Banned in Pakistan

The government of Pakistan is reportedly planning to introduce legislation banning people from using obscene language on mobile phone SMS messages (texts). The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority has reportedly ordered telephone networks to implement filtering on their networks to prevent users from sending any words from a list of more than 1000 English and 550 Urdu words and phrases. Some of the terms are obscene, sexual, ethnic slurs, or drug related, but others are medical terms like "athlete's foot" or "period", musical references like "Wuutang", "G Unit", and "OU812" (a Van Halen album), the name of the jailbird American footballer "Rae Carruth", the fruit "Kumquat", and "Jesus Christ". (The Tribune, Pakistan.)

The complete list has been posted on the internet: A.S.S., ANAL, ANAL ANNIE, ANAL SEX, ANALANNIE, ANALSEX, ANUS, ARSE, ASS, ASS BAGGER, ASS BLASTER, ASS CLOWN, ASS COWBOY, ASS FUCK, ASS FUCKER, ASS HOLE, ASS HOLES, ASS HORE, ASS JOCKEY, ASS KISS, ASS KISSER, ASS KLOWN, ASS LICK, ASS LICKER, ASS LOVER, ASS MAN, ASS MONKEY, ASS MUNCH, ASS MUNCHER, ASS PACKER, ASS PIRATE, ASS PUPPIES, ASS RANGER, ASS WHORE, ASS WIPE, ASSBAGGER, ASSBLASTER, ASSCLOWN, ASSCOWBOY, ASSFUCK, ASSFUCKER, ASSHOLE, ASSHOLES, ASSHORE, ASSJOCKEY, ASSKISS, ASSKISSER, ASSKLOWN, ASSLICK, ASSLICKER, ASSLOVER, ASSMAN, ASSMONKEY, ASSMUNCH, ASSMUNCHER, ASSPACKER, ASSPIRATE, ASSPUPPIES, ASSRANGER, ASSWHORE, ASSWIPE, ATHLETES FOOT, ATHLETESFOOT, AXING THE WEASEL, B HARD, BACK DOOR, BACK DOOR MAN, BACKDOOR, BACKDOORMAN, BACKSEAT, BAD ASS, BAD FUCK, BADFUCK, BALL LICKER, BALL SACK, BALLLICKER, BALLSACK, BANGING, BARELY LEGAL, BARELYLEGAL, BARF, BARF FACE, BARFACE, BARFFACE, BASTARD, BAZONGAS, BAZOOMS, BEASTALITY, BEASTIALITY, BEAT OFF, BEAT YOUR MEAT, BEATOFF, BEAT-OFF, BEATYOURMEAT, BI SEXUAL, BIATCH, BIG ASS, BIG BITCH, BIG BITCH, BIG BUTT, BIGASS, BIGBASTARD, BIGBUTT, BISEXUAL, BI-SEXUAL, BITCH, BITCHES, BITCHIN, BITCHY, BITE ME, BITEME, BLACK OUT, BLACKOUT, BLOW JOB, BLOWJOB, BONER, BOOBIES, BOOBS, BOODY, BREAST, BREAST JOB, BREAST LOVER, BREAST MAN, BREASTJOB, BREASTLOVER, BREASTMAN, BUDWEISER, BULL CRAP, BULL DIKE, BULL DYKE, BULL SHIT, BULLCRAP, BULLDIKE, BULLDYKE, BULLSHIT, BUMBLE FUCK, BUMBLEFUCK, BUMFUCK, BUNGHOLE, BUTCH BABES, BUTCH DIKE, BUTCH DYKE, BUTCHBABES, BUTCHDIKE, BUTCHDYKE, BUTT BANG, BUTT FUCK, BUTT FUCKER, BUTT FUCKERS, BUTT HEAD, BUTT MAN, BUTT PLUG, BUTT