Apple fires iPhone X engineer after daughter’s hands-on video goes viral

[NumLock21]

10 minutes ago, bcredeur97 said:

considering the video was released after the phone was announced and some of the press got to hands-on with the phone AND she didn't really show much... I don't really see the big deal here. Sure a promise to never film again and take down the video, I could understand. I think firing him was a little too far though...

 

then again... if you let one get away with a rule then you're kind of showing that your rules don't matter so perhaps this was justified. Really the only thing that bothers me is the phone was already announced though...

Does not matter if she posted a year after the iphone x came out. Work for Apple, then obey their rules. It's just that simple.

[Okjoek]

What a waste by all parties IMO.

[Jito463]

2 hours ago, Blade of Grass said:

I doubt it. Tech companies (especially Apple) take leaks very seriously and would risk their zero tolerance reputation if they hired him back.

 

Plus, what PR do they need? They're already sold out of the iPhone X like... everywhere? 

I thought I read that the iPhone 8 wasn't selling well (albeit, due to the imminent launch of the X).  Besides, what company would turn down a chance to hype up even more publicity on a product launch, no matter how well known it already is?

 

Also, for some reason I never got a notification that you quoted me (maybe you added me in an edit?).

[Zodiark1593]

2 hours ago, Blade of Grass said:

"Non-compete" agreements are legal in a lot jurisdictions (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-compete_clause) 

Depending on where the engineer lived, such agreement may be invalidated. Further, there also seemed to have been a case where an individual from another state sought employment in California, and the new employer successfully sued (in California court) to invalidate the non compete agreement that was in place.

 

Even if the engineer was living in a state that enforces non-compete clauses, he could still seek employment in a State that will not do so.

[Brooksie359]

10 hours ago, porina said:

"dad" was negligent in this case, 100% his fault. It is his responsibility to ensure any and all company rules are followed, and leaking info on unreleased products is pretty much up there. This will likely also make it more difficult for dad to get a decent job in future. 

The guy worked for apple as an engineer. He is clearly capable in his field and shouldn't have much of an issue getting hired somewhere else. Maybe not somewhere as high profile as apple but still somewhere that pays 

[porina]

55 minutes ago, Brooksie359 said:

The guy worked for apple as an engineer. He is clearly capable in his field and shouldn't have much of an issue getting hired somewhere else. Maybe not somewhere as high profile as apple but still somewhere that pays 

Apple likely has good and not so good people working for them. Depends on the role, but if there is a shortage of people they have to go with what they can get. My day job is in a bit of a niche area and I've been approached multiple times by Apple. Of course that's no guarantee they would have taken me, but I didn't want to relocate to the US and declined before any discussion took place. I doubt I'll be a cultural fit.

 

Anyway, that guy's reputation will be taken down a notch. In the industry not leaking sensitive information is a major and serious part of it. If he made the mistake once, what other errors of judgement might there be in future? So I'm not saying he can't get another job, but they may be more limited in scope.

[Bcat00]

7 hours ago, bcredeur97 said:

considering the video was released after the phone was announced and some of the press got to hands-on with the phone AND she didn't really show much... I don't really see the big deal here. Sure a promise to never film again and take down the video, I could understand. I think firing him was a little too far though...

 

then again... if you let one get away with a rule then you're kind of showing that your rules don't matter so perhaps this was justified. Really the only thing that bothers me is the phone was already announced though...

Its not a matter of what she showed or when she showed, its a matter of she "did show it without proper authorization".

[Bensemus]

12 hours ago, Lathlaer said:

On the other hand, I don't like the approach that someone is either a perfect employee or is fired. There is a full spectrum of things you can do as punishment to an employee before firing him. 

I think Apple just has a rule that you agree to where if you break NDA you are gone. Doesn't matter what your record is. It's not like it's a hard rule to follow. The guy even talks in the original video and explains stuff about the phone. His daughter didn't do this without his knowledge. He actively participated.

[kasugatei]

Well, he got what he deserves. His daughter was his responsibility at the campus so he did shitty job in keeping his eye on her. Especially if he knows that she is social media attention w*ore. Yet if he didn't know, then he fails as a parent as well.

