Apple just lost a lawsuit trying to ban iOS virtual machines
After a years-long battle with Corellium, US courts have told Apple that third-party iOS virtual devices are indeed allowed and that there is nothing it can do to stop it.
Corellium bills itself as a provider of “unprecedented vulnerability research for iOS and Android phones” and enables security personnel to virtual desktops and operating systems for research purposes.
The court agreed, stating that Corellium “accelerates scientific progress by enabling research into the security of important operating systems,” but Apple likely has other concerns.
Virtual machines for iOS
Usually, the only way a consumer can get iOS is to buy expensive Apple hardware, which was also a requirement for developers. However, concerns have been raised that developers can also use Corellium’s security-oriented VMs to try out applications without having to purchase the appropriate hardware.
“Reproduction of copyrighted works under certain circumstances” meant that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled that Corellium’s CORSEC simulator is protected under the copyright law’s fair use doctrine, under Bloomberg Report.
Corellium maintains that the simulator is primarily used by researchers, federal agencies, and defense contractors, and that there are clear differences between it and the regular iOS distribution (via Bloomberg).
The duo had a legal battle several years ago when, in late 2020, a federal judge in Florida ruled that “iOS is permitted to be used in conjunction with a Corellium product” (via Washington Post).
Some reports indicate that there may be an element of revenge behind the legal action, as Apple failed to acquire the company in 2018. 9To5Mac). While this may play a minor role in the case, Apple has long been known for the way it distributes its products and the number of third parties is very limited.
Apple didn’t respond right away TechRadar Procomment request.
