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Developing exploits is copyright violation now?

themolecularman is specifically asking for their grounds, I think the "copyright violation" claim is just in order to start the suit, not that they actually violated Apple's copyright in any way.



Presumably, their argument is:

1. You need a license to use software

2. iOS is only licensed for use on bare-metal Apple hardware

3. Therefore, virtualisation is copyright infringement

4. Corellium makes iPhone virtualisation software

Of course, many hacker types would argue if you've got a license to something there's nothing morally wrong with format-shifting it to your heart's content, regardless of what the license or the letter of the law may say. Apple is probably relying on the courts taking a less enlightened view.


>2.&3.

i would think that research, including security one, is a fair use with the virtualization being just a research device/tool in this case. Something akin to making an otherwise illegal copy to a different, more lab hardware specific format. Like say you have a copyrighted picture and you make some blow-up or X-ray photo of it for the research.


0. Using software is copyright infringement.


Copying software without a license from the owner to do so is prima facie copyright infringement.


Very similar in how running macOS on a Hackintosh is a copyright violation. You are only granted a license to the OS to run on Apple hardware. Running their OS in a virtualized environment not on Apple hardware is the same thing.


You need an unauthorized copy of the firmware to emulate an iPhone.




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