1. Acceptance of Terms
By downloading, installing, or using OpenCore Legacy Patcher (the "Software"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not download, install, or use the Software.
These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and the OpenCore Legacy Patcher development team ("we," "us," or "our"). Your use of the Software signifies your acceptance of these Terms and our Privacy Policy.
2. Description of Service
OpenCore Legacy Patcher is a free, open-source software application that enables unsupported Mac computers to run modern versions of macOS by creating custom OpenCore bootloader configurations and applying system patches.
The Software provides the following functionality:
- Building customized OpenCore EFI bootloaders for legacy Mac hardware
- Downloading macOS installers from Apple's servers
- Creating bootable macOS installation media
- Applying post-installation root patches to restore hardware functionality
- Managing OpenCore configurations and settings
3. License and Open Source
OpenCore Legacy Patcher is licensed under the BSD 3-Clause License. This means:
- You are free to use, modify, and distribute the Software
- You must retain copyright notices and license terms in any redistribution
- You may not use the names of contributors to endorse derived products without permission
- The Software is provided "AS-IS" without warranty
The full license text is available in the Software's source code repository on GitHub. By using the Software, you agree to comply with the terms of the BSD 3-Clause License.
4. User Responsibilities
When using OpenCore Legacy Patcher, you agree to:
4.1 Compliance with Laws
- Use the Software in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
- Comply with Apple's Software License Agreement for macOS
- Not use the Software for any illegal or unauthorized purpose
- Not violate any laws in your jurisdiction when using the Software
4.2 Technical Requirements
- Ensure your Mac hardware is compatible with the target macOS version
- Maintain adequate backups of your data before using the Software
- Understand the risks associated with modifying system files and bootloaders
- Take responsibility for any consequences of using the Software on your system
4.3 Appropriate Use
- Use the Software only on genuine Apple Mac hardware
- Not use the Software to enable macOS on non-Apple hardware (Hackintosh)
- Not misrepresent the Software's capabilities or make false claims
- Not use the Software to circumvent security measures for malicious purposes
5. Intellectual Property
OpenCore Legacy Patcher and its original content, features, and functionality are owned by the Dortania development team and contributors and are protected by international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property laws.
5.1 Trademarks
- "OpenCore Legacy Patcher" and related names and logos are used to identify the project
- "macOS," "Mac," "MacBook," "iMac," "Mac Pro," and related terms are trademarks of Apple Inc.
- OpenCore Legacy Patcher is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Apple Inc.
5.2 Third-Party Components
The Software incorporates open-source components from third parties, each governed by their respective licenses. These components include but are not limited to:
- OpenCore bootloader
- Various kernel extensions (kexts)
- Python libraries and dependencies
6. Disclaimer of Warranties
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS-IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.
We expressly disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to:
- Merchantability: We do not warrant that the Software is suitable for any particular purpose
- Fitness for a Particular Purpose: The Software may not meet your specific requirements
- Non-Infringement: We do not warrant that the Software does not infringe third-party rights
- Accuracy: We do not warrant that the Software will function error-free or without interruption
- Security: We do not warrant that the Software is free from viruses or harmful components
You acknowledge that:
- The Software modifies critical system components and bootloader configurations
- Use of the Software may result in system instability, data loss, or hardware issues
- Apple does not support Macs running macOS versions installed via OpenCore Legacy Patcher
- Software or hardware updates may break functionality provided by the Software
7. Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE OPENCORE LEGACY PATCHER DEVELOPMENT TEAM OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE.
This includes but is not limited to:
- Direct Damages: Data loss, system corruption, hardware damage
- Indirect Damages: Lost profits, lost revenue, lost business opportunities
- Consequential Damages: Costs of procurement of substitute goods or services
- Incidental Damages: Downtime, service interruption, repair costs
- Special or Punitive Damages: Any form of special or punitive damages
This limitation applies even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so this limitation may not apply to you.
8. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the OpenCore Legacy Patcher development team, contributors, and affiliates from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to:
- Your use or misuse of the Software
- Your violation of these Terms
- Your violation of any rights of another party
- Your violation of any applicable laws or regulations
- Any modifications you make to the Software
- Any redistribution of the Software by you
9. Apple Inc. Disclaimer
OpenCore Legacy Patcher is NOT affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by Apple Inc.
- Apple does not provide support for Macs running unsupported macOS versions
- Using the Software may void warranties or AppleCare coverage
- Apple may refuse service to Macs with modified bootloaders or system files
- You are responsible for restoring your Mac to a supported configuration before seeking Apple support
- macOS, Mac, and related terms are trademarks of Apple Inc.
By using OpenCore Legacy Patcher, you acknowledge that you are circumventing Apple's hardware compatibility restrictions and that this may have consequences for your Mac's supportability and serviceability.
10. Modification and Updates
We reserve the right to modify or discontinue the Software at any time, with or without notice. We are not obligated to provide updates, bug fixes, or support for the Software.
However, as an open-source project:
- Updates and improvements are released periodically
- You can contribute to the project through GitHub
- The community provides support through Discord, Reddit, and GitHub
- You can fork and modify the Software under the BSD 3-Clause License
We may modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on our website with an updated "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of the Software after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.
11. Community Guidelines
When participating in OpenCore Legacy Patcher communities (Discord, GitHub, Reddit), you agree to:
- Be respectful and courteous to other community members
- Not post spam, advertisements, or off-topic content
- Not share pirated software, illegal content, or copyrighted material
- Not provide false or misleading information
- Not engage in harassment, hate speech, or abusive behavior
- Follow platform-specific rules (Discord Terms of Service, GitHub Terms of Service, Reddit Content Policy)
Violation of community guidelines may result in removal from community platforms, but does not affect your license to use the Software under the BSD 3-Clause License.
12. Privacy
Your use of the Software is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your information.
Key privacy points:
- The Software does not collect or transmit telemetry data
- All processing occurs locally on your Mac
- We do not track your usage of the Software
- Downloads from Apple's servers are subject to Apple's privacy policy
13. Export Restrictions
The Software may be subject to export control laws and regulations. You agree to comply with all applicable export and re-export restrictions and regulations, including those of the United States and other relevant jurisdictions.
You represent and warrant that you are not:
- Located in a country subject to a U.S. government embargo
- Listed on any U.S. government list of prohibited or restricted parties
- Subject to restrictions that would prevent you from using the Software
14. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.
15. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which the primary developers reside, without regard to conflict of law provisions.
Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Software shall be resolved through:
- Good faith negotiation between the parties
- Binding arbitration if negotiation fails (where permitted by law)
- The courts of competent jurisdiction as a last resort
16. Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and the BSD 3-Clause License, constitute the entire agreement between you and OpenCore Legacy Patcher regarding your use of the Software, superseding any prior agreements or understandings.
17. Waiver
Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of those rights. Any waiver of any provision of these Terms will be effective only if in writing and signed by an authorized representative.
18. Contact Information
If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us:
19. Acknowledgment
BY DOWNLOADING, INSTALLING, OR USING OPENCORE LEGACY PATCHER, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ THESE TERMS OF SERVICE, UNDERSTAND THEM, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS, DO NOT USE THE SOFTWARE.
You further acknowledge that:
- You use the Software at your own risk
- You have backed up your data before using the Software
- You understand the Software modifies critical system components
- You accept full responsibility for any consequences of using the Software
- Apple does not support Macs running unsupported macOS versions via OCLP
- The Software is provided without warranty of any kind