From Overlawyered.com:
In California, nine-year old Shea O’Gorman wrote a letter to Apple CEO Steve Jobs suggesting changes that she thought might improve the iPod. The letter she got back from an Apple senior counsel, advising her of the company’s policy against considering unsolicited ideas, was brusque enough to reduce her to tears. Following bad publicity, Apple apologized to Miss O’Gorman and says it is revising its policies on communicating with children. The policy against considering unsolicited ideas, of course, “is designed to protect Apple from future patent lawsuits should submitted ideas ever be used.” (“Apple legal makes little girl sob”, MacWorld UK, Apr. 17).
Way to go, Apple.
