Apple and Corellium Reach Settlement in iOS Replication Lawsuit

Apple has reached a settlement in its multi-year copyright lawsuit against Corellium, a company known for creating virtual versions of iOS for security research purposes, Forbes reports.

iPhone 13 Security
The lawsuit, initiated by Apple in 2019, accused Corellium of infringing upon its copyrights by replicating iOS. Corellium's technology allowed security researchers and developers to run virtual iPhones, enabling them to probe iOS outside of Apple's own security measures. This capability was at the core of Apple's allegations, claiming that Corellium's software not only replicated iOS but also served as an alternative to Apple's security research products.

Corellium defended its actions under fair use, asserting that its replication of iOS was solely for the purpose of security research and was substantially transformative. In 2021, Apple agreed to drop its claims but then filed an appeal that challenged an earlier ruling in favor of Corellium's fair use claim.

This week, the court announced that both Apple and Corellium have ultimately come to a confidential settlement, bringing the prolonged dispute to an end.

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Top Rated Comments

0339327 Avatar
15 months ago
While I understand that Apple doesn’t want this, it seems that Corellium has a legitimate purpose that serves to help better the product.

What I find surprising is that Apple didn’t agree to work with Corellium as a partner, instead, forcing them to recreate the OS.

Whatever the settlement is, I hope it allows the research to continue unabated.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Shirasaki Avatar
15 months ago

Whatever the settlement is, I hope it allows the research to continue unabated.
Those involved would be more than happy to know what kind of change to Corellium’s ToC and all the string attached because of this confidential settlement, and the impact of this settlement to their research.

With that being said, we badly need strong individual entities outside Apple to see how ugly iOS is in its security and patch those vulnerabilities before government and hackers find them out and exploit for nefarious purposes.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Steve121178 Avatar
15 months ago

What I find surprising is that Apple didn’t agree to work with Corellium as a partner
They probably didn't want them finding too many holes in the security & prefer security issues to be something they curate and highlight rather than the broader community exposing their software willy nilly.

But I can understand they didn't want them creating virtual versions. However, if it helps plug the holes in security it's completely bizarre to be against this.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nathan_reilly Avatar
15 months ago

Well, if you're uploading their software on the internet without paying them, they won't be happy!
this is not at all what this is about. To frame this like it's a high schooler pirating videogames is disingenuous and uncharitable to the extreme
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spcopsmac21 Avatar
15 months ago

So what is Corellium’s business model? Find security flaws on iOS and sell them on the dark web?
No….not at all.
It helped developers better design and implements applications and patch loose holes in systems and code in order to get full utilization of the operating system.

They didn’t sell back doors or holes. The whole thing was designed to BLOCK back doors and hole and find flaws that would enable nefarious actors into doing what you said…..
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lkrupp Avatar
15 months ago
So what is Corellium’s business model? Find security flaws on iOS and sell them on the dark web?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)