gangolli@wolvesden.Stanford.EDU (Anil R. Gangolli) (07/24/89)
Excerpts From the San Francisco Chronicle Business Section (B1), July 22, 1989. APPLE DEALT STUNNING LEGAL BLOW, J. Schneidawind, Staff Writer. In a PROPOSED [-emph. mine] ruling that COULD BE CHANGED LATER, U.S. District Judge William Schwarzer limited Apple's claim that Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard copied the "look and feel" of Apple's popular Macintosh computers. The preliminary decision extended Microsoft Corp.'s 1985 software license from apple to much of Microsoft's own Windows 2.03 program, which uses a Macintosh-like approach to displaying information on a computer screen. Schwarzer tentatively ruled that certain features of Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard's programs were protected by a 1985 license agreement, and were "out of the case." : : Apple's lead attorney stressed that the judge said Apple can still try to prove copyright violations of the way icons and window displays are used. --anil.
jeffrey@algor2.uu.net (Jeffrey Kegler) (07/24/89)
gangolli@wolvesden.Stanford.EDU (Anil R. Gangolli) writes: > >Excerpts From the San Francisco Chronicle Business Section (B1), July 22, 1989. >APPLE DEALT STUNNING LEGAL BLOW From what I can gather about this proposed ruling, it would not do us (the opponents of look and feel copyrights) much good. The portions of Apple's suit excluded are excluded not because of the invalidity of the copyright, but because an agreement between Apple and Microsoft would grant them that right even if the copyright were valid. And the parts included are two: overlapping windows and movable icons. This does not give Apple the right to any windowed system, true, but is certainly broad enough. Imagine a GUI without overlapping windows and movable icons! And the ruling only offers relief in other areas to those who have an existing agreement with Apple. (I seem to have misplaced mine. :-) So if you just plain old wish Apple ill, or Bill Gates well, you can take comfort from this ruling. Otherwise, it is either a minor or a Phyrrhic victory. -- Jeffrey Kegler, President, Algorists, jeffrey@algor2.UU.NET or uunet!algor2!jeffrey 1762 Wainwright DR, Reston VA 22090