Psystar and the Hackintosh case
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That story started more than a year ago. Summonsed by Apple on July 3, 2008, the company Psystar was famous for selling computers running under Mac OS X, since the month of April. Slow to react, Apple had finally moved and brought a lawsuit against Psystar for breaching the licensing contract of the operating system. As a reminder, the latter stipulates that Mac OS X can only be installed on a Mac.
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Psystar’s counter attack
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Psystar hadn’t resigned themselves though, and soon after Apple’s complaint was filed, the company requested the same judge who had prepared the "Burst" case with the iPod. Back then, we had pointed out that by acting this way, Psystar seemed to be willing to win the case, all the more so as this judge had agreed with Burst against Apple.
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Psystar files for bankruptcy
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While the judgement is still pending, last week Psystar filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Of note, the ocmpanys’ debts would exceed $257 000. Officially, Psystar management blames the crisis and the lower consumption in the US for this bankruptcy file. Unofficially, we know since the beginning of the affair that the “cloner” dreads a costly trial. But Apple’s legal department actually followed that strategy and multiplied procedures.
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The activity to resume ?
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Placed under the Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Psystar’s business activities will continue in the coming weeks and months. Meantime, the company will have to be restructured and to look for an agreement with its creditors. Besides, more transparency on its operation and its financing will be required.
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Psystar: Apple in a position of strength
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Now Psystar cannot afford anymore to fight against Apple and light will be made on the “cloner’s” activity. Apple’s lawyers will then have the opportunity to discover if it was a one-man business or if a larger structure was hiding behind it.
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