RussianMac ships Mac clones, claims no EULA conflicts
updated 03:40 pm EDT, Wed May 20, 2009
RussianMac ships clones
A Russian company, RussianMac, has begun shipping a wide range of Mac clones that come with OS X pre-installed. Despite the ongoing legal battle between Apple and clone-maker Psystar, RussianMac claims it does not violate the Mac OS X end-user license agreement. Along with drawing a unique interpretation of Apple's terms, the Russian company could be confident that it will avoid legal action as long as its business does not leave the country.
RussianMac offers a wide range of clones, including the MiniBook netbook, multimedia and home theater servers, a standard model with specs close to an iMac, the Pro edition, the compact Mini and the 15-inch Book notebook.
Psystar and a German clone-maker, HyperMegaNet, have carefully avoided using Apple's trademarks. RussianMac, however, faces potential action simply for its company title and product names.
HyperMegaNet has been selling the PearC line of clones since the beginning of the year. The company is reportedly not afraid of going to court with Apple, as German law prohibits companies from imposing restrictions after a product has been sold.
It is unknown if Apple has any plans to pursue the international clone-makers, although the domestic suit against Psystar continues to develop. Soon after Apple submitted the initial filing for violation of the EULA, Psystar countersued with allegations of antitrust practices and copyright misuse. The court rejected the antitrust claims, although the copyright misuse arguments will likely be heard in court if the parties do not come to a settlement. [via OSNews]
Good Luck
05/20, 04:32pm reply
Good luck fighting the Russians, Apple. The entire country is a criminal enterprise!
JeffHarris
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 1999
Just Wrong
05/20, 05:25pm (1 reply) reply
These clone makers - Apple says you can't install in on machines and sell the machine running Mac OSX - they do it anyways - it's stealing plain and simple.
And the problem with the monopoly argument used by some is that it's companies that are trying to make a buck off of someone else's work that's making the argument - not someone doing it because they "truly" believe it to be the case. I wish the courts here would just call a spade a spade.
slider
Mac Elite
Joined: Oct 1999
@slider
05/20, 05:36pm (2 replies) reply
If you purchase a legal box copy of OS X, then how is this stealing?
CorDog
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2006
no restrictions
05/20, 10:22pm reply
German law is wise. If you sell a product, you should not have the ability to impose restrictions beyond duplication.
Remember we use to have wise laws in this country before George Bush and his gang of thugs came riding into town.
We can have wise laws again.
Jonathan-Tanya
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2004
Jonathan-Tanya
05/20, 11:39pm reply
Try not bringing politics into a technology debate. You lose simply on the fact that your not debating the issue.
German law may be wise, but that duplication you speak of is for individual use, not for a company looking to STEAL another companies intellectual property.
And that's just what these clone makers are doing. You don't expect Sony to let other companies install the OS that's on their Walkmans onto other devices do you?
Tim_s
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2006
German
05/21, 02:08am reply
I don't quite see how the German law is relevant here as the Apple isn't imposing additional rules after sale (which is what is prohibited), it is imposing the same as are available before sale, so HyperMegaMart I think is going out on a bit of a limb.
rytc
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2001
well
05/21, 08:17am reply
If the company that is violating the EULA says it isn't violating it, it must be true!
But the fact that these companies are out there should be a good indicator, as it shows that there is demand for OS X-based computers. It also shows that there are market segments out there that Apple isn't satisfying.
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Either you obey EULA
05/21, 10:51am reply
or soon you'll find hardware level protection and activation in your copy of Mac OS X. Apple is eligible to protect its OS from running on anything else but Macs. I hope those clonemaker parasites won't push Apple to employ restrictions.
ViktorCode
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2006
WRONG!!!
05/21, 12:02pm reply
WRONG!!! Using OSX Leopard is a EULA conflict as it states in there licensing agreement. Can't these companies read? Apple's licensing agreement forbids the installation of OSX on non-Apple hardware period!
Once Prystar is shutdown this outfit along with Peach and the others will fall quickly!
And who in there right mind would buy these?
b9robot
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2009