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Long-awaited Mac OS update Leopard is getting poached over online file-sharing sites.
BitTorrent sites are powering out copies of Apple's new operating system, OS X version 10.5, known as Leopard, following its release on October 26.
And as the latest version of the Unix-based system doesn't even come with serial protection, Leopard - which costs $199 for a single user licence - is essentially there for the taking.
Since late last week copies of the operating system have illegally surfaced on file-sharing sites like Torrents and P2P (peer to peer) networks.
Apple spokesperson Fiona Martin would not comment on whether the company would actively pursue those who had uploaded pre-release copies onto file-sharing sites.
Any action is considered unlikely though, as Apple's primary business is in gadgets and computers, not making operating systems.
She said the lack of serial protection - which Windows users know can prove a long and painful experience in some installations - is simply to provide a more user-friendly installation.
"At the end of the day, all we're really looking at is giving customers the easiest and most enjoyable experience possible," she said.
The long-awaited Leopard release - which was bumped back as Apple rolled out its iPhone and new iPod Touch products - has also been plagued with installation problems.
Martin says that the company has had no reports of installation here or Australia, although some are still waiting for Leopard delivery.
Apple's US support site has posted a solution to the installation freezes.
The BSoD (blue screen of death) can appear on some machines after installing Leopard and restarting - Apple has blamed this on users with certain third party applications that are not supported by the new 10.5 system.
There is an easy workaround or a faster Terminal approach covered with Apple's official fix, both of which have proven effective.
