posted on Dec, 3 2008 @ 09:01 PM
Groklaw.net reports on the most recent legal filings from the Apple vs Psystar
lawsuit which suggests that there may be unnamed individuals or corporations behind Psystar.
But here's the big news. Apple alleges that it believes there are corporations and/or individuals behind Psystar, who may be added as defendants once
Apple in discovery finds out who they are. Woah.
....
So, Apple apparently believes that somebody else is behind Psystar, which might help to explain why a major law firm would take on what seems like a
fly-by-night's case; also why Psystar has been so bold in continuing to sell its products. I knew this thing felt funny. As Alice in Wonderland might
put it, "It gets interestinger and interestinger.”
The author suggests that Psystar's bold defense and ongoing sale of their Mac clones seems out of line with the small company's stature. Apple is
reserving the right to add additional defendants to the case should their identities be discovered.
Psystar made headlines earlier this year when they began selling Mac OS X compatible PCs. Mac OS X is licensed only to be installed on Apple Mac
computers. Apple has since filed a lawsuit accusing them of copyright infringement and DMCA violations.
From reading about this case, it seems curious that a tiny startup company has found the resources to take Apple on in court, and that Apple, no
strangers to litigation, haven't just sued them to oblivion. And also, Psystar having the balls to do this, must mean they have some money behind
them.
I see 3 possibilities:
1. Psystar is backed by hardware companies such as Dell or HP want OS X on their computers, but cannot sully their companies names, so formed Psystar
as a front.
2. Psystar is Apple. Apple are using this company to test new markets and pricing structures, and emphasising how much better and smoother the full
Mac experience is compared to a 'Hackintosh'.
3. Psystar genuinely is a startup, with their legal costs funded by other backers with things to gain if Psystar win, see 1.
This is a case with potentially major ramifications for the computer industry, so is treachery afoot?