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From: rupp@cod.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Apple Payoff Blacklist Requested/Look and Feel of the 8010
Message-ID: <481@cod.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 2-Feb-87 15:17:20 EST
Article-I.D.: cod.481
Posted: Mon Feb  2 15:17:20 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 5-Feb-87 07:14:09 EST
References: <673@imsvax.UUCP> <1600@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu> <404@vaxine.UUCP>
Reply-To: rupp@cod.nosc.mil.UUCP (William L. Rupp)
Organization: Computer Sciences Corp., San Diego
Lines: 15
Xref: watmath comp.sys.ibm.pc:1379 comp.sys.mac:1147

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There are various ways to look at the Apple/Gem affair.  Yes, Xerox
did originate (I guess) the windowing user interface.  Yes, Apple then
took the idea and did something with it.  And yes, Apple did threaten 
the creators of GEM (my mind blanks at the moment, can't remember
the name, SRI maybe?).  I do not like the idea of copyrighting the 'look
and feel' of something, but this whole area of what can and cannot be
copyrighted in software is a new and tricky  branch of law.

It might be well to remember that although Xerox had it first, Apple
was the company that made the windowing user interface an important
part of microcomputing.  That is a not-inconsiderable contribution.   No
company, or person, for that matter, is perfect.  Apple Computer has it
faults, but also its positive accomplishments.  Let's try to keep some
perspective.