Psystar Releases New Mac Clone, Preps for Legal Battle

“As you all may already be aware, in late May Psystar filed for Chapter 11 protection. Although this was critical to our continued daily operations, we now are ready to emerge and again battle Goliath,” the company said.

Psystar’s new Open(7) Mac clone.

After the PC maker began selling computers with Mac OS X pre-installed, Apple filed a lawsuit claiming the company was violating the Mac OS X licensing agreement with end users, and that it was violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act with the steps used to install the Mac operating system on PCs. Psystar countered that it wasn’t doing anything wrong, and that Apple is abusing its position as the only company that makes Mac OS X-compatible computers by blocking competition.

Psystar eventually filed for bankruptcy in Florida, citing its mounting legal debt. The filing automatically stopped Apple’s case in California, but that stay was lifted June 22, allowing Apple move forward again.

Apple and Psystar are due to appear before Judge Alsup in the copyright violation case on July 9 for a case management hearing. At that time, the Judge plans to establish the guidelines for discovery requirements for his ruling that Psystar must produce financial documents along with someone competent to testify about the company’s finances.

Psystar’s newest Mac clone, the Open(7), may be available today, but it’s unclear how long potential buyers will be able to get their hands on one. Unless the company has found a way to move forward with professional assistance, it will have a hard time defending itself against Apple’s legal team.

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