After receiving an ominous word from an Apple legal professional, idea artist Antonio De Rosa is ready to learn the way, precisely, the corporate desires him to change his photorealistic pictures that depict unreleased Apple merchandise.
De Rosa stated desires to work with Apple to resolve the scenario. However when requested what he thinks will occur if he doesn’t make modifications to his Apple idea pictures, he sounded barely intimidated by the highly effective tech firm.
“I don’t know,” De Rosa stated in an e-mail to Cult of Mac, “but honestly I don’t want to find out.”
Apple sends idea designer nicest nastygram ever!
De Rosa finds himself within the uncomfortable place of getting attracted the eye one of many tech world’s strongest gamers. It stays unclear precisely what caught the attention of Apple’s vaunted authorized group — maybe a latest mockup exhibiting a drool-worthy folding iPhone? However the request to make unspecified modifications as a result of a few of De Rosa’s art work appears “too real” definitely sounds worrisome.
When an Apple legal professional contacted De Rosa earlier this week about adjusting a few of his Apple design ideas, the cellphone name got here as fairly a shock. Nonetheless, De Rosa stated Cupertino is being good to date. And that certain seems like each lawyer we all know — proper up till the lawsuit is filed.
If Apple has any authorized standing for its actions to date, it’s not clear what they’re. Apple informed De Rosa it simply desires to keep away from complicated customers.
A stunning name from Apple’s authorized group
I acquired a name from an Apple legal professional asking me to regulate a few of my ideas as a result of they had been thought of too practical. pic.twitter.com/e5PGOVT7tj
— Antonio De Rosa (@aderosa75) August 15, 2024
In a Wednesday submit on X, De Rosa expressed his shock at listening to from an Apple lawyer about his product mockups. “I received a call from an Apple attorney asking me to adjust some of my concepts because they were considered too realistic,” De Rosa wrote. The picture he included depicts his personal shocked expression.
The communication from Cupertino got here as such a shock that De Rosa didn’t even consider it at first.
“I didn’t expect that: When the attorney called and presented himself [on] the phone, I believe[d] it was a joke,” he informed Cult of Mac.
The decision adopted up on the word beneath, which could stand out because the nicest nastygram ever from an Apple lawyer:
“Apple appreciates your creativity and enthusiasm for the company, and does not generally object to your website or designs, but there are certain pages/designs that Apple worries may look too real, and may actually create consumer confusion,” the lawyer wrote. “Rather than request that you take them down entirely or make some kind of blanket changes, we’d rather talk through the nuances of the issue and ideally find a reasonable solution that works for everyone.”
Apple idea artist desires to cooperate
Through the years, De Rosa established fairly a observe document of making cool Apple product ideas. Cult of Mac has written rather a lot about De Rosa’s work, going again to not less than 2012, with more moderen articles together with his ADR Studio. (See the record of articles beneath.)
His design ideas for doable Apple merchandise look so well-executed and compelling, we even profiled the artist and his laptop gear in an interview we ran as a Setups submit.
As soon as De Rosa received over the shock, he made certain Cupertino is aware of he’s prepared to cooperate. He declined to touch upon precisely which designs Apple expressed involved about or how the corporate desires him to alter them.
“I express my total availability to avoid any misunderstanding and miscommunication, so I’m waiting for the next steps,” he informed Cult of Mac.
He described Apple’s representatives as “really kind” and “far from aggressive.” And he acknowledged that change appears inevitable.
“In the customer interest I understand that some actions need to be taken,” De Rosa stated.
Why the sudden curiosity from Apple?
In a roundabout approach, there’s no increased reward for De Rosa’s mockups than Apple’s authorized division getting in his face.
“You know you’re on the right path when a legal team comes after you for being ‘too real’ haha,” quipped a commenter on De Rosa’s X submit.
However that makes us surprise: Why is Apple involved about De Rosa’s work now? May De Rosa be engaged on one thing that comes too near an actual Apple product about to launch? In any case, whereas Apple shut down product leakers like Suppose Secret prior to now, the corporate doesn’t usually go after idea designers. At the very least so far as we all know.
In idea, Apple could possibly be motivated to do one thing like this if it thinks the designer is getting inside info, like some leakers do. Or perhaps Apple legitimately thinks De Rosa’s extremely practical renders may confuse the general public, because the lawyer’s word suggests.
It’s price noting that one in every of his more moderen designs exhibits a folding iPhone Air (pictured on the high of this submit). No matter no matter Apple’s rumored folding iPhone may appear like or be referred to as, maybe De Rosa’s rendering strikes too near the mark for Cupertino.
Cult of Mac requested Apple for touch upon the scenario. We’ll up to date this submit if we obtain a reply.
Learn extra about Antonio De Rosa and his Apple idea artwork
Photograph: Antonio De Rosa/ADR Studio
Take a look at a few of De Rosa’s wonderful Apple idea designs:
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