Apple Computer, Inc. v. Microsoft Corporation Patent Infringement

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Apple Computer, Inc. v. Microsoft Corporation
Patent Infringement

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Introduction

• The case was presented in the United States Court
  in 1994.
• Apple Computer Inc. sought to deter
  Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft from using GUI
  (visual graphical user interface).
• The elements were similar to those of its
  Macintosh operating systems and Lisa.
• Apple was to license some parts of the GUI to
  Microsoft .
• This was so that it can use them in Windows 1.0.

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• Microsoft however made some changes in the
  Windows 2.0.
• They included overlapping features that were
  found in Macintosh graphical user interface.
• This prompted Apple to file a suit.
• When Microsoft released its Windows 3.0, Apple
  added claims to the lawsuit.

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Apples Claims

• Macintosh operation system looked protected by
  the copyright laws.
• Interface elements were not as important as all
  the elements put together. They included
• windows in the screen
• resize feature of the windows
• rectangular windows appearance
• title bars
• overlap

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• Oral arguments ensued in the court .
• It was to insist on analysis of different
  graphical user element of the Apple.
• This it claimed it claimed had been infringed.
• In its list, Apple claimed that 189 elements had
  been infringed.
• Out of these, court decided that only 179 were
  licensed to the Microsoft Windows 1.0.
• The court noted that the other 10 elements could
  not be copyrighted .
• The elements were not original.

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Ruling

• The court observed that Apple could not be
  granted patent-like protection.
• This was for graphical user interface idea or
  desktop metaphor idea under the copyright law.
• Apple was also sued by Xerox.
• This was because Apples Macs graphical user
  interface was heavily based on that of Xerox.
• Claims by Xerox were dismissed by the district
  court.
• This was without address if the Apple graphical
  user interface infringed that of Xerox.

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Apple Computer, Inc. v. Microsoft Corporation
Ruling

• Apple lost all the claims.
• This was except the ruling that folder icons and
  trash-can icon from the NewWave Windows app of
  Hewlett-Packard were infringing.
• The case continued for four years with a decision
  being affirmed in 1994.
• Apple was denied an appeal in the U.S Supreme
  Court.

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