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From: billkatt@sol.engin.umich.edu (billkatt)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Jonathan (Macintosh Clone for somewhat more than $1000!)
Message-ID: <4255c6fd.a590@mag.engin.umich.edu>
Date: 30 Mar 89 16:12:00 GMT
References: <530@umiami.miami.edu> <7423@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> <16381@cup.portal.com> <7483@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> <6806@saturn.ucsc.edu>
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In article <6806@saturn.ucsc.edu> aaronrp@ucscb.UCSC.EDU (Aaron Priven) writes:
>In article <7483@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> caromero@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (C. Antonio Romero) writes:
>>In article <16381@cup.portal.com> jwhitnell@cup.portal.com (Jerry D Whitnell) writes:
>>>The difference between the original PC ROMs and the Macintosh is that
>>>Apple holds patents on several pieces of technology included in the ROM.
> 
>I'm sorry, but I've NEVER heard of any of these patents before. Patents
>rarely cover software because if they did, the software would have to
>be made completely public -- Apple would have to write it up and send it
>to the Library of Congress. I don't believe that's happened. I suppose
>the *archictecture* could be patented but if so, the Magic Sac wouldn't
>be possible.

It has happened.  It is rare, but Apple pulled it off.  I'm am only sure of
one software patent they hold -- regions.  And as you may know, regions are
VERY important to the Mac OS.  I have heard that they also hold patents on
the look of the finder, but I'm not sure.

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