macnn

08/29/2008, 5:55pm, EDT

Friday, August 29th

Psystar calls Apple a 'monopoly' in filing

In the ongoing Psystar-Apple legal drama, the clone manufacturer alleges that Apple holds a monopoly over the Mac OS hardware/software platform that artificially inflates the price of its equipment. ComputerWorld reports that Psystar is upset about kernel panics that Apple has purposefully strewn about the Mac OS to prevent it from being used on non-Apple hardware. These errors are usually reserved for when OS X experiences a fatal error.

"The Mac OS market is distinct and unique as compared to other operating systems ... including but not limited to the Windows operating system," said Psystar. "As such, Psystar alleges that the Windows operating system is not and cannot be considered an effective substitute for the Mac OS; the same holds true for any other operating system."

Psystar hopes that by barring Apple from placing restrictions on how its operating system can be used, the resulting competition will force the iPod manufacturer to drop its pricing


Filed under: industry, Apple
Other story tags: Psystar, clone, monopoly

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Assystar

12
08/29, 6:33pm, EDT

Of course they hold a "monopoly" over this - it's called trademarks and patents though in the real world. Let me explain - a company can develop a product, file for a patent, and then have exclusivity to produce and sell that product, since they developed it. It's what protects R&D and drives companies to innovate and create new products form new ideas. Obviously the jackasses at Pystar can't do this.

Doofuses.

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Nov 2005
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these people are high!

12
08/29, 6:37pm, EDT

Psystar must be smoking some great stuff if they think this argument is going to hold up. Just because other companies such as Microsoft decide to put there os out there for anyone to use doesn't mean everyone has to. This is like saying that Sony has a monopoly on the os that runs on the Play Station since no one else can use it. In this case you have to consider the Mac computer a product, one that includes both the hardware and the os they can not be separated. Apple markets it as a complete product.

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Nov 2005
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monopoly

1
08/29, 6:46pm, EDT

I am suing Psystar as having a monopoly on lack of logic..

Wait, they are not the only ones. I am going ahead with the suit anyway because I smoke a lot.

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Jan 2006
User is offline

WOW

-1
08/29, 7:12pm, EDT

So, seriously, if you were even considering buying one of these machines, what are you thinking now?

Mac Elite
Joined Oct 1999
User is offline

please some one

-34
08/29, 7:41pm, EDT

can some one please find and then kill the CEO of Psystar.. Please. One good slug to the back of the head...

Addicted to MacNN
Joined Jan 2003
User is offline

What!

-1
08/29, 8:32pm, EDT

Are these guys serious? they should also sue sony, MS for Xbox, Nintendo, and any other company that has software that runs their devices that no one else is allowed to use.

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Jul 2006
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Retail sales

-26
08/29, 8:55pm, EDT

I could buy this argument for Apple when Apple only provided the OS with the machines, but now that folks can buy a FULL retail version of the OS then they opened themselves up to the idea of the OS being run on any PC hardware.

I have no problem with the OS being available on any hardware. Most Mac folks are going to still buy Macs as it is...why because it is an Apple product and they drank the Koolaide.

I hate to say this, but I know many folks at school, work, home, the military, etc...and I cannot count on two hands the number of people who would switch to the Mac OS....simply because it is a Mac OS. Folks are mostly going to stick with what folks know.

Forum Regular
Joined Aug 2004
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Wii and PlayStation

4
08/29, 8:57pm, EDT

The Wii remote controller is Blue Tooth. The PlayStation has Blue Tooth. Why can't I use a Wii remote control on my PlayStation? Boo-hoo, Nintendo has a "monopoly" on official Wii merchandise.My friend Dave reckons that Psystar may be a front for a collection of mainstream hardware clone manufactures that are itching to up their sales by cashing in on Apple's increasing popularity. It sounds quite feasible to me. Dell or Acer or Gateway or whover is still making clones these days might have covertly set up "plucky" new company Psystar in the hope that it might crack open the Mac hardware market up for them. Stranger things have happened.

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Feb 2008
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Smell that?

3
08/29, 9:23pm, EDT

I smell a desperate, doomed defense strategy here. Have fun paying those legal fees Psystar!

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Dec 2005
User is offline

clone monopoly

2
08/29, 10:06pm, EDT

can't we moan about Psystar having a monopoly on producing their machines? And I have a total monopoly on what I think and do. Outrageous. I suppose I'll see you in court...

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Nov 2006
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