[Messany]

Late Monday it was reported that Apple and their pirating peer Psystar reached an agreement to settle a 17-month lawsuit. According to preliminary details made available from ComputerWorld, Psystar will no longer be permitted to preinstall Apple's Mac OS X on the Intel-based computers it sells.

It may not prevent the small Florida computer maker from selling Mac clones, however. Instead, Psystar laid out an argument that would shift responsibility for installing Apple's operating system onto its customers.

Although more details will be forthcoming today, for now it is known that Psystar will award an unspecified dollar amount in damages to Apple, but such payments will not be made until Psystar finishes the appeal process - a legal journey that could ultimately take a substantial amount of time to complete.

As a result of the agreement in place, Apple has effectively dismissed its trademark infringement claim against Psystar, which ends the long-running legal battle and eliminates the need for a trial. Psystar and Apple have locked legal horns since July 2008, when Apple first went after the clone maker which had begun selling Intel machines with Mac OS X preinstalled only a few months earlier.

In the Monday filing, Psystar argued to exclude Rebel RFI, a $50 utility that the company started selling in October, from any potential injunction. Rebel EFI lets owners of generic PCs -- like the ones that Psystar sells -- install and run Apple's Snow Leopard operating system.

Naturally, there is reluctance on the part of some to think that yesterday's "resolution" will actually resolve once and for all the legal tug of war that seems destined to continue or at least reheat as long as Psystar stays in the business of stealthily profiting off of Apple in some direct or indirect fashion.

It should also be pointed out that as of this morning, Psystar's Web site is still selling the troublesome clones with Snow Leopard preinstalled.

To read the full report from ComputerWorld, click here.

Image via MobileWhack

[steve-z17]

Sweet! Sounds like a good agreement, pretty fair for both sides. Psystar can continue selling their product (legally now) and Apple doesn't have to keep opening lawsuits every time they come out with a new OS. Glad it worked out for both sides sooner than later an before it went to court.

[hollow0]

Well Apple has always gotten their money. The issue was Pystar manipulating the software to work on Intel based systems that were not Macs.

But, although the customers are the ones to install the software..doesn't this still mean that Pystar could manipulate the OS to work on Intel systems? What's the difference? Maybe i'm lost in this battle lol.

[CaptainChaos]

This is awesome! This doesn't change anything other than the fact that you have to install it yourself and that is easy-peasy.

[dhruvmalik]

Might not be as easy for updating the systems without Psystar's support. But good news none the less.

[boxxa]

How does the Rebel EFI work with random vendors laptops? Does it provide more support than say iPC's OSX86 installer or does it just grab from the internet prebuilt drives? I would be dual booting once they get support for my Intel wireless card.

[VBLUE42]

I find it funny that Psystar really thought they were going to win this suite. What a bunch of idiots.

[CobraSVT]

What I don't like is the fact that apple has a monopoly on there os. That's like saying that Microsoft windows can only be installed on a computer made by microsoft. I do not like the fact that the only way to have osx is to buy a computer through apple, no other os is computer specific but osx is...sorry but that's monopoly plain and simple. They should allow it to be installed on any computer if the software has been bought, once you bought the software you own it.

[Melech518]

It is kinda the same concept of PWNage tool, where it is up to the user to create and modify Apple's firmware so the Dev Team doesnt have any legal issues with Apple. Now Pystar will require the user to install Mac OSX onto their ready built machines. Very clever

[gsmumbo]

Originally Posted by CobraSVT

What I don't like is the fact that apple has a monopoly on there os. That's like saying that Microsoft windows can only be installed on a computer made by microsoft. I do not like the fact that the only way to have osx is to buy a computer through apple, no other os is computer specific but osx is...sorry but that's monopoly plain and simple. They should allow it to be installed on any computer if the software has been bought, once you bought the software you own it.

Can you install a PSP operating system on anything but a PSP? The PSP OS is designed for the PSP hardware. Same here. OS X is designed for Apple hardware. There are other devices that use the hardware in the PSP. Just as there are other devices that use the hardware in Apple computers. If you build a device, you should be able to make your own OS for that device. Why should you have to give it out? They made their own computer. They are allowed to make an OS to run it. Just because the hardware inside of a PC is similar or the same as the hardware inside of Apples machines, doesn't mean Apple has to give up their OS.

[Bruno615]

This doesn't mean that it is the end of Psystar computers running OSX, it just means that they are not allowed to preinstall the OS onto your computer. I imagine that now you will receive a computer as well as the OSX install disk and instructions on how to do it yourself. It is a little more complicated and will require more technical know-how than the average mac user has, but will allow OSX to run on non-Apple machines.

If I were Psystar, I would look into the plausibility of using home-installation technicians.

[rhekt]

in 1993 i made an apple logo transform into the numbers '93 for the front of my school yearbook. and i did it all on an old apple computer art program. thank god they never saw that

[CaptainChaos]

Originally Posted by VBLUE42

I find it funny that Psystar really thought they were going to win this suite. What a bunch of idiots.

They did win. They are still in business and will still make a killing.

[TC316]

Here's a thought... If Apple wanted THEIR operating system on PC's....couldn't THEY do it?

How the courts even allow Psystar to remain in business is beyond me.....

[CaptainChaos]

Originally Posted by TC316

Here's a thought... If Apple wanted THEIR operating system on PC's....couldn't THEY do it?

How the courts even allow Psystar to remain in business is beyond me.....

Apple doesn't want to do that. They want you to purchase an inferior machine for much more money. They make their killing off of the hardware, not the software.