[Qwertious]

Thank you Ms Apple Engineer Daughter for the mad iPhone video. Sadly rules are rules and they must be enforced for it to be effective.

[Mooshi]

This doesn't help the iPhone = dumb teenaged girl image

[Skanky Sylveon]

Respect NDA, I don't understand how the daughter didn't know this.  Her being a wannabe YouTuber and all.

I feel pretty bad for her honestly, I can only imagine how she feels.

I don't like the man getting fired, but I understand the decision.  Let this be a lesson for everyone else, respect NDAs!

[Bananasplit_00]

honestly, while it sucks to see someone loose their job after they probably did some good work, he kind of deserved it for being this stupid. like holy shit man know the rules of where you work and think before you let anyone, ANYONE, film unreleased stuff

[NumLock21]

7 hours ago, Cinnabar Sonar said:

Respect NDA, I don't understand how the daughter didn't know this.  Her being a wannabe YouTuber and all.

I feel pretty bad for her honestly, I can only imagine how she feels.

I don't like the man getting fired, but I understand the decision.  Let this be a lesson for everyone else, respect NDAs!

Don't feel bad for her. She doesn't even feel bad for herself. She was more concern with her video going viral and blames the firing on her dad. Acted like it's no big deal, cause her dad is alright. 

[TidaLWaveZ]

I hope the daughters youtube career can support the family. 

[AnonymousGuy]

That video is such a Casey Neistat knockoff.  Jesus Chris girl get your own fucking style.

[mr moose]

On 10/30/2017 at 1:49 AM, Blade of Grass said:

 

"Non-competes" are not a thing in tech/are illegal in California

 

I was having a lot of trouble trying to work out if that type of contract was even legal, I know very little about NDA's and employment contracts in the US.  It does sound very over the top an unlikely to me.

[mr moose]

On 10/30/2017 at 2:51 AM, Blade of Grass said:

"Non-compete" agreements are legal in a lot jurisdictions (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-compete_clause) 

Interesting,  It looks like they exist, but generally have so many caveats/policies that they are practically worthless bar for a small percentage of cases.  We have similar law In Australian, but it only protects people who buy a whole business from the seller setting up another next door. 

 

 

[NumLock21]

5 hours ago, AnonymousGuy said:

That video is such a Casey Neistat knockoff.  Jesus Chris girl get your own fucking style.

I don't watch too much, so what part did she copy?

[JoostinOnline]

He absolutely deserved to be fired.

On 10/29/2017 at 10:59 AM, OmJo93 said:

It's not so black and white IMO.

 

You think some companies don't purposefully "leak" information about their products? It's an excellent way to cut back on marketing costs if you think about it. None of them will turn down free advertising. You leak the size of the screen and every tech news outlet will be talking about it for a week or so, hyping up the product.

 

Secondly, those OEMs helped create that social media obsessed generation because, again, it's like free advertising. They turned a generation (or more) into practically mindless consumers. Apple is a prime example of that. So they reap what they sow. 

Violating an NDA isn't okay just because it might be positive.

[snortingfrogs]

Great job girl.

Your dad and yourself are now unemployed for life, because no one is going to hire you.

[79wjd]

56 minutes ago, snortingfrogs said:

Great job girl.

Your dad and yourself are now unemployed for life, because no one is going to hire you.

If he's even half competent he'll get a job. 

 

 

 

Although, all of these comments are making me wonder about something.....Anyone could accidentally leak information, but someone who already has (and has experienced the severe consequences of doing so) will probably be more cautious about it in the future and thus actually less likely that the average engineer who hasn't.

[AtomicFrance]

What do you wanna bet she won't be making many Youtube videos anymore?

[Yoinkerman]

Losing their job over a stupid video of an even more stupid phone.

 

 

Who needs workers rights when you guys are so willing to just give them away

[79wjd]

10 minutes ago, Yoinkerman said:

Who needs workers rights when you guys are so willing to just give them away

Yeah, how dare a company be allowed to fire someone for breaking NDA.

 

.....