Sign in Subscribe
Software

Supreme Court Denies Apple's Petition in Microsoft Copyright Case

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Supreme Court of the United States has denied Apple Computer Inc.'s petition for a writ of certiorari in its seven-year copyright suit against Microsoft Corporation and Hewlett-Packard. This decision brings an end to the prolonged litigation, which has been in favor of Microsoft at both the trial and appellate court levels. The case began in 1988, when Apple filed a lawsuit against Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard alleging that Microsoft Windows version 2.03 and HP New Wave infringed copyrights in seven Apple software programs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Supreme Court denied Apple's petition for a writ of certiorari, effectively ending the seven-year copyright suit against Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard.
  • The trial court ruled in Microsoft's favor in June 1993, finding no infringement by Microsoft, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld this decision on September 19, 1994.
  • The case began in 1988, when Apple filed a lawsuit against Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard alleging that Microsoft Windows version 2.03 and HP New Wave infringed copyrights in seven Apple software programs.
  • The suit was amended in 1991 to include Microsoft Windows 3.0.
  • Throughout the litigation, the courts undertook an element-by-element review of both Microsoft's and Apple's products.
  • Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers, founded in 1975.

Statistics:

  • Seven years: the duration of the copyright suit between Apple and Microsoft.
  • 1988: the year Apple filed the initial lawsuit against Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard.
  • 1991: the year the suit was amended to include Microsoft Windows 3.0.
  • June 1993: the month the trial court ruled in Microsoft's favor, finding no infringement by Microsoft.
  • September 19, 1994: the month the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the trial court's analysis and rulings.
  • 1975: the year Microsoft was founded.

Sources:

  • PRNewswire
  • Microsoft Corporation
  • Apple Computer Inc.
  • Hewlett-Packard
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Read more