Apple Genius Bars to Undergo the 'Defective' Test

Defective By Design, a group of anti-DRM campaigners, issued somewhat of a warning earlier this month telling folks that Apple's iPhone was bad news. Most recently, based on allegations that Apple's reason for DRM on the iPhone is "pure, old fashioned greed," the group has begun encouraging folks worldwide to take part in the DefectiveByDesign.org iPhone Challenge, which targets Genius Bars at Apple retail stores worldwide.

"When we first wrote about the iPhone 3G, we listed 5 reasons to avoid it," say the folks at Defective By Design. As previously reported by Softpedia, those five things that the iPhone does, but shouldn't, are:

1. iPhone completely blocks free software.
2. iPhone endorses and supports Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) technology.
3. iPhone exposes your whereabouts and provides ways for others to track you without your knowledge.
4. iPhone won't play patent-and-DRM-free formats.
5. iPhone is not the only option.

Now, the anti-DRM group known as Defective By Design is trying to get as many people as possible to go to their local Apple Store, book a space at the Genius Bar and ask them some questions.

"When you're done, give the Genius a rating from 0 to 160, based on the accuracy of information they give you. If they're honest and up front about Apple's deceit, give them a higher score. If they toe the party line, give them a lower score," the group notes in the provided fact sheet.

So, what exactly is Defective's problem? Well, first of all, the fact that Apple continues to push for DRM. In the campaigners' opinion, "the real reason behind DRM on the iPhone is pure, old fashioned greed." The second motive for their bad temper is the fact that "Apple is leveraging its position as market leader in order to sell more iPods and iPhones."

Additionally, "Amazon, Napster and Rhapsody are all providing DRM-free music that plays on Apple devices today," making this the third reason the group would drive a stake through Apple's heart, while "Steve Jobs is the largest individual shareholder of Disney, who have record labels, TV networks and movies to their name. All DRM," which pretty much counts as the last straw for the individuals behind the iPhone Challenge.

The group assures interested parties that, should they go out and grade Apple Geniuses based on answers to DRM-based issues, they will do a write-up on their findings, as well as "send prizes to the best Apple Geniuses, and information packs to some of the worst."

More information is available inside the DefectiveByDesign.org iPhone Challenge fact sheet (PDF).