Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!ames!genbank!agate!ucbvax!hoptoad!tim
From: tim@hoptoad.uucp (Tim Maroney)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Xerox Sues Apple Over Mac
Message-ID: <9297@hoptoad.uucp>
Date: 15 Dec 89 08:01:01 GMT
Organization: Eclectic Software, San Francisco
Lines: 49

Reuters

Giant Xerox Corp. said yesterday that it has filed a lawsuit against
Apple Computer Inc. seeking more than $150 million for unlawful use of
Xerox software and charging its rival with copyright misrepresentation.

Cupertino-based Apple, the big personal computer maker, denied the
charge and said it would respond, probably within 30 days.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, claims that
Apple's Lisa and Macintosh software stems from work by Xerox that was
used by Apple witout permission.

Xerox also said it is seeking recognition that Xerox is the sole and
exclusive owner of all copyrights on its Star software.

Apple claims ownership of software that covers substantial parts of
Star and this has caused confusion in the market place, Xerox said.

However, an Apple spokeswoman said that "we believe the case is without
merit."

"It confuses the distinction between ideas and expression.  Copyright
protects expression, not ideas," Apple spokeswoman Carleen Levasseur
said.

Levasseur said, "Apple has always acknowledged that the ideas come from
the industry, but it's our own unique expression."

The spokeswoman said that Apple "will certainly respond to the claims,
probably in 30 days."

Xerox wants the court to direct U.S. Copyright Office to cancel
registrations for Apple's Lisa and Macintosh software, saying Apple
intentionally hid their origins.

It said Apple unjustly received royalties, license fees and other
benefits in excess of $100 million that properly belong to Xerox.

These unfair business practices amount to more than $50 million in
damages, Xerox said.

It said efforts to reach an amicable settlement, including a proposal
for Apple to license the software from Xerox, were rebuffed.
-- 
Tim Maroney, Mac Software Consultant, sun!hoptoad!tim, tim@toad.com

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