STAIN, BUTTBANG, BUTT-BANG, BUTTFACE, BUTTFUCK, BUTT-FUCK, BUTTFUCKER, BUTT-FUCKER, BUTTFUCKERS, BUTT-FUCKERS, BUTTHEAD, BUTTMAN, BUTTPIRATE, BUTTPLUG, BUTTSTAIN, CAMEL TOE, CAMELTOE, CARPET MUNCHER, CARPETMUNCHER, CARRUTH, CHERRY POPPER, CHERRYPOPPER, CHICK SLICK, CHICKSLICK, CLAM DIGGER, CLAM DIVER, CLAMDIGGER, CLAMDIVER, CLIT, CLITORIS, COCK, COCK BLOCK, COCK BLOCKER, COCK COWBOY, COCK FIGHT, COCK KNOB, COCK LICKER, COCK LOVER, COCK NOB, COCK QUEEN, COCK RIDER, COCK SMITH, COCK SUCKER, COCK TAIL, COCK TEASE, COCKBLOCK, COCKBLOCKER, COCKCOWBOY, COCKFIGHT, COCKHEAD, COCKKNOB, COCKLICKER, COCKLOVER, COCKNOB, COCKQUEEN, COCKRIDER, COCKS MAN, COCKSMAN, COCKSMITH, COCKSUCER, COCKSUCKER, COCKTAIL, COCKTEASE, COCKY, CONDOM, COPULATE, CORN HOLE, CORNHOLE, CRACK PIPE, CRACK WHORE, CRACKPIPE, CRACKWHORE, CRACK-WHORE, CRAP, CRAPPY, CREAMY, CROTCH, CROTCH JOCKEY, CROTCH MONKEY, CROTCH ROT, CROTCHJOCKEY, CROTCHMONKEY, CROTCHROT, CUM, CUM BUBBLE, CUM FEST, CUM JOCKEY, CUM QUAT, CUM QUEEN, CUM SHOT, CUMBUBBLE, CUMFEST, CUMJOCKEY, CUMM, CUMMING, CUMQUAT, CUMQUEEN, CUMSHOT, CUNNILINGUS, CUNT, CUNT FUCK, CUNT FUCKER, CUNT LICKER, CUNTFUCK, CUNTFUCKER, CUNTLICKER, CYBER SEX, CYBER SLIMER, CYBERSEX, CYBERSLIMER, DAHMER, DAMN, DAMN IT, DAMNIT, DATNIGGA, DEAP THROAT, DEAPER, DEAPTHROAT, DEEP THROAT, DEEPER, DEEPTHROAT, DEFECATE, DEPOSIT, DEVIL, DICK BRAIN, DICK FART, DICK FOR BRAINS, DICK HEAD, DICK LICK, DICK LICKER, DICK LIKCER, DICK WAD, DICK WEED, DICKBRAIN, DICKFORBRAINS, DICKHEAD, DICKLESS, DICKLICK, DICKLICKER, DICKMAN, DICKWAD, DICKWEED, DIKE, DILDO, DIP STICK, DIPSTICK, DIRTY HO, DIXIE DIKE, DIXIE DYKE, DIXIEDIKE, DIXIEDYKE, DO ME, DOGGIE STYLE, DOGGIESTYLE, DOGGY STLYE, DOGGYSTYLE, DOME, DONG, DOPE, DRAG QUEEN, DRAGQUEEN, DRAGQWEEN, DRIP DICK, DRIPDICK, DRUNK, DRUNKEN, DUMB ASS, DUMB BITCH, DUMB FUCK, DUMBASS, DUMBBITCH, DUMBFUCK, EASY SLUT, EASYSLUT, EAT ME, EAT PUSSY, EATBALLS, EATME, EATPUSSY, EJACULATE, ERECTION, EVL, EXCREMENT, F.U.C.K., FACE FUCKER, FACEFUCKER, FAGGOT, FAGOT, FAIRY, FANNY FUCKER, FANNYFUCKER, FART, FAST FUCK, FASTFUCK, FAT ASS, FAT FUCK, FAT FUCKER, FATASS, FATFUCK, FATFUCKER, FATSO, FELLATIO, FEMME, FINGER FOOD, FINGER FUCK, FINGER FUCKER, FINGERFOOD, FINGERFUCK, FINGERFUCKER, FIST FUCK, FIST FUCKER, FISTFUCK, FISTFUCKER, FISTING, FLASHER, FLATULENCE, FLOGGIN THE DOLPHIN, FONDLE, FOOT FUCK, FOOT FUCKER, FOOT LICKER, FOOTACTION, FOOTFUCK, FOOTFUCKER, FOOTLICKER, FOOTSTAR, FORE SKIN, FORESKIN, FORNICATE, FOUR 20, FOUR TWENTY, FOUR20, FOURTWENTY, FREAK FUCK, FREAKFUCK, FREAKY FUCKER, FREAKYFUCKER, FREE