CompuServe Messages

More info from later articles: Xerox is not suing for copyright infringement, but for copyright misrepresentation. They claim that Apple has been using portions of the Star graphic interface without a license, and that Apple has "unjustly received royalties, license fees, and other benefits in excess of $100 million that properly belong to Xerox". They charge unfair competition, unfair business practices, and that Apple "intentionally and purposefully concealed" that its Lisa and Macintosh software was derived from Xerox software. They want Apple's copyrights for Lisa and Macintosh software revoked. Xerox copyrighted the Star software in 1981. Apple copyrighted Lisa and Mac 2-3 years later. Asked why the delay filing a suit, Xerox said "There are a number of reasons including recent clarifications and changes in the copyright laws. And there have been changes in our licenses. We are aggressively offering licenses for the look and feel of our interface." "More and more companies are adopting our interface. We object to Apple's assertions that it is the owner". Xerox tried to talk with Apple officers in order to settle this dispute out of court but broke off the talks when no progress was apparent. Apple says the suit is without merit: "The Xerox complaint seems to confuse ideas rather than expression. Copyrights protect expressions, not ideas".