Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!comcon!roy
From: roy@comcon.UUCP (Roy M. Silvernail)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Xerox sues Apple!
Keywords: lawsuit over original WIMP ui... at last
Message-ID: <172@comcon.UUCP>
Date: 15 Dec 89 22:47:38 GMT
Organization: Computer Connection - Anchorage, Alaska
Lines: 44

Noted in the Anchorage Daily News this morning... (no, I'm not going to
type in the whole article ;-)

Yesterday, Xerox Corp. filed a federal lawsuit against Apple Computer,
alledging that Apple pirated their graphical user interface from
original Xerox products. The suit claims substantial parts of the Star
interface were copied into the Apple Lisa, and thence to the Macintosh.
Xerox seeks to invalidate Apple's copyright claims on the Lisa and Mac
interface designs.

The story notes that Xerox's suit is "remarkably similar" to the suit
Apple filed against Microsoft and Hewlitt-Packard. Apple's suit, of
course, claimed that the Mac/Lisa interface was the original work of
Apple.

/* editorial mode ON */

Well, it is about time!

I have made my share of MacJokes and shook my head at Apple's behaviour
for several years, in regard to their "ownership" of the
Window/Icon/Mouse/Pointer environment. I have had to hassle with GUI's
that are less than intuitive because they had to change little
details(to avoid Apple's legal staff). Above all, I have had to put up
with Apple's whining about 'their' GUI, while remembering my first look
at a Star screen oh, so many years ago.

I, and others, have wondered why Xerox didn't persue this earlier. The
story says they were waiting until certain copyright matters were
"clarified". Now that it's in court, I hope Apple loses big! Xerox seeks
150 Million in damages for unfair competition and unfair enrichment...

Once Apple gets slapped down in this suit, maybe GUI designs can finally
get off the ground without the threat of "Big Apple" suing designers
over insignificant points.

(now, where did I put that OpenLook brochure?)

/* editorial mode OFF */

-- 
_R_o_y _M_. _S_i_l_v_e_r_n_a_i_l  | UUCP: uunet!comcon!roy  |  "No, I don't live in an igloo!"
[ah, but it's my account... of course I opine!]           -Sourdough's riposte
SnailMail: P.O. Box 210856, Anchorage, Alaska, 99521-0856, U.S.A., Earth, etc.