14 DAY TRIAL // As a result of leaks and design giveaways ahead of product unveilings, Apple is asking accessory makers to refrain from showing next-generation products before the actual Apple device has been released.
According to the agreement (part of which was published by 9to5mac), “should Apple find that, prior to the release of a product, you have sought, obtained, or relied upon specifications of that product from sources other than Apple, Apple may choose to exercise its right to take action against you, which penalties can include, but are not limited to, Apple choosing not to stock your product in our stores.”
The penalty is not necessarily intimidating to vendors who don’t rely on Apple shops to push their products onto consumers, but being in the Apple Store in the first place is a privilege one doesn’t risk losing. Especially in the accessory business.
For years accessory makers have leaked Apple’s unannounced designs, and 2015 will probably be no different. That being said, there’s little to leak this year, as the iPhone 6S is expected to look roughly the same as its predecessor (if not identical), while the rest of the lineup - iPad Pro and 12” MacBook Air - hardly fits any protective cases or sleeves that a company might manufacture.
There’s a negative side to Apple’s new rule, of course. In refraining from seeking specifications to create accessories in time for a device’s launch, vendors who are in business with Apple will give their respective competitors a huge head start.