Psystar to Pay Apple $2.7 Million in Settlement

By Jane McEntegart
published

Psystar has agreed to pay Apple $2.7 million in a partial settlement of an ongoing copyright case.

It's a sad day for Mac clone maker Psystar. A quick visit to the the company's website shows all Mac clones as "out of stock" and according to a company attorney, they won't be back anytime soon. Computerworld cites a Psystar lawyer as saying the company will no longer be selling OS X machines. The decision is just one part of a settlement with Apple; Psystar will also pay the Cupertino-based company $2.7 million in damages.

However, it's not over yet. After a year and a half of fighting, Psystar isn't going to give up until it has exhausted all possible channels. The terms of the partial agreement state that Psystar doesn't have to pay Apple a penny until "any and all appeals in this matter are concluded or the time for filing any such appeal has lapsed."

"We've agreed that Apple will not collect these damages until all appeals have been heard," CW quoted Psystar's chief attorney, K.A.D. Camera of the Houston firm Camera & Sibley LLP. "Until then, we have no liability."

Other terms include Apple's withdrawals of its remaining six claims (including trademark infringement and unfair business practice violations), however, Apple retains the right to reintroduce these claims at a later date.

Next, Psystar plans to take the case up with the Ninth Circuit. The company also plans to continue with the pending lawsuit that accuses Apple of breaking several antitrust laws by tying Mac OS X 10 to Apple-branded hardware only.

Read the full story here.

Follow us on Twitter for more tech news, reviews, and exclusive updates!

Jane McEntegart
28 Comments Comment from the forums
  • deathblooms2k1
    In apples defense this company could of been the death of them. OSX minus the hardware apple tax kills what is probably Apple's biggest profit margin. Not to mention the possibility of tarnishing their reputation of stability when driver errors start occurring on the machines not using Mac proprietary hardware.

    Can't really blame them for protecting themselves.
    Reply
  • ssalim
    Let's hope they win the "pending lawsuit
    that accuses Apple of breaking several antitrust laws by tying Mac OS X 10 to Apple-branded hardware only."
    Reply
  • doc70
    deathblooms2k1In apples defense this company could of been the death of them. OSX minus the hardware apple tax kills what is probably Apple's biggest profit margin. Not to mention the possibility of tarnishing their reputation of stability when driver errors start occurring on the machines not using Mac proprietary hardware.Can't really blame them for protecting themselves.
    So, you're saying that their reputation for stability (which is not by far anywhere near 100%) is due only to the fact that their OS is supposed to run ONLY on their branded hardware? OMG, that's blasphemy...

    I thought so, too. My car is the best in the world (when it runs in my driveway)...
    Reply
  • ta152h
    Apple has a right to defend things they created. I'm so sick of seeing the 12 year olds that apparently post here in indignation over how they should be able to run whatever they want on their machines - like they own Apple's software.

    Here's some news to you - you didn't create it, you didn't have anything to do with making it. It belongs to them. If you don't like it, vote with your dollars and buy other machines and operating systems instead of whining like petulent children because the world won't give you what you want.

    My question is, why would anyone even care? The only time I ever considered buying an Apple was when I had to because of a job. I was flabbergasted at the price of them, like everyone else, but there are the fools that want to be stylish and trendy, and buy these machines, so I do understand it. It's like those who buy really expensive clothing or adornments. It's not that expensive to make, but, it's stylish, I guess.

    Apple has a right to protect things they created. If it weren't for them, you wouldn't have the option to even use this OS (not that this would be a bad thing). It's not yours to do with as you please. That's life. I'm glad they won, even though I have no use for them at all. It's the principle. Their OS, their decision.
    Reply
  • gamerjames
    I'm so sick of seeing the 12 year olds that apparently post here in indignation over how they should be able to run whatever they want on their machines - like they own Apple's software./quote]
    But if you buy it, you do own it don't you?
    Reply
  • ominous prime
    gamerjames
    I'm so sick of seeing the 12 year olds that apparently post here in indignation over how they should be able to run whatever they want on their machines - like they own Apple's software./quote]But if you buy it, you do own it don't you?
    Apparently not. I feel this sets a dangerous precedent.
    Reply
  • deathblooms2k1
    So, you're saying that their reputation for stability (which is not by far anywhere near 100%) is due only to the fact that their OS is supposed to run ONLY on their branded hardware? OMG, that's blasphemy...

    I thought so, too. My car is the best in the world (when it runs in my driveway)...

    Yep pretty much. How can you deny that OS's designed to run on anything and everything are infinitely more difficult to keep stable than those that run on a select few pieces of hardware.
    Reply
  • sylvia648
    I guess you don't own anything you buy anymore. You own what the big companies say you own (nothing) and you pay what they say to pay it seems like that's the way things are going.
    Reply
  • micron
    If you've a problem with Apple, then don't buy its products. The most effective way to convey your disapproval of the company's policies is by affecting their bottom line.

    Of course Mac OS is going to be more stable running on Apple hardware. The programmers know all the variables. This is compared to another OS that must be designed to run on unknown hardware configurations. Anyone who argues otherwise is a buffoon.
    Reply
  • accolite
    Kinda sounds like Communism, You don't own jack the state does. In this case it's Apple.

    This theme is going on a lot in the States and also the world. You buy software but it's not yours, it's just on lease to you?

    Kind of sounds like we are going backwards instead of forward in society.
    Reply