4 ms·

Well that's the thing, you can't waive your rights. That's the whole point of these clauses being unenforceable. This is a really disappointing move on Apple's

Well that's the thing, you can't waive your rights. That's the whole point of these clauses being unenforceable. This is a really disappointing move on Apple's part. The guy isn't pursuing something competing with any Apple product, or even anything trying to sell back to Apple. He's just going off and doing something else.

edw 7y ago
I take no position on the enforceability or the wisdom of the case. That said… It seems completely reasonable to me that there will be ARM-based desktops and laptops from Apple in the next five years and that they plan to offer them in hardware or software configurations that are suited to server work; macOS Server is still a thing. I three-quarters expected, when the new Mac Pro was announced a year or two ago, that it would be the first ARM-based desktop Mac. I was wrong, but I think I was wrong on timing, not on whether it would eventually happen. Apple cares a lot about having control of every key technology that makes up its offerings.
- Despegar 7y ago
  Yeah this is almost certainly about chips intended for future Macs.
- yjftsjthsd-h 7y ago
  > macOS Server is still a thing It is? With no server hardware except for maybe a rack-mounted Mac Pro ( which doesn't really strike me as server grade hardware)[0] and most of the actual server services gutted[1]? [0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Pro#Mac_Pro_Server https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Pro#Mac_Pro_Server & https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Mini#Mac_mini_Server https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Mini#Mac_mini_Server [1] https://9to5mac.com/2018/01/24/major-changes-macos-server/ https://9to5mac.com/2018/01/24/major-changes-macos-server/
  - thetinguy 7y ago
    I have seen many macos server installations on Mac mini.
briandear 7y ago
> The guy isn't pursuing something competing with any Apple product, or even anything trying to sell back to Apple. That isn't true. "Williams boasted about starting a new company with technology that he was working on at Apple, that he believed Apple ‘needed’ and that he believed Apple would have no choice but to purchase.”" > He's just going off and doing something else. Also not true. He started the company to sell tech he developed at Apple, back to Apple.
- gmanley 7y ago
  I'm not sure why you are stating these things like they are facts. These are still just allegations that Apple has put forth. > He started the company to sell tech he developed at Apple, back to Apple. If this is so clear cut, Apple will have a lot easier time in court. On the contrary, this is exactly what Apple needs to prove in this case.
  - ksec 7y ago
    >I'm not sure why you are stating these things like they are facts. These are still just allegations that Apple has put forth. True, but even before these allegation it is also widely believe to be the case on HN [1]. I am not surprised not only because designing and selling chips is hard, but also because Apple has a history of acqui-hire startup with previous employees. Tim Cook mention they make nearly close to 1 acquisition per week, since the value is so small ( compare to Apple's cash holding ) they dont even need to disclose it. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21547850 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21547850
Mikeb85 7y ago
You can't waive your rights, but in most jurisdictions managers have less rights than employees (which is made up by the fact they generally have more freedom and better compensation). So if he ran a division of Apple, he'd definitely be classed as a manager and a non-compete would likely be enforceable.

edw 7y ago

I take no position on the enforceability or the wisdom of the case. That said… It seems completely reasonable to me that there will be ARM-based desktops and laptops from Apple in the next five years and that they plan to offer them in hardware or software configurations that are suited to server work; macOS Server is still a thing. I three-quarters expected, when the new Mac Pro was announced a year or two ago, that it would be the first ARM-based desktop Mac. I was wrong, but I think I was wrong on timing, not on whether it would eventually happen. Apple cares a lot about having control of every key technology that makes up its offerings.

Despegar 7y ago
Yeah this is almost certainly about chips intended for future Macs.
yjftsjthsd-h 7y ago
> macOS Server is still a thing It is? With no server hardware except for maybe a rack-mounted Mac Pro ( which doesn't really strike me as server grade hardware)[0] and most of the actual server services gutted[1]? [0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Pro#Mac_Pro_Server https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Pro#Mac_Pro_Server & https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Mini#Mac_mini_Server https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Mini#Mac_mini_Server [1] https://9to5mac.com/2018/01/24/major-changes-macos-server/ https://9to5mac.com/2018/01/24/major-changes-macos-server/
- thetinguy 7y ago
  I have seen many macos server installations on Mac mini.

briandear 7y ago

> The guy isn't pursuing something competing with any Apple product, or even anything trying to sell back to Apple. That isn't true. "Williams boasted about starting a new company with technology that he was working on at Apple, that he believed Apple ‘needed’ and that he believed Apple would have no choice but to purchase.”" > He's just going off and doing something else. Also not true. He started the company to sell tech he developed at Apple, back to Apple.

gmanley 7y ago
I'm not sure why you are stating these things like they are facts. These are still just allegations that Apple has put forth. > He started the company to sell tech he developed at Apple, back to Apple. If this is so clear cut, Apple will have a lot easier time in court. On the contrary, this is exactly what Apple needs to prove in this case.
- ksec 7y ago
  >I'm not sure why you are stating these things like they are facts. These are still just allegations that Apple has put forth. True, but even before these allegation it is also widely believe to be the case on HN [1]. I am not surprised not only because designing and selling chips is hard, but also because Apple has a history of acqui-hire startup with previous employees. Tim Cook mention they make nearly close to 1 acquisition per week, since the value is so small ( compare to Apple's cash holding ) they dont even need to disclose it. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21547850 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21547850

Mikeb85 7y ago

You can't waive your rights, but in most jurisdictions managers have less rights than employees (which is made up by the fact they generally have more freedom and better compensation). So if he ran a division of Apple, he'd definitely be classed as a manager and a non-compete would likely be enforceable.