Tech Law: Mac Clones (Still); Psion Counters, Red Hat and JBoss, More

Apple and Psystar plod toward discovery — Both Apple and Psystar continue the legal filings but the case gets at least a bit closer toward the discovery phase, when each company can compel the other to turn over information. The judge has agreed to a protective order keeping information marked confidential from anyone not associated with the case. Given Apple’s proclivities toward secrecy, will that include the main switchboard number at One Infinite Drive? [Source: AppleInsider]

TMI sues Audiovox — In December, Audiovox filed suit against TMI Products for patent infringement, and now TMI is suing the former for infringement. Clearly someone paid attention during grammar classes about parallel construction. [Source: TWICE]

Psion says, “Oh, yeah?” to Intel — Intel had piled on with Dell (in different forums) to try and get Psion’s U.S. trademark on “netbook” invalidated. Now Psion is countersuing Intel for treble damages. [Source: GigaOM]

Software Tree wants to show Red Hat who is JBoss — Software Treeis suing Red Hat, claiming that the latter’s JBoss middleware infringes on the former’s patent. Also named in the suit are HP and Dell because the two either sell or distribute JBoss. That brings up the question of whether Red Hat has indemnified its customers and whether the impending legal bill just got a whole lot bigger. It’s not the first time that the product line, acquired in 2006, has turned into legal problems. [Source: InformationWeek, Ars Technica]

Better not blab at RIM — they hear you when you’re phoning — Blackberry company Research in Motion has admitted that it records all employee telephone calls as part of its attempt to control intellectual property. [Source: CNET]

Microsoft gets EU good cop treatment — The European Union has ended tight monitoring of Microsoft compliance with a 2004 antitrust order. Good thing for the EU, because it was paying for a full-time trustee to check on the company. So much for guaranteed employment. [Source: Associated Press]

Gavel image via Flickr user Thomas Roche, CC 2.0.