There have been many rumours regarding MorphOS and its legal standing. After careful consideration, we have concluded that those allegations are unfounded, those most frequently raised being the following two.

1. Stolen code

It has often been said that MorphOS is based on stolen source code. Why would anyone go through the trouble of stealing a code, and jeopardise his legal standing, when code sufficiently approximate has been released to the public with the blessings of the holding company?

2. Unfair Competition

It would be ideal for a company not to have competition but this is not what free trade is all about. MorphOS however has up until now competed with no other product simply because it is a work in progress free product, with time limitations. The past beta version in particular has relied on other true Operating Systems and their presence, thus perhaps enhancing those OSs marketability through added functionality. This however will not be the case when MorphOS is released to the public as a final product. Competition should thus be expected in the future.

On the other hand, given the persistent empty allegations and actions taken against MorphOS, we have a pretty strong case of anticompetitive actions performed against us.

Such actions, this not being a complete list, include the posting of various messages delivering empty, repeated threats and the direct involvement against MorphOS being presented in a TV show.

Although it is clear to us that we can pursue legal action against those defamatory acts, we prefer as a matter of policy to settle accounts outside courts. Patience has of course its limits and since we can afford a long legal battle, if forced, we shall take action.

For those purposes we have taken the following steps:

a) Analysed all data available to us, interviewed people involved, and verified the consistency of all information. Although, as anticipated, we found nothing new or contradictory, this is something that we should do.

b) Analysed all allegation raised and those which are possible to be raised as a “last resort” attempt. Although allegations are easy to be raised, and are thus many, we have concluded that they are weak, if not unfounded, at the very best. Our analysis was based on MorphOS past, present and future.

c) Ascertained counter actions that will be spawned from filling an action against us. Dragging people in court just in the vain hope to intimidate them or disrupt their business does have consequences.

d) Ascertained all harmful actions made against us, collected defamatory statements, analysed further conduct. Additionally, we investigated the possibility of intellectual property belonging to us being unlawfully exploited.

e) Prepared a full draft legal document, concerning the above points. Emphasis has been given on countering the allegations, rather than taking the offensive which is not within our current interests. Despite that, the offensive part is sizeable.

f) Preliminary consulted lawyers outside the company’s resources so as to verify some conceptions of ours.

We are here and we are ready. Legal battles may not be our preferred route of action but we can most certainly perform well if needed.

Best regards,

All of us...:)