Report: Mac clone maker Psystar files for bankruptcy

The Chapter 11 filing doesn't necessarily spell the end for Psystar, which is locked in a legal battle with Apple, but it could mean that the company's backers have gotten cold feet.

The Mac Observer (via The Unofficial Apple Weblog) reports that Psystar filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Florida last Thursday, and that a June 5 hearing could finally reveal who's funding the makers of the bargain-priced "Open Computer" Mac clones.

Of course, just because a company files Chapter 11 papers doesn't mean it's dead in the water. Indeed, as Mac Observer notes, the filing will likely put Psystar's legal battle with Apple on ice for a few months, giving the embattled Mac clone maker a chance to regroup.

That said, Mac Observer blogger Jeff Gamet speculates that the bankruptcy filing could mean Psystar's (still unknown) backers, believing that Apple will ultimately be "the clear winner in court," have decided to cut and run.

The plucky Psystar first made headlines last year with its bargain-priced "Open Computer" Mac clones, which come with Mac OS X pre-installed. (It's latest model, the "Open(3)," began shipping back in March.)

Apple waited a few months before unleashing a lawsuit against Psystar for violating the Mac OS X end-user license agreement, and the two sides have been trading legal volleys ever since.

The Apple v. Psystar trial was expected to open this fall, but all bets are off after Psystar's bankruptcy filing.

Meanwhile, Psystar's Web site remains open for business, at least for now, with Mac desktop clones ranging in price from $699 to $1,154.99.

Related:
Psystar Files Bankruptcy, Stalls Apple’s Case [The Mac Observer]