Psytar Pays Price For Apple Theft

California's US Court for the Northern District has granted Apple's motion for permanent injunction against Psystar. Apple's win effectively bans the clone maker from continuing to steal the Mac OS X operating system which includes the making of machines and the distribution of non-Apple computers loaded with the Mac operating system. Ouch!

The Court also bans Psystar from developing or supplying technology that goes around Apple's copyright protection methods. And Psytar is also banned from helping others with the creation of Mac clones or any related technology.

Really important is that the decision is worded to include every version of Mac OS X including any future updates including Snow Leopard.

"Because a copyrighted work need not be included within the scope of discovery to fall within the scope of a permanent injunction, Snow Leopard will not be excluded from the scope of the injunction," Judge William Alsup wrote in the ruling. "Rather, it will be included to the extent that it -- and any other non-litigated Apple software programs of similar character to Mac OS X -- qualifies as a protected work under the Copyright Act."

Yowza!

The Judge warns the Psytar company that it will be "selling Rebel EFI at its peril, and risks finding itself held in contempt if its new venture falls within the scope of the injunction."

Psystar's president, Rudy Pedraza, said the company was shutting down immediately. All eight employees have been dismissed and the company's website is kaplunk. Those who bought machines from Psystar will never see support and are left high and dry.