FUCK, FREEFUCK, FUCK, FUCK BAG, FUCK BUDDY, FUCK FACE, FUCK FEST, FUCK FREAK, FUCK FRIEND, FUCK HEAD, FUCK HER, FUCK IT, FUCK KNOB, FUCK ME, FUCK ME HARD, FUCK MONKEY, FUCK OFF, FUCK PIG, FUCK THEM, FUCK WHORE, FUCK YOU, FUCKA, FUCKABLE, FUCKBAG, FUCKBUDDY, FUCKED, FUCKED UP, FUCKEDUP, FUCKER, FUCKERS, FUCKFACE, FUCKFEST, FUCKFREAK, FUCKFRIEND, FUCKHEAD, FUCKHER, FUCKIN, FUCKIN A, FUCKIN NUTS, FUCKIN RIGHT, FUCKINA, FUCKING, FUCKING A, FUCKING BITCH, FUCKING NUTS, FUCKINGBITCH, FUCKINNUTS, FUCKINRIGHT, FUCKIT, FUCKKNOB, FUCKME, FUCKMEHARD, FUCKMONKEY, FUCKOFF, FUCKPIG, FUCKWHORE, FUCKYOU, FUDGE PAKCERS, FUN FUCK, FUNFUCK, FUUCK, G UNIT, GANG BANG, GANG BANGER, GANGBANG, GANGBANGER, GAY, GAY ASS, GAY MUTHA FUCKIN QUEER, GAY PRIDE, GAYMUTHAFUCKINWHORE, GENITAL, GET IT ON, GETITON, GIEHN, GIVE HEAD, GIVEHEAD, GLAZED DONUT, GLAZEDDONUT, GO TO HELL, GOD DAMED MUTHA FUCKA, GOD DAMIT, GOD DAMN, GOD DAMNED, GOD MANIT, GODDAMIT, GODDAMN, GODDAMNED, GODDAMNES, GODDAMNIT, GODDAMNMUTHAFUCKER, GONORREHEA, GONZAGAS, GOOK, GOT JESUS, GOT2HAVEIT, GOTOHELL, G-UNIT, HAND JOB, HANDJOB, HARD ON, HARDER, HARDON, HAREM, HE HATE ME, HEAD FUCK, HEAD LIGHTS, HEADFUCK, HEADLIGHTS, HEHATEME, HELL NO, HELL YES, HELLNO, HELLYES, HEN HOUSE, HENHOUSE, HERPES, HERSHEY HI WAY, HERSHEYHIGHWAY, HERSHEYHIWAY, HERSHY HIGH WAY, HO MO, HOBO, HOLE, HOLE STUFFER, HOLESTUFFER, HOMO, HOMO BANGERS, HOMO SEXUAL, HOMOBANGERS, HOMOSEXUAL, HONKERS, HONKEY, HOOKER, HOOKERS, HOOTERS, HORE, HORNEY, HORNY, HORSESHIT, HOSE JOB, HOSEJOB, HOSER, HOSTAGE, HOT DAMN, HOT PUSSY, HOT TO TROT, HOT2TROT, HOTDAMN, HOTPUSSY, HOTTOTROT, HUSSY, HUSTLER, ID10T, IDIOT, IDOIT, IN THE ASS, IN THE BUFF, INGIN, INSEST, INTER COURSE, INTER RACIAL, INTERCOURSE, INTERRACIAL, INTHEASS, INTHEBUFF, JACK THE RIPPER, JACKASS, JACKOFF, JACKTHERIPPER, JAP, JAP CRAP, JAPCRAP, JERK OFF, JERKOFF, JESUS CHIRST, JESUSCHRIST, JISM, JIZ, JIZ JUICE, JIZIM, JIZJUICE, JIZZ, JIZZIM, JOINT, JUGGALO, JUGS, K MART, KILL, KILLER, KILLING, KISS ASS, KISSASS, KKK, KMART, KNOCKERS, KOON, KOTEX, KRAP, KRAPPY, KUM, KUM BUBBLE, KUM QUAT, KUMBUBBLE, KUMBULLBE, KUMQUAT, KUNT, KY, KY JELLY, LACTATE, LADY BOOG, LAID, LAP DANCE, LAPDANCE, LESBAIN, LESBAYN, LESBIAN, LESBIN, LESBO, LEZ, LEZ BE, LEZ BE FRIENDS, LEZBE, LEZBEFRIENDS, LEZBO, LEZZ, LEZZO, LICK ME, LICKER, LICKME, LIMP DICK, LIMPDICK, LIMY, LIVE SEX, LIVESEX, LOLITA, LOOSER, LOTION, LOVE BONE, LOVE GOO, LOVE GUN, LOVE JUICE, LOVE MUSCLE, LOVE PISTOL, LOVE ROCKET, LOVEBONE, LOVEGOO, LOVEGUN, LOVEJUICE, LOVEMUSCLE, LOVEPISTOL, LOVEROCKET, LOW