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From: gsm@gsm001.uucp (Geoffrey S. Mendelson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: Mac Clones.. just wondering.
Message-ID: <1991Jan7.025124.11924@gsm001.uucp>
Date: 7 Jan 91 02:51:24 GMT
References: <53576@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU>
Organization: Geoffrey S. Mendelson -- Software Consulting
Lines: 57


Danielle T Mazzotta
Wrote:
>
>Considering the success all the IBM-PC Clone makers have had over the past 
>years, some friends and I were wondering why the same hasn't been done for the 
>Macintosh series.  Is the hardware significantly more expensive for 
>clone-makers to get a hold of, is the hardware more difficult to "emulate/copy" 
>or is it political?
 
The reason is that IBM made the PC an "open" system.  There was freely 
available documentation on every phase of the system.  It was available for
less than $100. and IBM asked for no licencse fees.

IBM encouraged third party hardware and software developers.  The did not
discourage cpu cloners.  When PHOENIX cloned their bios (rom) chips by 
taking the book describing all the bios calls and what they did,  IBM did
not sue PHOENIX. 

Apple on the other hand has been the exact oposite.  They have kept their
"secrets" close to themselves and have sued everyone they could for anything
they could.

They have used the power of the lawsuit to force companies into bankruptcy.
Franklin Computer for example.  Franklin made Apple II clones that were 
better than Apple's.  They were forced into chapter 11 by an Apple suit.
They ended up selling some of their technology to Apple, pulled themselves
out of chapter 11 and are happliy making IBM clones.  Apple Prodos contains
many features Apple bought from Franklin's FDOS.

Most companies sued by Apple have either decided to give in, or give up.
The notable exceptions are Microsoft and H.P.    

          (flame alert --- flame alert  --- flame alert) 

Apple is not above copying other peoples work too.  The Apple symbol was
"copied" (and paid for after APPLE lost a copyright suit) from Apple Records.
The name MacIntosh was "copied" (and latter paid for) from a manufacture of
stereo equipment.  The Mac interface (GUI) was "copied" from the Xerox PARC
systems. Apple is currently being sued by H.P. and Xerox because they
pattented the Mac GUI as an original work, while it is clearly and by their
own admission a derivative work. 


This is what happens when two "techies" start making money and hire lawyers.


Disclamier -- The above are opinions and "facts as I remember them". They are
for your personal ammusment and are not to be taken as "The Truth".
They are also not intended as either libel or slander.........................


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