Xref: utzoo comp.unix.aux:410 gnu.emacs:54 comp.sys.mac:21186 Path: utzoo!attcan!telly!ddsw1!mcdchg!rutgers!mailrus!ames!elroy!cit-vax!tybalt.caltech.edu!wetter From: wetter@tybalt.caltech.edu (Pierce T. Wetter) Newsgroups: comp.unix.aux,gnu.emacs,comp.sys.mac Subject: Re: ./etc/APPLE. No Free Software for Mac users. Message-ID: <8155@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu> Date: 30 Sep 88 17:40:19 GMT References: <10152@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU> <875@vsi.UUCP> Sender: news@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu Reply-To: wetter@tybalt.caltech.edu.UUCP (Pierce T. Wetter) Distribution: usa Organization: California Institute of Technology Lines: 37 >a) doesn't the Apple vs. Microsoft lawsuit involve more than just 'look and > feel'. It was my impression that they (Apple) were basing their claims > in part on some abuses they claim Microsoft committed against their > agreement. My own personal theory: Apple in '85 is in dismal shape. Massive layoffs, large inventories, etc. Microsoft, the number one software house in the country, decides they want to release a graphical interface for DOS. Apple says NO you cant copy the mac, do it some other way. Bill gates who gave Apple some feedback on the mac interface and therefore thinks he owns 50% of the code (wouldn't it be a strange world if all your beta testers had a share of your copyright) says ok, then I'm never going to produce anything else for the mac, or update MS-Word (Notice the provison in the Apple-MS contract that MS has to update MS-Word). Since at this point in time, such an annnouncement would have driven Apple into bankruptcy, Apple capitulates. Hence we get Windows, a bad copy of the Mac Interface. Thus, MS commits the ultimate in software hoarding: driving companies out of business by withholding software. Apple is now the Good Guy, seeking to protect other companies from the likes of MS. (Perhaps that's why Jobs is going to Unix/Mach) Apple's legal strategy: The Apple, MS contract was signed under duress and therefore null and void. MS is therefore guilty of using whatever it was the Apple contract gave them the rights to use, and HP is an unfortunate bystander. THEN AGAIN, I COULD BE WRONG. Pierce ---------------------------------------------------------------- wetter@tybalt.caltech.edu pwetter@caltech.bitnet pwetter@caltech.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------- Weird theory #47: Islamic women can do kinky things with their ankles, that's why the Koran says they aren't supposed to reveal them in public.