Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!uunet!bu-cs!lll-winken!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!mailrus!ames!apple!vsi1!altos86!dtynan
From: dtynan@altos86.Altos.COM (Dermot Tynan)
Newsgroups: gnu.misc.discuss
Subject: Re: Apple/uSoft Court's "Memorandum of Decision and Order"
Summary: 10 PRINT "Copyright Defeated"
Message-ID: <12391@altos86.Altos.COM>
Date: 2 Aug 89 05:13:22 GMT
References: <1989Jul31.223834.10407@algor2.uu.net>
Organization: Altos Computer Systems, San Jose, CA
Lines: 25


I've just been thinking.  I know, I know, not a good idea, etc...
Anyway, on the Apple ][, did Microsoft do the BASIC interpreter, or was
it done internally.  It seems to me, that this is equally applicable, given
the vague definition of "visual display".  I mean, it would certainly put
the smile on the other side of Apples face, if they were sued for violating
the "look and feel" of BASIC.  Not that Microsoft invented the language,
but no-one denies that Xerox invented windows...

I'm willing to bet at this stage, that a lot of fancy footwork is ahead,
with a final and obtuse ruling, with all parties claiming a victory, and
the rest of us scratching our heads, wondering if we can write any more
code.  IMHO, Apple is really keeping this going, so that they can continue
to soak up enormous margins on the Macintosh, with little threat of price
erosion, or clone-competition.  In the long run, this will probably hurt
them, as well, when the rest of the industry has been forced to evolve,
so that clone-makers are one step behind, Apple will still be trying to
sell 6502 and 68000 products, to a well-informed market-place.  Are they
they only company around who seem to like flogging a dead horse???
						- Der
-- 
	dtynan@altos86.Altos.COM		(408) 946-6700 x4237
	Dermot Tynan,  Altos Computer Systems,  San Jose, CA   95134

    "Far and few, far and few, are the lands where the Jumblies live..."