LIFE, LOWLIFE, LUBE JOB, LUBEJOB, LUCKY CAMEL TOE, LUCKYCAMMELTOE, MAMS, MAN HATER, MAN PASTE, MANHATER, MANPASTE, MARY JANE, MARYJANE, MASTABATE, MASTABATER, MASTER BLASTER, MASTERBATE, MASTERBLASTER, MASTRABATOR, MATTRESS PRINCESS, MATTRESSPRINCESS, MEAT BEATTER, MEATBEATTER, MOLEST, MOLESTER, MOLESTOR, MONEY SHOT, MONEYSHOT, MOTHER FUCKER, MOTHER LOVE BONE, MOTHERFUCK, MOTHERFUCKER, MOTHERLOVEBONE, MUFF, MUFF DIVE, MUFF DIVER, MUFF LICKER, MUFFDIVE, MUFFDIVER, MUFFIN DIVER, MUFFINDIVER, MUFFLIKCER, MURDER, MUTHA FUCKER, NAKED, NASTY BITCH, NASTY HO, NASTY SLUT, NASTY WHORE, NASTYBITCH, NASTYHO, NASTYSLUT, NASTYWHORE, NEON DEON, NIG, NIGER, NIGGA, NIGGER, NIPPLE, NIPPLE RING, NIPPLERING, NIT TIT, NITTIT, NO FUCKING WAY, NO SEX, NOFUCKINGWAY, NOOKIE, NOONER, NUDE, NUT FUCKER, NUTFUCKER, OICU812, ON THE RAG, ONTHERAG, ORGASM, ORGY, OU812, OUI, PIMP, PEARL NECKLACE, PEARLNECKLACE, PECKER, PEE, PEEP SHOW, PEEPSHOW, PEEPSHPW, PENETRATION, PENIS, PENTHOUSE, PERIOD, PHQUE, PIMP, PIMP SIMP, PIMPED, PIMPER, PIMPJUIC, PIMPJUICE, PIMPSIMP, PISS, PISS HEAD, PISSED, PISSER, PISSHEAD, PLAY BOY, PLAY GIRL, PLAYBOY, PLAYGIRL, POCKET POOL, POCKETPOOL, POLACK, POON TANG, POONTANG, POOP, POOPER, POOR WHITE TRASH, POORWHITETRASH, POPIMP, PORCH MONKEY, PORCHMONKEY, PORN, PORN FLICK, PORN KING, PORN PRINCESS, PORNFLICK, PORNKING, PORNO, PORNPRINCESS, PREMATURE, PRICK, PRICK HEAD, PRICKHEAD, PRIMETIME, PROSTITUTE, PUBIC, PUBIC LICE, PUBICLICE, PUD, PUD BOY, PUDBOY, PUDD, PUDD BOY, PUDDBOY, PUN TANG, PUNTANG, PURINA PRINCESS, PURINAPRICNESS, PUSSY, PUSSY CAT, PUSSY EATER, PUSSY FUCKER, PUSSY LICKER, PUSSY LIPS, PUSSY LOVER, PUSSY POUNDER, PUSSYCAT, PUSSYEATER, PUSSYFUCKER, PUSSYLICKER, PUSSYLIPS, PUSSYLOVER, PUSSYPOUNDER, PUTT PIRATE, PWT, QUEEF, QUEER, QUICKIE, RAE CARRUTH, RAPE, RAPIST, REAR END, REAR ENTRY, REAREND, REARENTRY, RECTUM, RED LIGHT, REDLIGHT, REEFER, RENT A FUCK, RENTAFUCK, RETARD, RETARDED, RIBBED, RIM JOB, RIMJOB, ROACH, ROBBER, S AND M, S&M, SAMCKDADDY, SANDM, SATAN, SCHLONG, SCREW, SCREW YOU, SCREWYOU, SCROTUM, SEMEN, SEX, SEX FARM, SEX HOUND, SEX HOUSE, SEX KITTEN, SEX POT, SEX SLAVE, SEX TO GO, SEX TOY, SEX TOYS, SEX WHORE, SEXFARM, SEXHOUND, SEXHOUSE, SEXKITTEN, SEXPOT, SEXSLAVE, SEXTOGO, SEXTOY, SEXTOYS, SEXUAL, SEXWHORE, SEXY, SEXY BIATCH, SEXY BITCH, SEXY MOMA, SEXY SLIM, SEXYMOMA, SEXY-SLIM, SHAG, SHAGGIN, SHAGGING, SHAWTYPIMP, SHIT, SHIT DICK, SHIT EATER, SHIT FACE, SHIT FOR BRAINS, SHIT FUCK, SHIT FUCKER, SHIT HAPPENS, SHIT