Psystar to depose numerous Apple executives in lawsuit
Clone Mac creator Psystar announced this week that it will conduct depositions of numerous high-ranking Apple officials as it prepares its defense against the company's lawsuit.
"We are pleased to announce that an agreement with Apple's counsel was reached earlier this month and we now have the final list of their deponents for our proposed topics with respect to this litigation," the company's Web site states, in a blog post entitled 'A taste of their own medicine.'
It continues: "For the past week and the following ten days we will be doing depositions of some of Apple's highest level people. After numerous depositions of Psystar employees and associates, the shoe is finally on the other foot, oh the joy!"
True to the tone they have shown publicly so far, the company is even planning a semi-democratic take on their legal proceedings, asking readers to send in questions. The company states that they will take the top ten submissions for each Apple executive and ask them during the process.
The list of officials who have been or will be deposed and the corresponding dates are as follows:
Aug. 07 - John Wright - Senior software manager, OS X
Aug. 12 - Kevin Van Vechten - Software engineering manager, OS X
Aug. 13 - Phil Schiller - Senior VP, Worldwide Product Marketing
Aug. 14 - Mike Culbert - Senior director, Mac Hardware
Aug. 18 - Gary Thomas - Unknown
Aug. 19 - Simon Patience - Head of Core OS, OS X
Aug. 21 - Mark Donnelly - VP, Finance and Worldwide Business Management
Aug. 21 - Greg Christie - Unknown
Aug. 21 - Bob Mansfield - Senior VP, Mac Hardware Engineering
Last week, Psystar's request for its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing to be dismissed was granted in a Florida court. However, that same decision also included stipulations to ensure that the company won't be able to file for bankruptcy again to avoid its lawsuit with Apple in California.
Apple has a lawsuit against Psystar scheduled to start on January 11, 2010. When the company first filed for bankruptcy, the case was put on hold, until Apple had a stay on the case dismissed. Weeks ago, the clone-Mac-maker brought on a new legal team to continue its efforts.
"We are pleased to announce that an agreement with Apple's counsel was reached earlier this month and we now have the final list of their deponents for our proposed topics with respect to this litigation," the company's Web site states, in a blog post entitled 'A taste of their own medicine.'
It continues: "For the past week and the following ten days we will be doing depositions of some of Apple's highest level people. After numerous depositions of Psystar employees and associates, the shoe is finally on the other foot, oh the joy!"
True to the tone they have shown publicly so far, the company is even planning a semi-democratic take on their legal proceedings, asking readers to send in questions. The company states that they will take the top ten submissions for each Apple executive and ask them during the process.
The list of officials who have been or will be deposed and the corresponding dates are as follows:
Aug. 07 - John Wright - Senior software manager, OS X
Aug. 12 - Kevin Van Vechten - Software engineering manager, OS X
Aug. 13 - Phil Schiller - Senior VP, Worldwide Product Marketing
Aug. 14 - Mike Culbert - Senior director, Mac Hardware
Aug. 18 - Gary Thomas - Unknown
Aug. 19 - Simon Patience - Head of Core OS, OS X
Aug. 21 - Mark Donnelly - VP, Finance and Worldwide Business Management
Aug. 21 - Greg Christie - Unknown
Aug. 21 - Bob Mansfield - Senior VP, Mac Hardware Engineering
Last week, Psystar's request for its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing to be dismissed was granted in a Florida court. However, that same decision also included stipulations to ensure that the company won't be able to file for bankruptcy again to avoid its lawsuit with Apple in California.
Apple has a lawsuit against Psystar scheduled to start on January 11, 2010. When the company first filed for bankruptcy, the case was put on hold, until Apple had a stay on the case dismissed. Weeks ago, the clone-Mac-maker brought on a new legal team to continue its efforts.
Comments
I can only assume those lawyers are working for free unless Psystar wins and, no offense intended here, but those aren't exactly the cream of the crop...
True to the tone they have shown publicly so far, the company is even planning a semi-democratic take on their legal proceedings, asking readers to send in questions. The company states that they will take the top ten submissions for each Apple executive and ask them during the process.
I'm sure Psystar supporters are joyous to think that any question can be asked. But I think that questions in a deposition have to be germaine to the legal action / lawsuit.
Is this like a game show or something?
This is just another episode of what has become light hearted entertainment.
I look forward to each new snippet for more laughs.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/197456...bacca_defense/
They sound like another SCO.
That or they are out of their minds. How else would you describe someone who is copying what they want to fight against.
Odd.
So, let me get this straight. They are broke but somehow managed to put together a legal team to try to take down the genius lawyers at Apple - riiiggghhhhttt...
I can only assume those lawyers are working for free unless Psystar wins and, no offense intended here, but those aren't exactly the cream of the crop...
Who is paying for these attorneys?? Psystar is supposedly broke.
Keep in mind these are the same attorneys who defended a woman in her appeal against the RIAA after a $22,000 judgement against her. As a result of the appeal, the jury INCREASED the fine to $1.92 million! After that, I suspect the law firm is working for free because who in their right mind would hire them after their "defense" resulted in a 10 fold increase in the fine against their client?
Is this like a game show or something?
If not, it ought to be... something like "The continuing case of Perry Mason"!
The shoes on the other foot? WTF are they talking about? Are they gonna question Apple execs about how Apple stole Psystar IP? This is really just absolute nonsense, but they have the right, and I guess I support that aspect. It's obvious they have no case though, and are prolonging this process.
I think I'll submit a question: "Should I buy a house right now, or wait and see if prices continue to drop?"
Is this like a game show or something?
i know. what do they have to depose anyone about. this isn't a patent suit where they are the victims. it is a case of gross copyright violation (with probable trademark infringement) they have already been shot down on anti-trust, and on their claim that Apple didn't properly file their copyright etc so they don't have any protection (which is totally false both that they didn't and that their is no protection)
now they are trying to use EULAs are bad as a claim point. but the trouble is that even if that works all it would do is validate that one party can buy and install the software and then pass it on to someone else, given perhaps take a fee to do the install. it doesn't make putting it on a hackintosh legal. because an EULA's validity doesn't change the status of a company's copyright. All the EULA really does is state for the consumer what that status is, at least in the case of Apple's software.
Now THAT'S a viable business model for PsySTARSSS
And for the season grand finale ... (drums roll) ... STEVE!!!!
Keep in mind these are the same attorneys who defended a woman in her appeal against the RIAA after a $22,000 judgement against her. As a result of the appeal, the jury INCREASED the fine to $1.92 million! After that, I suspect the law firm is working for free because who in their right mind would hire them after their "defense" resulted in a 10 fold increase in the fine against their client?
I think that lady should sue her lawyers... (That result is one of the more recent ones where I question the sanity of my fellow man, it's rather sad really).
All Psystar wants to do is what every other PC manufacturer does, sell computers with someone else's OS, except Psystar wants Apple's OS, not Microsoft's.
Psystar, with this request for questions to increase the amusement value of these depositions, does appear to be "Astroturf", that is, a larger entity is attempting to create false grass roots support for a position that will ultimately benefit primarily themselves.
That or they are out of their minds. How else would you describe someone who is copying what they want to fight against.
Odd.
I see you're being spoon fed Cheerios and Kool-Aid in a no-spill cup. Think for yourself instead of being told how to think.