmer or Ted Bundy. Ok, maybe the high school bully down the street does a lot of bad stuff and maybe some of it you don't know about. But if he's like most high school bullies, he is not a convicted serial killer. The comparison is not valid.

Honestly, I think writing "M$" is pretty stupid as well, and I don't blame MS for trying to make money - it's a business. But the fact is they have broken the law, repeatedly, they have been convicted of that, and if you read the news today, they continue to break the law even now. That's a whole different category than simply being a capitalist.

I do also agree that Apple is not "god's gift to computers" either. But the fact remains, between Apple and MS, one is an official monopoly that's been convicted of unfair business practices, and the other is not and has not.
]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
and somebody talked about sony and walkman and how the market got saturated.
This time its slightly different... at that time you could still play your cds and cassettes if you bought a different portable player from another manufacturer.
Here if there any songs you got from iTunes, you will have to buy an iPod to listen to them, until the government will intervene.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
If Griffin wanted to use a U2 song to promote one of their products, nobody would question why Bono and the crew came asking for their royalties. That is exactly what the "made for iPod" companies are doing, though. They make most or all of their money selling products that are specifically designed for the iPod. What gives them the right to make money off of someone else's name without kicking back a reasonable amount of their economic profits. As it is - they're raking in free money.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
That would be akin to Goodyear having to pay Toyota because their tires fit on their cars. Just because a pair of headphones is white doesn't mean they owe 10% of their earnings to Apple.

That is why proprietary formats often fail. Universality leads to increased competition and slimmer profit margins, but also product survivability. See Mini Disc for more information.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
Uh.. LMFAO.. you do realize there are in excess of 400 iPod accessories out there, right? Basically, the iPod with its resounding domination of the MP3 players market has become the PLATFORM for accessory makers.

So Apple is going to appease the shareholders and put in a 10% fee for basically, testing the accessory and defining which iPod this thing works with (2G, 3G, 4G...) which is not a huge cost. They're not strongarming anyone into using this program... Companies like Griffin don't need the label, because they're established as an iPod company...while some no name start ups, might go for it.

Since iPods are pretty much ubiquitous, or will be by the end of this year, you're going to start seeing pictures of them everywhere, or see them on TV, in sitcoms, etc... the thing is it should never get to the point where you're not letting the customer know what the accessory work with. It's nice that they have a quality control division, like Nintendo does...

I find it hilarious.. that the same people who are 'dissing' Apple for making money of this booming iPod Economy are the same ones who criticize Apple for being such a 'small' company.

They now have a bigger market cap than Sony, okay? SONY!

Apple is not going out of business, okay?

And no, Jobs is not Gates.. Gates jacks up licensing fees on his little monopoly.. those are no OPTIONAL.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/----
No benefits for an optional logo, hmm?

Then they won't use it.

There is a benefit to the logo.. if Apple endorses your product, it looks good..

]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
You've fallen into the same trap as others.

Apple will not be testing the accessories under this program.

Your going to be paying higher prices just beacuse of an endorsement by Apple. No testing, no guarantees, nothing.

BTW, Griffin will go for this program & 10% of the SRP will go straight to Apple. It's the smaller companies that won't be able to afford this tax. Ipods & accessories go hand in hand, they are interdependent. An iPod is just a reasonable MP3 player with a user friendly interface, the accessories extend it's useability.

Everybody has a right to make $$s but don't confuse this as a benefit for iPod users, it's just a grab for more cash without Apple having to do anything.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
The playsforsure logo while doesn't guarantee everything, it does ensure:
Driverless connectivity
AutoSync with WMP10
DRM'ed Purchased Audio
DRM'ed Subscription Audio
DRM'ed Purchased Video
DRM'ed Subscription Video

THX certification is well, a certification that says this equipment meets their very high standards down to a very small margin. Lucas and company (or whoever owns THX now) certifies the equipment themselves which is why it's so expensive. They don't want their logo on a $69 Walmart receiver.

What exactly does Apple guarantee or ensure on "Made for iPod" accessories? Let me guess, a 10% price hike that isn't necessary.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
"That would be akin to Goodyear having to pay Toyota because their tires fit on their cars. Just because a pair of headphones is white doesn't mean they owe 10% of their earnings to Apple."

Nice try. Goodyear isn't exclusively selling tires for Toyotas - AND - if Goodyear decided to only make tires for Toyotas AND base their tires soley off of a Toyota design AND use the Toyota logo to sell their tires, then Toyota would be entitled to royalties.

My point is, you can't make money off of someone else's work for free. And I would't call products like "iTrip," and "iMic," just a "white pair of headphones."]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
The free market. They're not "making money off Apple's name", they're making a product that happens to be compatible. Nobody owes the original manufacturer anything for that. Legally and morally, manufacturers don't have monopolies on accessories.

They do frequently try - non-standard connectors are a common technique. Some PDAs require permission to buy the plugs and stuff like that, but if you can make the accessory with that, you're clear.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
They also did it with FIREWIRE. (Sad this will get lost in all these comments!) That's why they eventually lowered the rate to use "Firewire." Why Sony called it iLink or whatever instead. Or called by it's standard.

This isn't news! Don't post it? *sigh* This is why commercialized blogs suck.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/apple-wants-a-10-cut-of-all-made-for-ipod-accessories/
I wonder why 90% of the iPod accesories are too ugly to put them near an iPod... probably 95% of the 3rd party accesories...]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM