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Isn't this illegal?

H

HawaiiMacAddict

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 28, 2006
904
0
On one of my Macs of course
Aloha everyone,

I was perusing O'Reilly books on OS X and came across this gem:

Running Mac OS X on Windows

I was under the understanding that the Apple EULA prohibits this - maybe Apple should be made aware that O'Reilly, for whom I had great respect, has stooped to not only condoning, but actively supporting illegal activity with Apple's product.

I really like O'Reilly's product, but I may have to rethink my resource list after this.

HawaiiMacAddict
 
For me, that's hard to say. If one has a legitimate copy of Mac OS X then I don't see how it would be illegal. Parellels, on the other hand, is selling their product while Pear PC isn't making any money but perhaps there's donations. So I would say that if one illegally downloads Mac OS X and installs it on a PC then this would be an illegal move. Pear PC is just an open source app and I don't think they are in any way responsible as to where the user got the OS from. It's like running Windows on Mac OS X although I do realize that Apple is a lot more strict. Also take note that pear pc doesn't run very fast compared to normal macs.

And let's say that it is illegal. Why hasn't Apple sued or requested that this project be discontinued? For all we know, this may encourage more sales from Apple so that those who want to experience Mac os x can get the real deal! Pear Pc cannot even begin to emulate as fast as a normal operating mac. Just my two cents :)
 
macguysoft said:
For me, that's hard to say. If one has a legitimate copy of Mac OS X then I don't see how it would be illegal. Parellels, on the other hand, is selling their product while Pear PC isn't making any money but perhaps there's donations. So I would say that if one illegally downloads Mac OS X and installs it on a PC then this would be an illegal move. Pear PC is just an open source app and I don't think they are in any way responsible as to where the user got the OS from. It's like running Windows on Mac OS X although I do realize that Apple is a lot more strict. Also take note that pear pc doesn't run very fast compared to normal macs.
Click to expand...

To run OS X, legitimate or not, on non-Apple hardware is against the EULA and is therefore illegal.

I'm not sure writting a book on how to do it is illegal itself as it doesn't actaully make you do it.
 
bartelby said:
To run OS X, legitimate or not, on non-Apple hardware is against the EULA and is therefore illegal.
Click to expand...

Then why hasn't Apple stopped the project? This actually could encourage more sales for Mac OS X and thus this would be a gain for Apple. Pear PC is basically a emulator that runs on the Windows platform which is the same as Windows running on a Mac. The development of emulators in itself is fully legal in most cases. According to the Pear PC developers, "no copyrighted information was used illegally in order to actually produce code for PearPC". So after establishing that PearPc itself isn't illegal, the user who is using this might. Perhaps this could be a reason as to why Apple didn't threaten the project? Another reason is that this app simply emulates and in no way alters the Apple's code.

[Edit]: Wow, the creator of PearPC died so this explains as to why the development stopped...
 
macguysoft said:
Then why hasn't Apple stopped the project? This actually could encourage more sales for Mac OS X and thus this would be a gain for Apple. Pear PC is basically a emulator that runs on the Windows platform which is the same as Windows running on a Mac. The development of emulators in itself is fully legal in most cases. According to the Pear PC developers, "no copyrighted information was used illegally in order to actually produce code for PearPC". So after establishing that PearPc itself isn't illegal, the user who is using this might. Perhaps this could be a reason as to why Apple didn't threaten the project?
Click to expand...

Apple makes it's money from Hardware sales. To license OS X for non Apple hardware would put the company into financial difficulties. Apple obvioulsy don't see PearPC as much of a threat and from what I've heard about it, it's not.
 
The booklet is talking about PearPC, i.e. PowerPC emulation. That's OS X for the truly desperate. As a poster to pearpc.net wrote,
I was and still am a huge fan of PearPC, but recently I bought a 30$ G3 off of Ebay, and installed Panther on it, it runs better then PearPC.
Click to expand...
This isn't an area where Apple will care very much.
 
bartelby said:
To run OS X, legitimate or not, on non-Apple hardware is against the EULA and is therefore illegal.

I'm not sure writting a book on how to do it is illegal itself as it doesn't actaully make you do it.
Click to expand...

It might be gray area though if the Apple hardware is being emulated. Then you're running OS X on an Apple PPC (emulated) on a generic x86.

As somebody else mentioned, this is truly desperate. Whether its legal or not I don't see Apple getting involved.
 
savar said:
It might be gray area though if the Apple hardware is being emulated. Then you're running OS X on an Apple PPC (emulated) on a generic x86.

As somebody else mentioned, this is truly desperate. Whether its legal or not I don't see Apple getting involved.
Click to expand...

