The Mac world was buzzing a few months back when a little-known company called Psystar began selling its "Open Computer" that could be ordered with Mac OS X preinstalled. Apple was strangely silent about Psystar until recently, when it sued the company. Psystar has apparently decided to countersue Apple on the grounds that tying the licensing of Mac OS X to Apple-manufactured hardware is a violation of U.S. antitrust legislation. Psystar's owner says that the basis of his suit is that he wants to see Mac OS X made available to everyone, whether using Apple hardware or cheaper, generic systems. Apple's current licensing agreement doesn't permit that.
While the most-diehard of Apple and Mac fanatics think this is a slam-dunk for Apple, and even some people who want to see Psystar win think it's unlikely, this really isn't an open-and-shut case from a legal standpoint. There are precedents in the court system for companies who tried to tie their operating system to their hardware and failed. Some are probably still in the courts.
We here at The Mac Sucks would agree that it's unlikely Psystar will win the case, if for no other reason than Apple's very deep pockets, we will be watching the case in the future.
While the most-diehard of Apple and Mac fanatics think this is a slam-dunk for Apple, and even some people who want to see Psystar win think it's unlikely, this really isn't an open-and-shut case from a legal standpoint. There are precedents in the court system for companies who tried to tie their operating system to their hardware and failed. Some are probably still in the courts.
We here at The Mac Sucks would agree that it's unlikely Psystar will win the case, if for no other reason than Apple's very deep pockets, we will be watching the case in the future.
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