How can it be illegal to download a copy of Mac OS when it's based off BSD?

Question

I want to put Mac OS on my PC using a hacked copy, but according to Apple that just ain't right. How can it be illegal to share and redistribute an OS based off an open-source OS?

Answer 1

Legally there's nothing keeping them from adding the "Mac hardware only" clause to the EULA just because they use open-source software. I'm fairly sure the majority of the open-source code that Apple uses is licensed under either the BSD license or some version of the GPL, both of which allow for the code to be incorporated into closed-source projects. The only caveat is that the GPL'd code has to be redistributed with any changes you make and under the same license, which Apple has done - anyone is free to download the code from their website and modify or redistribute it if they want to. Apple also maintains an OS called Darwin which is basically OS X without all the proprietary code, although there's not much point in downloading it since it's essentially FreeBSD with a few extra features.



It's important to note that there are ways to install OS X on your PC directly from the retail disc, without downloading a hacked installer. For example, using Chameleon EFI to install OS X on an Intel PC, or Chameleon + the Voodoo Kernel for AMD Machines. Downloading the hacked installer is illegal because you're downloading the entire OS for free. If you buy a retail install disc and then modify it slightly, you're just breaking the EULA, which could be argued is Fair Use, along the same lines as jailbreaking an iPhone or ripping a DVD. It's still not technically legal, but I've never heard of anyone being taken to court over patching software for their own use.



One thing I will say is that if you didn't build your PC specifically to run OS X, chances are you're not going to get everything working. The most common problems involve sleep/wake issues, ethernet and wireless adapters not working, no sound, and graphics problems (not all resolutions showing up, no Core Image or Quartz Extreme, etc.) If you run into any problems head over to the InsanelyMac forums - they've got retail install guides, patched drivers, instructions for adding EFI strings for your video card, etc.



EDIT: Also I have to correct an earlier poster. The OS X kernel isn't called Darwin (as I said in my response, Darwin is an operating system). OS X uses the XNU kernel, which is a modified version of the Mach kernel. I am a hardcore OS X nerd so I know these things.

Answer 2

Hello Misty M,



Mac OS X uses a Unix Kernel, but it’s more closely based on the Next computer’s OS. If you wanted to just use Unix, then download a free Unix, but obviously the Mac OS X is not free. There’s also hardware that prevents you from using the Mac OS on non-Macs.



There are some hacks that make Mac OS X work on a standard PC, but it doesn’t work very well and much of the software used with Mac OS X won’t work. To use the Mac OS to it’s best, you need to bite the bullet and buy the Macintosh hardware too. Stop thinking like a cheap Windows user and use the Macintosh as you should.



Best of luck.



--Rick

Answer 3

BSD code is legal, open source. The Mac OS code isn't, copyright. You can't install the BSD code from a Mac OS disc without installing the Mac OS part.

Answer 4

FreeBSD is different from Linux remember that according to the BSD license you can take the kernel and do whatever the hell you want on it as long as you give them credit.



Apple's new kernel is called Darwin and that is open source if you must know.



The other technologies which they themselves have built such as Aqua are all closed source and these technologies are what really make OS X.



If you want something free, I will give you a link to the Darwin kernel.



http://developer.apple.com/Darwin/



Enjoy!

Answer 5

Open Source = free

Apple operating systems are not free. You have to purchase them. As for "sharing" if you want a TV in each room of the house, you have to buy a separate TV for each room. You can't just buy the first one and expect the others for free. Microsoft and Apple operating systems work on the same basis. If you have two computers you need to buy a copy of the OS for each one

Answer 6

it's because of the hacking made on the source Mac OS that made it illegal. and according to the rule of transitivity, distributing an os made illegally is also illegal.

Answer 7

also post reported