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From: john@newave.UUCP (John A. Weeks III)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system,comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: Apple Computer wins ruling against 'Windows'
Message-ID: <706@newave.UUCP>
Date: 17 Mar 91 05:50:35 GMT
References: <46873@nigel.ee.udel.edu> <1991Mar15.101202.1@csc.anu.edu.au> <27E02D24.699@orion.oac.uci.edu> <1991Mar15.224201.2622@cpsc.ucalgary.ca>
Reply-To: john@newave.mn.org (John A. Weeks III)
Followup-To: comp.sys.mac.system
Organization: NeWave Communications Ltd, Eden Prairie, MN
Lines: 28

In article <1991Mar15.224201.2622@cpsc.ucalgary.ca> wieser@fsd.cpsc.ucalgary.ca (Bernhard Wieser) writes:
> You refer to the wonderful LISP machine, the Xerox Star, but how can you
> 'lift' (implied steal) anything when you have hired some of the people who
> worked on the project?

Most high-tech companies require employees to sign a confidentiality
agreement that prohibits an employee to release any company information
during or after employment.  Some companies go so far as to make claims
on any "invention" that a former employee creates for a period of time
after employment (1 to 5 years).

Even if you don't have an explicit agreement, there are trade secret 
laws (in the USA, at least).  For example, a person might expect to be
sued if they release the client list of a former employeer to a competitor.

But you are right when talking about the people.  Alan Kay went to
Apple, Bill Metcalf started 3Com, Massaro, Liddel and Charles Irby
started Metaphor, and both HP and Microsoft hired ex-PARC employees.
You could ask how any company can own any piece over any of the other
companies involved.  But a better question to ask is why did Xerox
fail when it had all of these bright people with all of these good ideas?

-john-

-- 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
John A. Weeks III               (612) 942-6969             john@newave.mn.org
NeWave Communications                       ...uunet!tcnet!wd0gol!newave!john