Apple takes down rogue iOS6 developer sites

Consumer electronics giant Apple has started shutting down websites that give developers unauthorised access to its latest mobile operating system, iOS6.

The company confirmed the move as it started sending legal notices to the companies involved to halt the practice.

Developers pay Apple $99 a year to access iOS test releases. This allows them to install the software on up to 100 devices. Websites can then charge $10 to register an iPhone or iPad to run the iOS6 beta software.

Since the announcement of iOS6 at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), a number of beta code activation sites have gone offline, while others stopped offering the service before restarting at the end of last month.

Seattle-based company, Fused, received a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown request as part of Apple's clampdown.

"Apple has been fairly heavy-handed with the DMCA requests to the ones we host," said David McKendrick, Fused chief executive, in a Twitter message.

McKendrick told the BBC that this was "definitely a new move on Apple's part".

He warned Apple's actions would be a short-term fix as many companies were now moving sites to hosting firms outside of US jurisdiction.

"Unless they go directly after the developer accounts abusing the process, they have little chance scrubbing these sites off the web," he said.