Xref: utzoo comp.sys.apple:4886 comp.sys.ibm.pc:13684 comp.windows.misc:391
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!looking!brad
From: brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple,comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.windows.misc
Subject: Re: BOYCOTT APPLE
Keywords: Microsoft, HP New Wave, Xerox, Lawsuit
Message-ID: <1513@looking.UUCP>
Date: 25 Mar 88 21:11:41 GMT
References: <292@unicom.UUCP> <2620@pdn.UUCP>
Reply-To: brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton)
Organization: Looking Glass Software Ltd.
Lines: 20

The question is where to draw the line.  I think we do want protection
against what we might call "knock-offs."  It's up to the judge to decide
what is a knock-off and what isn't.

The various windowing systems are clearly not knock-offs of the Mac.
On the other hand, one might debate that they are knock-offs of the
original Xerox developments.  Xerox has an agreement with Apple, which
gives Apple the right to sue on these grounds.

If MS Windows is a knock-off of Xerox's developments, it's only barely
so.  Up to a judge.  It's further clouded by the age of the Xerox
interface.  My belief is that `software patents' should only last 5 years
or so.

But look at other industries.  I can't publish a comic book about a man
who flies, is super strong and can see through walls.  It doesn't
matter what my character's origin is, or what the plots of the stories
are.  That same law might well apply in other cases.
-- 
Brad Templeton, Looking Glass Software Ltd. - Waterloo, Ontario 519/884-7473