Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!gatech!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!oakhill!murf From: murf@oakhill.UUCP (Steve Murphy) Newsgroups: gnu.gcc Subject: Xerox/Metaphor settlement could douse Apple's hopes - Article reprint Keywords: Apple Lawsuit Look-and-Feel Message-ID: <2148@oakhill.UUCP> Date: 20 Jun 89 21:04:22 GMT Organization: Motorola Inc, Oak Hill, Austin TX Lines: 52 Sorry I'm posting here, but I couldn't find the relevant moderator in my list for gnu.announce, to mail this to. I've noticed this sort of thing flying thru this newsgroup before, to rms's dismay, I'd imagine, but.... well.... right or wrong, I did it, I'm sorry. This is not my employer's opinion. Reprinted with permission from publisher. I quote from Computer Design, News Edition, Page 1, 12 Jun 89 Vol 28, No 12, author Tom Williams: Stamford, CT: Xerox has settled a lawsuit with Metaphor Computer Systems (Mountain Ciew, CA) over the use of what Xerox claims is its proprietary graphical user interface. The interface technology in question is essentially the same technology at the heart of a suit by Apple Computer (Cupertino, CA) against Microsoft (Redmond, WA) and Hewlett-Packard (Palo Alto, CA). Metaphor's lawsuit against Xerox, filed in April, asked the U.S. District Court for protection from demands for licensing fees. With the settlement, Metaphor has agreed to pay a fee to use the technology, and Xerox has offered to license its user interface to any developer wishing to use it. The settlement could throw cold water on Apple's claim that Microsoft's Windows and HP's NewWave window-based user interfaces draw on technology developed for the Macintosh. Both Microsoft and HP have argued that Apple's contention is groundless because the basic technology was developed at Xerox. Xerox holds a 1981 copyright for an early version of the interface, and several key members of the development team from Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center later joined Apple. But until the recent action with Metaphor, Xerox has dis- played no interest in defending its rights to the interface. With the Metaphor settlement, Microsoft and HP may now attempt to license the technology from Xerox to strengthen their case against Apple. Although the impact of the settlement remains unclear, it will undoubtedly affect software-development costs throughout the industry. It will also probably complicate an already complex issue. The common denominator for all window-based graphical user interfaces is that they use windows, icons, and a desktop metaphor to manipulate files, invoke programs, and perform other interactions. Developers have expressed concern that any claim to the tech- nology could extend beyond "look and feel" to the basic concept of the desk- top metaphor. -------------------- A very interesting development.... any thoughts? -- murf: Steve Murphy, Motorola, Inc. 6501 William Cannon Drive West, MD OE37 Austin, TX 78735 (512)891-2276 !oakhill!murf