End of the line for Psystar

It's now officially the end of the line for Florida-based Mac-clone maker Psystar as the court slaps a permanent injunction on the company, prohibiting it from selling PCs with Mac OS X Leopard or Snow Leopard installed.

U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup has given Psystar has until midnight, December 31, 2009 to comply with the injunction, and made it clear that the "defendant must immediately begin this process, and take the quickest path to compliance."

This is all pretty much irrelevant as Psystar has already pulled from sale all Mac clone systems.

However, Psystar continues to sell an application called Rebel EFI, a $50 utility that allows customers to install Mac OS X onto their own PCs. But this application hasn't been missed by Judge Alsup, who had the following to say:

"Whether Rebel EFI violates the terms of the injunction set forth in this order is a factual issue more appropriate for a contempt action ... this order declines to 'bless' a product about which it knows little of substance ... and Psystar - if it continues to do so - sells Rebel EFI at its peril."

Alsup goes on too say:

"What is certain, however, is that until such a motion is brought, Psystar 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."

That's it. It's been an interesting legal wrangle but it's ended pretty much as expected.