Psystar countersues Apple, alleges anticompetitive business practices

Responding to a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Apple last month, Mac clone maker Psystar said it will file a countersuit today, alleging that Apple engages in anti-competitive business practices.

CNET reports that Miami-based Psystar will sue Apple under two federal laws that are intended to discourage monopolies. The company maintains that tying the Mac operating system to Apple's hardware - the computers - is anti-competitive. Psystar wants the court to void Apple's licensing agreement and is asking for unspecified damages. Psystar's lawyers are calling Apple's copyright infringement allegation last month "misinformed and mischaracterized" and are arguing that Psystar's Open Computer, which has been available online since April, is shipped with a fully licensed, unmodified copy of Mac OS X.

Apple will have 30 days to respond to the counterclaim.