Even though I fully agree with you, people making this argument (like Psystar) are missing something: Even if this were all true, what right would it give Psystar to copy Apple's code? If Psystar brings this up in court, maybe in a counter claim, the question would be: How does it damage Psystar? Answer: Not at all. If Apple were forced to sell the OS for other computers (which they won't be), they would sign a deal with Dell or HP. Not with Psystar.
Who is 'copying' anything? They're INSTALLING it. What you're suggesting implies that installing MacOSX on your own Mac would be 'copying' too and therefore 'illegal' somehow because you 'copied' it onto your hard drive (oh the evil of duplicating ones and zeroes!)
Really, most of the pro-Apple arguments on here boil down to Apple is allowed to rip-off people all the want because they're Apple and we worship Apple here! Once you realize that, all the "Eula" and "Copyright" drivel disappears from the viewscreen and you realize people actually LIKE getting ripped off. If this were Microsoft instead of Apple, these SAME people would be screaming bloody murder and down with Microsoft and rooting for them to get what they deserve for being anti-competitive. But because it's their beloved Apple, they instead defend their anti-competitive practices fiercely and say they're free to do whatever they want on their OSX monopoly and more power to them! It's hilarious. Horses don't have such blinders even. Anti-competitive is anti-competitive. It doesn't matter WHOM is doing it or if they control the world or just the state of Rhode Island. It's still wrong in a free society, especially one that praises capitalism and open competition. What competition does Apple face on the hardware for OSX front? NONE (until Psystar); that's why they make so darn much money selling you a "Mac".
The problem is they used to say Mac hardware was unique and to some extent it really was. Because of their move to generic Intel clone hardware, that is simply no longer the case. They want to sell you a Chevy, change the on-board software to their own and call it special (a Mac), even though it's still just a Chevy with a different computer operating system. And even though that same operating system will work on Fords too, they say TOO BAD; you can only buy their modified Chevy at 2x the cost of a regular Chevy. Meanwhile, they'll gladly sell you the operating system at Best Buy all by itself, but tell you that you can't install it on a Ford or Toyota even though it will run on them with very little modification to car needed. Too bad. You must buy our modified chevy to use that system! THAT is TYING. That has ALREADY been ruled ILLEGAL in past precedent and that is why if Psystar could manage the money to fight this, they SHOULD (barring idiot tech-impaired judges) win hands down. There is no longer a "special Mac". It's just a CLONE in disguise, one they charge you a premium for.
Some people WOULD rather pay $400 for the Mac operating system and put it on the hardware of their choice than be forced to buy a "Mac" that doesn't meet their needs period. I could easily put together a clone tower for $1000 that blows away the MacPro for things like gaming at less than 1/2 the price and so even having to pay $400 for the OS would leave my total cost $1000 cheaper than the cheapest expandable Mac! Most comparison that claim the Mac is competitive to 'identical' hardware fail to recognize the fact that most of that hardware has little to do with things like 3D and/or gaming performance, for example. It's not what you can get for the same computer, but the fact you can get a FAR BETTER computer for 1/2 the price in the clone sector. The fact such a machine can be made to run OSX reliably proves that OSX's relationship to Apple's own hardware is completely irrelevant. The hardware no longer has ANYTHING to do with the operating system other than to give Apple a monopoly on selling the hardware for OSX.
Really and truly, Psystar should be able to take that argument (without a lawyer even) to court and win. It really is cut and dry. Tying has already been ruled illegal and it's obvious Apple is artificially tying their operating system (via minor checks and Eulas) to their hardware to monopolize the market FOR OSX (not the greater PC market in general which means NOTHING to someone that wants OSX, but doesn't want Apple hardware running it do the lack of decent lower and mid-range hardware...Apple pushes you to $2000+ range to get something an $800 machine at Best Buy can easily do (i.e. decent 3D graphics and a few lousy expansion slots so the machine isn't obsolete in a year's time).
For all the doubters, I say if OSX is meant to be 'closed loop' then how come I can buy a FULL RETAIL copy at Best Buy? It doesn't say 'upgrade' on it. It doesn't need a previous version of OSX to install. It's a full public retail version of OSX that I can buy independent of an Apple computer. The only thing keeping me from installing it on a plain Jane clone is the EFI versus Bios thing and some internal illegal ties to Apple hardware. Beyond that, Apple hardware is just plain clone technology. In effect, they're saying OSX is for their hardware but their hardware is no different from anyone else's so why do they get to control the clone market for OSX in its entirety? Because they want to make more money? That's no excuse for doing something illegal (anti-trust). Oh but it's OK if the lobbyist laws in a given country FAVOR bad behavior from companies? Who are making those laws and are they in the public's best interest or are they in the best interest of money-grubbing corporations who move their manufacturing jobs (Apple included) to Communist countries because money is more important to them than ethics? It's OK. Go Apple! Crush your competition not through competition, but because you have more money than a tiny little company and will therefore win in court before it ever comes to a judge because you know you can outspend them. Justice isn't about who's right or wrong in this country anymore. It's about who can afford the best lawyer. It's why people like OJ can get away with murder while they discover innocent people on death row every day only through the advent of DNA testing which proves people's emotions (juries) and desire to punish someone clearly prevail over guilt or innocence and the best lawyers are good at manipulating emotions, not proving guilt or innocence. Apple will 'win' because they have more money, not because they're 'right'.
Most of the articles I've read on the whole Psystar thing suggest they do have a case against Apple for Apple holding a monopoly not on the PC market, but on the OSX market. The problem is they don't believe Psystar can afford to go to court. This is one of the biggest problems in the US Justice system (or in most justice systems). When you consider legal council costs money...a LOT of money, it's not hard to see that Big Fish tend to eat little fish in court (or before they ever get to court) simply by having more funds, NOT because they're 'right' or would win if the playing field was level. It all comes down to who has the most money. That's not justice. It's a mockery of the justice system and those whom founded it. Money really can get you out of almost anything.
This would actually be a good time for someone like Dell to make a deal with Psystar and provide their legal defense or countersuit in this area because if they win, the clone market floodgates open for OSX and the consumer wins big time with actual choices for hardware, not just what limited non-expandable and/or overpriced system Steve Jobs wants to shove down your collective throats.
Sure, you can cheer Apple on and gloat with glee at the thought of Psystar going away, but you're really only harming your own choices and pocket book when you do so and saying you really do prefer living in Russia or China (where choices are limited artificially across the board) than the Western World where free competition is supposed to be the norm. Right now Apple has competitors for its Operating System (that would be Windows and Linux) but it does not have ANY competitors for its hardware...until Psystar that is. So it's clear why they'd want to protect that money-making front, but that doesn't make it ethically OK or even legal to have that monopoly on hardware for OSX.
I believe Psystar should hang on even if they have defend themselves in court (I seem to recall them saying early on they were willing to take on Apple in court so I hope they do). It's really not that hard to build a precedent case. Most of the work has already been done and ruled in their favor anyway. Maybe take on a lawyer that would settle for a piece of the pie instead (part ownership) of straight capital because I really don't believe Apple can win the monopoly/tying argument. This isn't PalmOS. It's an OS that runs on generic clone hardware as Psystar has proven and is sold by itself at Best Buy. They have no right to tell you to buy THEIR clone instead of whatever clone you want.