Apple has corrected its apology to Samsung that a UK court demanded it post on its website. But has it all been above board?
Visitors to UK news-sharing site Reddit have noted that in order to view the apology, you have to scroll down the page, no matter how you resize your browser window, our sister site CNET News reports. It's all down to JavaScript code that dynamically alters the size of the main image (an iPad mini) to take up as much space as possible.
That means the link to the apology is always pushed down just out of view.
The JavaScript resize code has been uploaded to code-sharing site Pastebin, and you can have a look at it here, too. (Apple doesn't use it on its US site, where there's no Samsung apology, though you do still have to scroll down to see the bottom menu, on a 21.5-inch iMac, anyway.)
Whether this is a deliberate attempt by Apple to tuck the apology out of sight, or just an unfortunate by-product of the new page design, is up for debate. It depends on how cynical you are, I suppose. I wouldn't put it past Apple, especially considering its first attempt at an apology.
Apple posted the first statement on the matter on 25 October, but it was little more than a thinly veiled attack on Samsung. There were numerous references to cases abroad where Samsung was found to have copied Apple's designs, even though the whole point of the note was to say a UK court had found the opposite. Unsurprisingly, the learned judges of the court of appeal weren't impressed and demanded Apple correct it. The new note appeared yesterday.
Apple also took out adverts in UK papers, as ordered by the court.
What do you think? Conspiracy? Or is Apple hiding it away? Let me know what you reckon in the comments, or on Facebook.
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Comments 25
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anonymous 4 November, 2012 11:55
Despite apple being technically in contempt they still want to try the patience of the court. Who do apple think they are, I have read that they are trying to threaten a US court that unless its gets its way it will just appeal, this is before the case has started. I will never buy or recommend anybody buy apple products, until it shows some humility.
anonymous 4 November, 2012 12:29
Just say sorry in the correct manner already! Idiots.
anonymous 4 November, 2012 12:56
They are in contempt, throw the UK CEO in Jail for a month! maybe then they will learn.
anonymous 4 November, 2012 13:07
Worth noting that the auto-redirect to apple.com/uk does not function for UK visitors anymore, very convenient...
anonymous 4 November, 2012 14:06
Expected nothing less from Apple, does not surprise me in the least.
Now I see why they asked for 2 weeks to amend their original 'apology' - they needed time to tweak and perfect the javasvript code for their homepage.
Verily, they do have a mindset of a petulant, bratty 6-yr old. And to think there are millions out there who actually hold this company in reverence...
anonymous 4 November, 2012 14:10
People are just overreacting without giving this enough thought. They are purposely trying to show the main content and product information and leaving footer and legal info off the screen, just as all website owners like to do. We all have the copyright info, legal jargon etc... in the footer and we'd all like to focus away from that. They have been ordered to add this legal statement to their site, not to make it the main focus of thier entire business!
It just seems like good design to me!
anonymous 4 November, 2012 14:48
"People are just overreacting without giving this enough thought. They are purposely trying to show the main content and product information and leaving footer and legal info off the screen, just as all website owners like to do. We all have the copyright info, legal jargon etc... in the footer and we'd all like to focus away from that. They have been ordered to add this legal statement to their site, not to make it the main focus of thier entire business!
It just seems like good design to me!"
OK, now you can get back to work at the Genius bar, you've done your part
anonymous 4 November, 2012 14:55
Typical response there...just what I expected. Although I'm surprised 'fan boy' wasn't mentioned. I had to google 'genius bar' to see what it was by the way. I'm a web designer and have nowt to do with Apple other than the fact I have own mac
anonymous 4 November, 2012 15:20
I don't see what the issue is. Any other company would do the same. Seems that the Apple haters are out in force though, so I expect them to blindly voice there opinion, highly influenced by their irrational hatred of a company that behaves jut like every other would. And before you label me a "fanboy", I have an iPad, WindowsPhone, iMac, and a PC running Linux. And like every other professional, myself owning an architectural firm based in London and NY, I buy what is easiest to use and gets the job done - and for the most part that's my iMac and WindowsPhone.
anonymous 4 November, 2012 15:54
I'm not sure it's wise for Apple to act like this in the face of the law. If they want to trade in the UK they have to respect our laws and judgements otherwise they might find themselves coming under more scrutiny. They already looked arrogant to the rest of the world when they messed up people's local maps but got the US ones right, they made a grovelling apology. This makes them look even worse than that. On a side note, I wonder how much corporation tax Apple pay in the UK? Contemptuous.
anonymous 4 November, 2012 16:08
The link was at the bottom of the page before the court ordered it be reworded. If it was such an issue I'm sure Samsung and the court would have required the link moved, they didn't so what's the big deal? Apple put the link where they said they would, changed the text when told to do so, and the courts seem happy with that - seriously why is this even a news story?
anonymous 4 November, 2012 16:39
Apple germany and france are the same, hiding the footer under the promo "square" section.
Howard10000 4 November, 2012 18:19
I am also a little confused by the fuss over this.
Apple won't be producing tablets, phones or computers in 5 years time and spending millions in court won't change any of that.
But the licence fee income will be very, very nice.
anonymous 4 November, 2012 18:59
Apple are the most arrogant organisation in the history of technology. They are simply taking the... out of the British legal system. People should be going to jail for contempt of court!
anonymous 4 November, 2012 20:45
Its amazing some don't get it, Apple was ordered to do this by UK judge after a failed court case. Apple throw their toys of the pram and stick 2 fingers up to the UK law and mess about on several occasions. And you don't see what the problem is? the brainwashing is strong
Sadly people use the phrase "apple haters" when they no idea what they are saying
anonymous 5 November, 2012 07:40
It's funny. I'm in the UK and since the other day I'm not taken to the uk site. I'm taken to the american .com site. I guess apple removed the redirect so most people will not see it unless they are looking for it and going to that specific page.
anonymous 5 November, 2012 08:39
The same incorrect headline to this story.
Apology ?
There is no "apology" involved or required by the court order.
Someone commenting above said "just say sorry..."
Get this straight. The court order is for Apple to publish a statement that conveys the finding of the UK court decision that Samsung did not copy the iPad with it's design of the particular named tablets. Apple are required to state the court findings; end of. They are not required to apologise to anybody.
anonymous 5 November, 2012 09:27
I don't own any Apple products, and have no interest in them.
But this is just silly. On my laptop there is no difference between the US and UK site, other than they re-sized the images so they had room to attach the legal statement. On both sites I have to scroll down to see everything. People need to get a grip. Sure, the first statement was ridiculous. But this one is fine. Stop moaning.
anonymous 5 November, 2012 11:15
The statement they've posted appears to be in accordance with the order from the courts.
That done, hopefully we can move on.
Ian Woodward 5 November, 2012 11:41
I can understand Android fans being upset about having to scroll a webpage seeing as how their devices lag so badly when scrolling.
anonymous 5 November, 2012 12:27
its really the fact they have taken off the UK auto redirect that is the issue here. It means hardly anyone will see it.
anonymous 5 November, 2012 15:16
I have no problems being taken to the Apple UK website, with the notice on the front page.
Just like loads of international companies with tailored web sites for each market or country, if you go for the .com version, your likely to get the US site. Rather than the .com/uk site.
anonymous 8 November, 2012 01:00
plz leave apple alone.
if anything happens to them chinese workers will not get their £1 an hour and their children will suffer.
anonymous 19 November, 2012 13:29
Competition is always healthy in small doses.
anonymous 9 February, 2013 23:36
This two company's are there to make money ,there is nothing out there for you bitches apart from making them richer,brain washed sheep's never understand.