Apple vs. Microsoft OR... Installing OSX Yosemite 10.10.3 on VirtualBox for development purposes...

Note: This is not for illegal copies, this is for legitimate use, so if you are looking for something along the lines of Hackintosh please walk along, nothing to see here....
See the extract below from the Apple App store license agreement for OSX Yosemite 10.10.3.

2. Permitted License Uses and Restrictions.
A. Preinstalled and Single-Copy Apple Software License. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License, unless you obtained the Apple Software from the Mac App Store or under a volume license, maintenance or other written agreement from Apple, you are granted a limited, non-exclusive license to install, use and run one (1) copy of the Apple Software on a single Apple-branded computer at any one time. For example, these single-copy license terms apply to you if you obtained the Apple Software preinstalled on Apple-branded hardware.

B. Mac App Store License. If you obtained a license for the Apple Software from the Mac App Store, then subject to the terms and conditions of this License and as permitted by the Mac App Store Usage Rules set forth in the App Store Terms and Conditions (http://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/ww/) (“Usage Rules”), you are granted a limited, non-transferable, non-exclusive license:

(i) to download, install, use and run for personal, non-commercial use, one (1) copy of the Apple Software directly on each Apple-branded computer running OS X Mavericks, OS X Mountain Lion, OS X Lion or OS X Snow Leopard (“Mac Computer”) that you own or control;

(ii) If you are a commercial enterprise or educational institution, to download, install, use and run one (1) copy of the Apple Software for use either: (a) by a single individual on each of the Mac Computer(s) that you own or control, or (b) by multiple individuals on a single shared Mac Computer that you own or control. For example, a single employee may use the Apple Software on both the employee’s desktop Mac Computer and laptop Mac Computer, or multiple students may serially use the Apple Software on a single Mac Computer located at a resource center or library; and

(iii) to install, use and run up to two (2) additional copies or instances of the Apple Software within virtual operating system environments on each Mac Computer you own or control that is already running the Apple Software, for purposes of: (a) software development; (b) testing during software development; (c) using OS X Server; or (d) personal, non-commercial use.

The grant set forth in Section 2B(iii) above does not permit you to use the virtualized copies or instances of the Apple Software in connection with service bureau, time-sharing, terminal sharing or other similar types of services.



The issue is simple - as a "commercial enterprise" I want to install use and run two instances of OS X within a virtualised environment.  Like most people, I simply bought my Mac Book Pro from an Apple store and then (since it's for business use only) I charged that back to my employer on expenses. 

When I bought the Mac Book Pro it had Mavericks which I have upgraded over time to Yosemite.  When I try and download a copy of Yosemite from the app store it silently fails.  I am guessing that the restrictions of 2(A) are being applied and the app store simply silently fails by design.

Trying to then get a "volume license, maintenance or other written agreement from Apple" then seems to require either a visit to a shop or filling in a web form to get someone from Apple to get in touch with me "later".

When I compare this to the Microsoft Partner Network where you pay £300 or so and get pretty much everything that Microsoft make (see below for list) plus two copies of MSDN.  And I can simply sign up a limited company to the Partner network online without any fuss.

Strange how Microsoft is still viewed by many as the "evil empire" "Micro$oft" and so on, yet as a developer within a small firm it's a lot easier to work with Microsoft compared to Apple.
 

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