If you’re one of those consumers who likes to get their new OS releases months before anyone else and you were looking forward to getting your hands on iOS 6 early, you may have to work a bit harder this time (or wait like the rest of us).
Normally, developers pay Apple in order to get the go-ahead to download operating systems ahead of their public releases while most consumers have to wait patiently for the official public release. However, some internet entrepreneurs have taken it upon themselves to game Apple’s system, and have taken to selling early access to the beta operating systems for years without so much as a peep from Apple.
At least until now; Apple has reportedly begun targeting businesses selling early access to iOS 6, citing copyright infringement and contacting hosting providers to shut down sales sites.
Still, the operations can be quite profitable, with income approaching six figures for iOS 6 alone, so businesses will likely attempt to game the system again and open up shop under new domains, but these shut downs could be just the beginning of Apple’s attempts to prevent third parties from illegally capitalizing on their OS releases.