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So basically you can run macOS however you want as long as you're already running macOS on Apple hardware. The question I've always had is how enforceable is t

So basically you can run macOS however you want as long as you're already running macOS on Apple hardware. The question I've always had is how enforceable is that really? Obviously the whole point of Apple making macOS freely available is to run it on Apple hardware. They don't give it out for free to run on other hardware but can they really do anything about that other than require you to enter a serial number to download an image? If they really cared, they would just do something like hashing the serial number and current date and time against a secret key (maybe inside a read-only portion of the TPM) and only Apple would be able to verify that the hardware is legit. You would need to somehow expose the TPM to the hypervisor to be able to generate hashes for macOS to verify it's license. Clearly this is not a huge problem for Apple because they would already be doing this if it was an issue.

obituary_latte 2y ago
Probably as enforceable as any other EULA. Windows surely has similar language. I'd guess that somewhere buried deep in the agreements, or somewhere, it says they can audit your usage somehow. Does it ever happen? I'd be curious to know.
- naikrovek 2y ago
  Windows doesn’t have similar language. Not directly, anyway. Depending on the edition of Windows you purchase and how your overall license agreement works, you get anywhere from zero to ten VM licenses per paid Windows license. I’m omitting a few details for brevity (MS licensing is nuts when you get into the weeds).
angulardragon03 2y ago
It’s sort of enforceable - Apple’s own virtualisation framework that lots of VM providers use (on Apple Silicon) actually enforces a hard cap of two guests, and won’t allow you to spawn more. With other hosts, it’s kind of an Adobe approach - you either weren’t gonna buy a Mac anyways, or you might be tempted to buy a Mac after using macOS in a VM. Realistically, it’s not worth Apple coming after you unless you’re an enterprise making your money by breaking the EULA.
pjmlp 2y ago
Via surprise audits from organisations like BSA, in collaboration with the police. https://www.bsa.org/ https://www.bsa.org/
- skeaker 2y ago
  For organizations, sure, but has this ever been done to an individual?
  - pjmlp 2y ago
    Individuals most likely not.
ForOldHack 2y ago
Apple branded machine. I got some of those nifty apple stickers to brand machines. MacBooks and Macpros as well as iMacs have serial numbers. They already have their whole arm ... I will just remind them again. Do not anger Linux wizards. They put Linux on an iPod.

obituary_latte 2y ago

Probably as enforceable as any other EULA. Windows surely has similar language. I'd guess that somewhere buried deep in the agreements, or somewhere, it says they can audit your usage somehow. Does it ever happen? I'd be curious to know.

naikrovek 2y ago
Windows doesn’t have similar language. Not directly, anyway. Depending on the edition of Windows you purchase and how your overall license agreement works, you get anywhere from zero to ten VM licenses per paid Windows license. I’m omitting a few details for brevity (MS licensing is nuts when you get into the weeds).

angulardragon03 2y ago

It’s sort of enforceable - Apple’s own virtualisation framework that lots of VM providers use (on Apple Silicon) actually enforces a hard cap of two guests, and won’t allow you to spawn more. With other hosts, it’s kind of an Adobe approach - you either weren’t gonna buy a Mac anyways, or you might be tempted to buy a Mac after using macOS in a VM. Realistically, it’s not worth Apple coming after you unless you’re an enterprise making your money by breaking the EULA.

pjmlp 2y ago

Via surprise audits from organisations like BSA, in collaboration with the police. https://www.bsa.org/ https://www.bsa.org/

skeaker 2y ago
For organizations, sure, but has this ever been done to an individual?
- pjmlp 2y ago
  Individuals most likely not.

ForOldHack 2y ago

Apple branded machine. I got some of those nifty apple stickers to brand machines. MacBooks and Macpros as well as iMacs have serial numbers. They already have their whole arm ... I will just remind them again. Do not anger Linux wizards. They put Linux on an iPod.