HEAD, SHIT OUT OF LUCK, SHIT STAIN, SHIT4BRAINS, SHITDICK, SHITEATER, SHITFACE, SHITFORBRAINS, SHITFUCK, SHITFUCKER, SHITHAPENS, SHITHAPPENS, SHITHEAD, SHITOUTOFLUCK, SHITS, SHITSTAIN, SHITTER, SHITTING, SHITTY, SHORT FUCK, SHORTFUCK, SHOWTIME, SIX SIX SIX, SIXSIXSIX, SIXTY 9, SIXTY NINE, SIXTY9, SIXTYNINE, SKANK, SKANK BITCH, SKANK FUCK, SKANK WHORE, SKANKBITCH, SKANKFUCK, SKANKWHORE, SKANKY BITCH, SKANKY WHORE, SKANKYBITCH, SKANKYWHORE, SKIN FLUTE, SKINFLUTE, SKUM, SKUM BAG, SKUMBAG, SLANT, SLANT EYE, SLANTEYE, SLAVE, SLAVE DRIVER, SLAVEDRIVER, SLEEZE BAG, SLEEZE BALL, SLEEZEBAG, SLEEZEBALL, SLIDE IT IN, SLIDEITIN, SLIME, SLIME BALL, SLIME BUCKET, SLIMEBALL, SLIMEBUCKET, SLUT, SLUT WEAR, SLUT WHORE, SLUTS, SLUTT, SLUTTING, SLUTTY, SLUTWEAR, SLUTWHORE, SMACK DADDY, SMACK THE MONKEY, SMACKTHEMONKEY, SMAGMA, SMART ASS, SNATCH, SNATCH PATCH, SNATCHPATCH, SNIPER, SNOT, SODOMITE, SODOMY, SON OF A BITCH, SONOFABITCH, SONOFBITCH, SPANK THE MONKEY, SPANKTHEMONKEY, SPERM, SPERM BAG, SPERM HEARDER, SPERM HERDER, SPERMACIDE, SPERMBAG, SPERMHEARDER, SPERMHERDER, SPIC, SPICK, SPIT, SPITTER, SPLIT TAIL, SPLIT TIAL, SPLITTAIL, STAGG, STRAP ON, STRAPON, STRINGER, STRIP CLUB, STRIPCLUB, STROKE, STROKING, STUPID, STUPID FUCK, STUPID FUCKER, STUPIDFUCK, STUPIDFUCKER, SUCK, SUCK DICK, SUCK ME, SUCK MY ASS, SUCK MY DICK, SUCK MY TIT, SUCK OFF, SUCKDICK, SUCKER, SUCKME, SUCKMYASS, SUCKMYDICK, SUCKMYTIT, SUCKOFF, SUICIDE, SWIGN DIXX, SWING DIXX, SWINGIN DIXX, SWINGING DICKS, SYPHILIS, TAMPON, TESTICLE, TESTICLES, THIRD EYE, THIRD LEG, THIRDEYE, THIRDLEG, THREE SOME, THREESOME, TIT, TIT BIT NIPPLY, TIT FUCK, TIT FUCKER, TIT FUCKIN, TIT JOB, TIT LICKER, TIT LOVER, TITBITNIPPLY, TITFUCK, TITFUCKER, TITFUCKIN, TITJOB, TITLICKER, TITLOVER, TITS, TITTIES, TITTY, TONGETHRUSTER, TONGUE, TONGUE THRUSTER, TONGUE TRAMP, TONGUETHRUST, TONGUETRAMP, TOUNG THRUSTER, TOUNGE BALLER, TOUNGE THRUST, TRAILER TRASH, TRAILERTRASH, TRAMP, TRI SEXUAL, TRIPLE X, TRIPLEX, TRISEXUAL, TROJAN, TROTS, TUNNEL OF LOVE, TUNNELOFLOVE, TURD, TWO BIT WHORE, TWO ON ONE, TWOBITWHORE, UNFUCKABLE, UP THE ASS, UP THE BUTT, UPSKIRT, UPTHEASS, UPTHEBUTT, URINATE, URINE, UTERUS, VAGINA, VAGINAL, VD, VIBRATER, VIBRATOR, VIRGIN, VIRGIN BREAKER, VIRGINBREAKER, VULVA, WAYSTED, WEENIE, WET SPOT, WETSPOT, WHACKER, WHISKEY DICK, WHISKEYDICK, WHISKY DICK, WHISKYDICK, WHITE TRASH, WHITETRASH, WHORE, WHORE FUCKER, WHORE HOUSE, WHOREFUCKER, WHOREHOUSE, WIGGER, WILLIE WANKER, WILLIEWANKER, WUUTANG, XXX, YELLOW MAN, YELLOWMAN

