Psystar Want to Be Like Mike? Apple Files Suit Against Mac Cloning Company

Doesn’t everybody want to be like Mike?  Psystar sure wants to be like Apple.  The Miami-based company has been making unauthorized Mac clones since April.  Psystar began selling the clones based upon their finding’s that they could make and sell the clones for one-quarter to one-half of Apple’s “real deal.”

No matter the money-saving opportunity, Psystar’s actions visibly infringe upon Apple’s copyrights on their products.  Apple’s licensing rules clearly state that any installation of its own operating systems onto third-party hardware is in open violation. Apple also claims that Psystar’s actions harmed the Apple image by misrepresenting Apple products to consumers.  Included in the claims against Psystar were also illegally copying, modifying and redistributing some of Apple’s products.  Further, Apple is seeking an order to have all Apple clone products sold by Psystar, recalled.

While the Psystar partnership claims that Apple has no suit, I would beg to differ.  With copyrighted rules for Apple’s products, Psystar would have to first pay for licensing from Apple to sell the products.  Namely, without Apple signing off or getting a cut on the sold clones, the Mac clones are in violation of Apple’s copyrights. 

Maybe it’s best to leave the Mac-making to the professionals…

Blog based on information from www.informationweek.com