[matt4077]

This guy has shown quite a talent for self-sabotage. Apple was willing to reinstate him if he'd undo some of the PR damage he'd created by spelling out that he shared the credit card with someone, and that maybe that's not the best idea.

Instead, he was enjoying the spotlight so much, he used the opportunity to escalate further, even publishing his phone call with Apple (illegal on one side of that conversation at least).

And that narrative includes a healthy dose of goodwill, considering how close to "the dog ate it" that story about the family friend is. A friend who apparently also didn't own any Apple hardware, so they shared that as well.

But open sourcing the useless iOS app is apparently a bad idea because his customers don't know how to work XCode, which strikes me as counterintuitive, considering every single one of his customers bought programmer-centric software for Mac.

[erikrothoff]

From my perspective, most of the PR damage is because a lot of other smaller developers have come out of the woodwork to voice their grievances with Apple. These kind of things happen all the time, and a lot of us feel stood on by the giant Apple. Even though this event sounds like a special case, it still highlights the draconian behavior we deal with. (That's what I would call Apple trying to get him to post a blog post with a "statement" about how wrong he was...) I have never felt so small as when dealing with Apple and the app store.

[vlozko]

But have they, though? I've read about this topic extensively and I've actually yet to run into a single comment or blog post about someone with a very similar experience and was entirely innocent. All I hear is the same banter that Apple does this to the little guy and everyone in solitary agreement with this notion. Very few people are willing to actually willing to put their pitchforks down and humbly admit that maybe Apple was accurate in its assessments of this developer and did more than they probably should have to rectify things.

[smacktoward]

When you dance with a gorilla, the gorilla calls the tune.

[DannyBee]

"(illegal on one side of that conversation at least)."

This is actually not correct, it depends on the state/country he is in.

[barney54]

Also, you don't know if there was consent before the recording started.

[eridius]

There probably wasn't, because people typically capture that sort of thing in the recording (otherwise you don't have any proof of the consent). Based on how it started, it sounds to me like he answered the phone, and when he realized who he was talking with he started recording (without asking for permission).

[aidenn0]

Not always true: see "Kearney v. Salomon Smith Barney"

[pkamb]

He only published the new blog post and the phone call AFTER Apple put out a new press release completely sliming him. He was waiting for his draft blog post to be reviewed, and they go to the press behind his back.

[longsangstan]

Correct. The issue now is not about the accounts and frauds.

Btw, I believe there is a miscommunication between them as I don't think going to the press behind his back is in Apple's best interest.

[cynix]

And it doesn't even matter whether the other account really was created for a family/friend or not. It's absurd that he would think this absolves him of all responsibilities for that account. It's like lending your credit card to someone, then telling your bank you're not liable for any charges they made. No sane person would think that's reasonable.

[elpocko]

I don't know what the app is about, I have never even used an Apple product in all my live. But I admire this guy for not bowing to the demands of Apple. Sticking to your principles, even when that means you're losing money (or, as you put it, "self-sabotage") is not something you see very often nowadays.

[dogma1138]

He did comply, he just did it in a very odd manner.