Zombie Steve Jobs wants your blood

Apple are well-known for their strict censorship, particularly when it comes to the iPhone, and Italian developers Molleindustria (motto: "Radical games against the dictatorship of entertainment") are the latest to face their wrath. Produced in association with the Gwangju Design Bienniale and Abandon Normal Devices, Phone Story is an "educational" and satirical game which mocks consumer obsession with mobile phones and comments on the the conditions faced by workers in the consumer electronics supply chain. In the game's various levels, players have to mine Coltan, the valuable mineral whose control has fuelled the Congolese Civil War, prevent far-eastern factory workers from jumping off high buildings, and fling out the latest gadgets to rabid consumers.

Apple banned the game on the grounds that it depicts cruelty to children and features "excessively objectionable or crude content". The game is available from the Android Market. Molleindustria promise that their revenues will be donated to charities that help protect the poor and vulnerable caught up in the mobile phone supply chain.

(Source: The Guardian)

The evils of Apple

Whether banning books, launching long-running lawsuits, or being investigated and sued for anti-competitive practices, Apple is seldom out of the headlines. Apple's co-founder Steve Jobs allegedly projects a reality distortion field able to convince almost anyone of anything, but lately it seems Apple's legendary PR machine is going rather wobbly. Here are some recent stories and some classics from the Apple files.

