🚀 go-pugleaf

December 15, 1989
 
Apple Claims Xerox Suit Is Unfounded
 
Apple has examined the allegations of a suit filed yesterday by Xerox
Corporation challenging the validity of Apple's copyrights covering the Lisa
and Macintosh computers' graphical user interfaces.  Although the suit makes
claims for unlawful use of copyrighted Xerox software and charges Apple with
copyright "misrepresentation", Xerox makes no allegations of copyright
infringement.  Apple believes the claims are entirely without merit, and
intends to vigorously contest them in court.
     "The allegation that Apple's Lisa and Macintosh copyrights are not valid
is completely unfounded," said Edward Stead, vice president and general
counsel.  "For years, Apple has made significant investments in research and
development to create its unique graphical user interface.  We believe our
works are wholly original, and that the copyrights we now possess were
properly granted by the U.S. Copyright Office."
     In the Xerox complaint, it is alleged that the Lisa interface, introduced
in January 1983, and the Macintosh interface, introduced in January 1984,
unlawfully incorporate "material" developed by Xerox in the late 1970s and
early 1980s. Xerox seeks to invalidate Apple's copyright registrations on
the Lisa and Macintosh programs because it claims that they
"overlap" with the Xerox Star copyright registrations.
     The complaint does not, however, charge Apple with infringement of Xerox's
copyrights or other intellectual property rights.  Nor does the complaint
explain why Xerox is now raising these claims, almost seven years after the
Lisa was first introduced.
     "Xerox's claims seem to confuse audio-visual expression, which can be
granted copyright protection, with ideas that are unprotectable," said Stead.
"It also contains numerous inaccuracies about the Lisa and Macintosh
developments."
     Stead further said that the allegations raised in Xerox's complaint are
similar to defenses raised by Microsoft Corporation and Hewlett-Packard in
Apple's copyright infringement case, which also is pending in Federal Court
in San Francisco.  Apple intends to prove that those defenses are equally
unfounded and that its Lisa and Macintosh copyrighted works are original and
valid.
 
 
 
Apple, the Apple logo, Lisa and Macintosh are registered trademarks
of Apple Computer, Inc.
.