Re: A.P.P.L.E and others

[mark@trillian.jsc.nasa.gov (Mark Manning)]

Well, from what I know of all of this...

1. A.P.P.L.E. is not around any more.  I believe that they simply went
   out of business.  However, several years ago Apple let it be known
   that they would sue anyone who used the Apple name (such as A.P.P.L.E.).
   The reason for this has to do with Trademarks and registry thereof.
   Although I never heard of anyone being taken to court over this, it
   is something which has occurred before.  The issue I'm kind of skirting
   here is the fact that IF your trademark becomes the "standard" by
   which people call an item, then you can loose your trademark.  An
   example is "Coke".  There was a time, recently, when the word "Coke"
   was used to represent a certain type of soft drink.  This endangered
   The Coca-cola company's trademarks on their soft drink and they had
   to enforce a "Don't tell your customers it's Coke if it isn't" policy.
   Thus, now when you order a "Coke" and a restaurant doesn't sell "Coke"
   they have to tell you that.  The same is true with IAC, Apple Core,
   and any other item which had the "Apple" name in it and pertained
   to computers.  It is also probably why Apple is thinking of moving the
   term "Applesoft" over to another piece of software.  They either have
   to use it - or loose it.

2. Unknown.  I believe APDA what separate from A.P.P.L.E. from the start
   and that Apple Computer simply bought the company.  Sort of like how
   Apple started up Claris and now Claris is a part of Apple again.

3. Unknown.  I don't live in Washington.

4. Sic.  Above.

5. The answers to this one are quite a bit longer.  Here they are:
   A. In 1977 micro computers were in their infancy.  They therefore
      were something new and unique.  Now though, they are like "A
      chicken in every pot".  If you don't have a chicken in every pot
      it is a unique experience to have one there.  But if you have one
      there every day - there is no wonder to it.  So, since micro
      computers are a commodity now (instead of an extravagance (sp?)),
      they are not so glitzy anymore.
   B. In 1977 the cost of living was not as high and, coupled with the
      sense of adventure which was linked with the first micros, many
      new businesses appeared which were not there before.  The existing
      laws we have now were also not in existence.  Thus, fifty versions
      of Pacman could be created and sold.  Defender, Repton, LazerWars,
      Tunnels of Torin, Helicopter Mania, and many others all based on
      the same kind of game could be created.  Then companies got stupid.
      They found out that they could make as much money by bringing law
      suits against other companies as they could by spending money on
      developing new games or software.  Then other people, who had never
      done a bit of programming in their lives, figured out that with the
      new laws they could patent and copyright ideas which they never had
      had.  These companies found that they could gorge themselves on the
      carcasses of the other companies who had invented the very things
      they had patented.  And so now, in order to create a new game or
      piece of software, you have to pay royalties of unheard of magnitude
      just so you can have a flashing cursor on your screen.
      And yes, it is idiotic that we have allowed this to happen.  And yes,
      it is stupidity on a scale never heard of before.  But that's what
      happens when we allow large corporations and the government to get
      out of hand.
      Finally though, the government saw that computer literate people had
      to be involved with the patent and copyrighting processes in order
      to properly work these issues.  They have hired one or more (unknown
      how many) people to work in these offices.  But it still remains to
      be seen whether or not they will repeal certain patents and
copyrights
      in order to allow things to move forwards quickly again.

      This is why it takes a million users anymore here in the US.  If you
      wonder if you should do something about this - you should.  Write
your
      Senator and Congressman.  One voice crying out in the wilderness is
      more than there was before.  And if everyone were to do it - things
      would change.

Later.
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I sat upon the sands of time.  Watching the world.  And through my fingers
it all ran.  Like life.  Forever slipping away. - Mark Manning

mark@trillian.jsc.nasa.gov