Banning rival iPhone applications: If you want to sell or even give away an iPhone application, you need to go through Apple's online store. When Apple banned Google's GoogleVoice internet telephony application, the result was an FCC inquiry, still ongoing. (Wall Street Journal) They also banned the Opera browser and the podcasting application Podcaster because they were too similar to Apple's browser Safari and Apple's iTunes media player. (Register)

Banning iPhone applications for no reason: As well as commercial considerations, they've been punishing app developers for the mildest of obscenity. They briefly stopped sales of Eucalyptus, which allows users to browse public-domain texts, because it lets you download and read the Kama Sutra. (Guardian) Equally bizarrely, they banned the Ninjawords dictionary for including swearwords. (Telegraph)

Anti-competitive deals with other companies: Apple and Google have until recently been close, with Google CEO Eric Schmidt sitting on Apple's board of directors. The two companies cemented their close relation with an agreement not to hire away staff from each other. This led to a US Justice Department probe. (Washington Post)

Failure to provide MMS in the USA: the only American network supporting the iPhone was unable to provide the MMS multimedia messaging service for months after the June 2009 launch of the iPhone 3GS. The 3rd generation iPhone was the first Apple phone to support the messaging standard, which has been widely available on other phones in Europe since around 2004. (Computer World)

Clamping down on cloners: they have spent a long time suing Psystar who produce Apple-compatible hardware far more cheaply than Apple do (in contrast, so many manufacturers produce systems compatible with IBM's PCs that IBM got out of the market years ago). Apple accuse Psystar of copyright breaches; Psystar have counter-sued claiming restraint of trade under anti-trust laws. (Register)

Keeping iTunes music tied to iPod/iPhone hardware: recent action against software allowing you to sync iTunes with a Palm Pre (Tech Crunch; The Apple Blog) is just the latest in a long line of limitations placed on what you can do with your music. (EFF; Ars Technica; Apple Insider)

Exploding phones: in common with other major producers like Sony and Dell, Apple products have occasionally caught fire, sometimes causing alleged significant damage. (Gizmodo; CNet)

No user-serviceable parts: unlike many manufacturers of consumer goods, Apple products almost never have user-replacable batteries. Rechargable batteries often lose some of their capacity and need to be replaced; with an Apple product you must take it to an Apple store and pay them for the privilege. (Register; CNet)

Suing blogs for publishing stories about upcoming products: They drove ThinkSecret out of business when it published rumours about a new Mac and wordprocessor (Wikipedia) sued over a post on the AppleInsider forum about a new Apple mouse (Wikipedia) and their lawyers had dealings with MacScoop. (Wikipedia) See also NY Times.

Censoring critics: Trying to stop publication of Jeffrey Young and William Simon's iCon: Steve Jobs - The Greatest Second Act in The History of Business published by John Wiley and Sons, they pulled all Wiley's books (including the Dummies series and other Mac-related titles) from the shelves of Apple stores. Four years later Apple are still not selling them. Apple also attempted to stop a profile of Jobs in the Sunday Times. (Register; Brand Republic)

Getting a journalist arrested: Apple's persecution of bloggers ratcheted up in April 2010, when the home of Jason Chen, an editor of Gizmodo, was raided by police. He had received an iPhone 4G prototype from a source who found it left behind in a bar, and Chen's home was raided by police with a warrant accusing him of handling stolen property. California's special computer crime division REACT, whose advisory board included Apple, were behind the raid and seized his computers (Times). A number of groups including EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) claimed the raid was in contravention of Californian laws protecting journalists. (BBC) Eventually the warrant was dropped and Chen's property returned (EFF).

Breaching copyright and antagonising Eminem: Apple used the Eminem song Lose Yourself in an advertisement without his permission; he sued and they settled out of court in 2005. He has also accused them of offering his songs to download on iTunes without permission, although at time of writing this is still to be decided in court. (The Guardian)

Driving contractors to suicide: In summer 2010 there was a press scandal about worker conditions in far-eastern plants run by FoxConn, one of Apple's suppliers; there had been 10 suicides in 5 months. However the plant also supplied Dell, Nokia, HP, and Nintendo, so working conditions were not unique to Apple. (Forbes)