this post was submitted on 26 Mar 2025
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solarpunk memes

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[–] [email protected] 60 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

Ackshually, most Apple varieties are patented.

Apple companies put in tons of effort in developing new varieties, and to keep control of their "intellectual property" they patent them.

Here, for example, is the now expired patent for the "Apple tree Cripps Pink cultivar."

https://patents.google.com/patent/USPP7880P/en

So, sadly, not actually open source unless you're dealing with a variety with an expired patent.

Further, traditional apples grown in the "Johnny Appleseed" type of way (from seed) resulted in mostly inedible apples, which is why things like the alcoholic beverages Apple Cider and Applejack were so popular at the time.

These days, to ensure apples are indeed tasty and edible, as well as tasting the same every time, they are generally clones much like bananas, instead of grown from seed.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Yeah I worked in the industry for a while. A vast majority of apple fruit and apple based products are copyrighted.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 week ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

I thought in most cases its actually not Patents, nor Copyrights, but Trademarks.

Which was an important distinction because unlike patents which expire after 20 years, and copyright which is life of the author plus 70 years or something, trademarks never expire.

So if you want to sell Y branded apples you have to join the Y growers association who own the trademark and pay them fees for every tree you plant, and that will continue forever. On the flip side, if they don't also get a patent, then if you could get your hands on the seeds you'd be able to grow and sell Y apples but you'd have to come up with a different name / trademark for them.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

and because these monocultures lack genetic diversity they are way more at risk of being wiped out, like the original bananas https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gros_Michel

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

time to pirate apples

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 week ago

I would point out that they're not open source and they feature heavy branding these days. "Cosmic Crisp" and whatnot.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 week ago

Ironically, there are apple varieties whose characteristics are copyrighted and whose names are trademarked.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

You wouldn't jailbreak a pie.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Apple pie and apple juice are just sugar with a hint of apples.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago

What? Where? That's just sad

From my experience in Germany, France, Italy and Russia you can easily buy those for relatively low prices with apples being the main ingredient (like there is even relatively cheap 100% apple juice)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

I'd rather have an apple pie than a birthday cake.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

You're not allowed to enjoy things on the shit list, sorry.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Jim Levenstein, is that you?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

It's all about perspective, kids!
Btw, the left side of the bus costs 10x more than the right side, and you should ideally be one the established skin colours

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I don't get the downvotes.

Saying this out of context might be insensitive, but this is a web page, and what you're saying is rather factually correct.

I think representation of the antiracist, inclusive aspects of solarpunk are somewhat shadowed by the white left, so thank you for reminding us about it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

Oh I wasn't having a go at solarpunk! I was referencing the original image without the overlays, with the boomer view that "life is all about perspective", which I think is the theme of the original image.