There's no grey area. If "Apple Inc" or "Apple Computer Inc" isn't printed on the motherboard then it's not Apple hardware.
 
bartelby said:
There's no grey area. If "Apple Inc" or "Apple Computer Inc" isn't printed on the motherboard then it's not Apple hardware.
Click to expand...

i actually opened my mini for ram upgrade, I didn't see any "Apple Inc" or "Apple Computer Inc" on any of the hardwares?
 
clevin said:
i actually opened my mini for ram upgrade, I didn't see any "Apple Inc" or "Apple Computer Inc" on any of the hardwares?
Click to expand...

Really?

That does surprise me. The pcb usually has it written on somewhere
 
clevin said:
well, i can't rule out its somewhere that is out of eye sight, I didn't dissemble it, i just opened it anyway.
Click to expand...

I was going to point out:
 

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Let's put it this way. If you own a Mac, and you own a PC...and you happen to load your copy of OS X that came with your Mac on your PC, I don't think you'll have to worry about the cops busting your door down.

It's about the same as pulling the tag off the mattress that says "under penalty of law, do not remove this tag".

Now...selling PC's pre-loaded with OS X or distributing OS X over the Internet is another matter. But what you do with your own hardware and software (regardless of what the EULA says) isn't anyone else's concern.
 
phuong said:
This website should also be shutdown then
Click to expand...

Yea, I've seen this website before. It's filled with the good old "certain things work, certain things may work, and certain things don't work" (sound familiar?). Also, filled with links to "patches" to try to get things to work.

Not at all worth it. Apple is not worried.

For goodness sake, go buy a Mac! An old used G4 should be pretty reasonable at this point...
 
bartelby said:
To run OS X, legitimate or not, on non-Apple hardware is against the EULA and is therefore illegal.

I'm not sure writting a book on how to do it is illegal itself as it doesn't actaully make you do it.
Click to expand...


I think this pretty much sums it up - i don't think that the book per se is illegal, however, if you put OS X on a pc you would be doing something illegal. The book itself could be called theoretical, though i'm sure Apple does not like it. Still, until a printed book, like a OS X on a pc for Dummys, is released i don't think they will try to fight it - they have enough legal battle to fight at present. :)
 
HawaiiMacAddict said:
I was under the understanding that the Apple EULA prohibits this - maybe Apple should be made aware that O'Reilly, for whom I had great respect, has stooped to not only condoning, but actively supporting illegal activity with Apple's product.
Click to expand...

"Illegal", you keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means. — Inigo Montoya

Software companies do not get to write the laws of your country (the USA?) with their so-called EULAs.

EULA != law, therefore:
acting contrary to an EULA != breaking the law

On the other hand, maybe some corporations re-wrote your Constitution and dissolved your state legislature last week, and I missed the bulletin.

There are many good reasons for not running OS X on a normal PC, but they're mostly technical.
 
bartelby said:
There's no grey area. If "Apple Inc" or "Apple Computer Inc" isn't printed on the motherboard then it's not Apple hardware.
Click to expand...

1. Making a copy of MacOS X and running it anywhere is copyright infringement and therefore illegal, completely independent of any EULAs.

2. The number of people who would be wanting to install MacOS X on non-Macintosh hardware, and who can do so without copyright infringement is very very small indeed. I suppose if a truck runs over your MacBook and all that is left is a bit of scrap and an install DVD, you could install MacOS X anywhere without copyright infringement.

3. Then there's the EULA. Whether EULAs are enforcable or not depends on the country where you live and your lawyer. Let's say it would be unwise to send an email to Apple about it if you install MacOS X elsewhere. But see point (2) - very few people would do this without copyright infringement, in which case Apple has a very solid case.

4. If you install MacOS X on PearPC and use it for your daily work, that is more punishment in itself than anything Apple could possibly do to you.
 
ksgant said:
Let's put it this way. If you own a Mac, and you own a PC...and you happen to load your copy of OS X that came with your Mac on your PC, I don't think you'll have to worry about the cops busting your door down.
Click to expand...

Obviously _after_ removing MacOS X from the Macintosh.
 
come on, reading this is like watching people defend some dogma or something... just because some action is against the EULA (a contract) then what you have is a breach of contract, not necessarily something illegal.

As for the person who was shocked with the book editor, come on... is this EULA more important than Free Speech? should books on chemistry be outlawed for condoning bomb-making? geez
 
CaptainHaddock said:
"Illegal", you keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means. — Inigo Montoya

Software companies do not get to write the laws of your country (the USA?) with their so-called EULAs.

EULA != law, therefore:
acting contrary to an EULA != breaking the law

On the other hand, maybe some corporations re-wrote your Constitution and dissolved your state legislature last week, and I missed the bulletin.

There are many good reasons for not running OS X on a normal PC, but they're mostly technical.
Click to expand...

Exactly right. Unless you break an actual law a company can't do anything about it. If you own the copy of Mac OS X and only install it on one computer, be it a Mac or a PC Apple have absolutely no legal grounds to sue you. The only thing they could possibly get you on is breach of contract, maybe.
 
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