What is Sarbanes-Oxley?

Question

What is Sarbanes-Oxley?

This is a legitimate question and I couldn't find the answer anywhere else. The new iPod Touch update costs $20 whatever, apparently the reason is because of the Sarbanes-Oxley law. I have a short attention span especially when it comes to politics, and assuming the upgrade cost is because of this I was hoping someone could tell me the reason why Apple would be forced to charge for an update.

I'm not trying to start a flame war or whatever but I was just curious as to why this law states that you must charge for an update.

Thanks
rr

 Mac Pro 2.66 / 4GB RAM / 7300 GT  30GB Gen-5 iPod ★20.1" Widescreen, Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Jan 17, 2008 8:07 PM

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Answer 1

WalrusC

Level 1

45 points

Jan 17, 2008 8:21 PM in response to deggie

Found this in relation to the issue with the "n" update a while back. I think assumption is same applies here in this case.

According to the editor, the fee stems from a law called the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which supposedly prohibits Apple from giving away an unadvertised new feature of an already sold product without enduring some onerous accounting measures.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/01/15/appleto_impose_80211n_unlocking_fee_on_intel_macowners.html

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Answer 2

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Jan 17, 2008 8:11 PM in response to reckless ronin

Go here before your post is deleted:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarbanes-Oxley_Act

I've never heard anything that mentions this as the reason for the upgrade price. Do you have a cite for this?

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Answer 3

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Jan 17, 2008 8:18 PM in response to reckless ronin

It applies to EVERY aspect of a corporation and is more complex than just reading the law. Which is why the answer to why Apple is charging for the upgrade is much more complex than the people her merely saying they are "greedy"

To repeat, do you have a cite where this law is referenced in relation to this topic?

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Answer 4

Jan 17, 2008 8:21 PM in response to deggie

I do not have a specific cite, no, just from various other sites on the web I've been trying to read on the subject. Apparently that's why they had to charge a couple bucks for the Airport when 802.11n came out. This probably is all considered speculation and a violation of the forum rules but I was just trying to ask an honest question without it becoming a "it's right or wrong to charge for this" thing.

Thanks
rr

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Answer 5

Jan 17, 2008 8:11 PM in response to reckless ronin

Let Google be your friend.

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Answer 6

Jan 17, 2008 8:13 PM in response to deggie

I figured this post would be deleted, but whatever.

I went to that wiki entry earlier at work today but couldn't figure out how this would apply to software. Thanks though : D

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Answer 7

WalrusC

Level 1

45 points

Jan 17, 2008 8:14 PM in response to reckless ronin

I'm not thoroughly familiar with the intricacies of the law, but some of its financial reform provisions supposedly (not confirmed to my knowledge) affect Apple in this case.

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