Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!milton!ogicse!hsdndev!spdcc!mirror!necntc!gordon!pdl
From: pdl@gordon.UUCP (Dave Lebling)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: Re: Infocom, Infocom, where has't thou gone?
Message-ID: <218@gordon.UUCP>
Date: 22 Mar 91 19:11:48 GMT
References: <17642@sdcc6.ucsd.edu>
Organization: Access Technology, Natick, MA
Lines: 31
In-reply-to: aard@sdcc13.ucsd.edu's message of 20 Mar 91 10:47:30 GMT


>P.S. Does anyone know exactly what really happened to Infocom?

Infocom was purchased in July, 1986 by Activision, which later changed
its name to Mediagenic.  If Infocom had not been purchased by somebody
or otherwise gotten a big infusion of cash, it would have gone under.
(It spent too much money developing and marketing Cornerstone, a
database product that didn't sell.)

Mediagenic downsized the company, but it still lost money.  They sued
Infocom's major stockholders and founders (some of whom still worked
for the company).  Morale was low.  Infocom made a last minute effort
to do graphics games, but it took too long to get them to market.
Mediagenic "moved Infocom to California" in May, 1989.  In practice
this meant four people went (out of about 12 who were invited).  The
other 20 (including all the game designers) were laid off.

>P.P.S.  About the part regarding stealing - I'm not a  pirate that was just
>a joke, I'd rather purchase them.  But, just out of curiosity,  does anyone
>know who owns  the rights to  the games now?   Will they  eventually become
>public domain?  Does anyone really care if I copy them? Just asking.

Mediagenic owns all the rights to the games.  They are not public
domain.  Mediagenic is nearly bankrupt itself (although they are
negotiating a credit line), so it's possible the games might be up for
bids.

	Dave Lebling
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