BBX EXTRA: Xerox Sues Apple Over Macintosh User Interface
 
Copyright (c) 1989, McGraw-Hill, Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO (Microbytes Daily News Service) --- Xerox Corp. has
filed a lawsuit against Apple Computer, claiming that Apple's
Macintosh illegally uses copyrighted Xerox software. The suit,
filed Thursday in federal court here, accuses Apple of copying
the Mac's window-and-icon-based user interface from Xerox, and of
improperly collecting royalties on the Xerox technology. The
Xerox suit asks for $150 million in damages from Apple and asks
the US Copyright Office to invalidate Apple's copyright
registrations on the Mac user interface.
 
Xerox created the first versions of its window-and-icon-based
user interface at its Palo Alto Research Center in the 1970s. The
interface, designed to simplify the use of desktop computers,
eventually became part of the Xerox Star computer in the early
'80s. Earlier this year, Xerox announced it would license its
technology to other companies; software maker Metaphor Computer
Systems and workstation heavyweight Sun Microsystems have signed
licenses with Xerox.
 
Xerox also approached Apple about licensing the Xerox technology,
but when Apple broke off discussions last week, Xerox filed its
lawsuit.
 
Apple denied that it had violated any Xerox copyrights. While
Apple has never officially acknowledged that parts of the
Macintosh user interface originated at Xerox, it's well known
that Apple's use of mice, windows, and icons stems from a
suggestion by Mac designer Jef Raskin in 1979 that his boss at
Apple, Steve Jobs, visit Xerox PARC. Jobs toured the Xerox
facility and was so impressed that he later hired several Xerox
engineers. A user interface similar to Xerox's later appeared
as part of the Apple Lisa in 1983 and the Macintosh in 1984.
 
However, Apple never signed any licenses for the Xerox
technology.
 
The Xerox suit is only the most recent round in a series of
lawsuits involving Apple's user interfaces. In 1987, Apple sued
Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard, claiming that Microsoft Windows
and H-P's NewWave infringed on Apple's Mac copyrights. Earlier
this year, a federal court threw out most of Apple's lawsuit,
saying the material was covered by a license between Apple and
Microsoft. Another lawsuit filed recently accuses Apple's
HyperCard software of violating the patent rights of QuickView
Systems, which sold similar-looking software before HyperCard
was introduced.
 
                              --- Frank Hayes
 
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