Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Apple Inc. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Zen Dollar Round who wrote (11885)	4/20/1998 4:04:00 PM
From: IanBruce	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 213177

Apple sued the hell out of companies back in the 80's making Apple II clones (remember the black Apple?) I remember the others (Franklin, Orange, Acorn?), but I think the Black Apple II was actually a licensed product - produced and/or marketed by Bell & Howell of all people. Ian Bruce New York, NY

To: Zen Dollar Round who wrote (11885)	4/20/1998 5:16:00 PM
From: Bill Jackson	Respond to of 213177

Yes, I remember the "pineapple" from New Tech in Gardena. It was a bootleg clone with amateurishly fiddled ROMS, and they got pounced on. Technically you can write a BIOS that does the same things and if you can show it is not a copy you can be quite close to the original. In effect if you run it through a compiler and out comes code the same as Apple that does not infringe. Strange, but as long as you can show independent source code it is doable. Of course line after line of identical code....no. With todays modularity, large memories at low cost I suspect that a motivated company would be able to write a BIOS and sell Apple clones legally as long as he could get the OS. Of course Apple would not sell OS except retail, prove you have an Apple already basis. Bill