The development of the Macintosh in the early 1980s marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of personal computing. Following the launch of the Mac 128K, a correspondence unfolded between Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, and John Sculley, then-CEO of Apple. Gates proposed that Apple consider licensing the Macintosh operating system to third-party manufacturers, a move he believed could solidify it as the standard interface for personal computers. Sculley showed a cautious interest in the suggestion. However, on June 25, 1985, Jean-Louis Gassée, who had taken over the Macintosh division after Steve Jobs’ departure, dismissed the idea outright.
Seizing what he perceived as a lucrative opportunity, Gates shifted his focus to creating a mass-market operating system, leading to the debut of Windows on November 15, 1985.
Windows debut stirs anger at Apple
The introduction of Windows elicited a furious response from Sculley, despite the fact that version 1.0 fell short in comparison to Mac OS. While Windows featured onscreen windows, they lacked the ability to overlap, a fundamental aspect of the Macintosh interface. Nevertheless, the resemblance between the two systems was notable; Microsoft included built-in applications such as Write and Paint, echoing Apple’s MacWrite and MacPaint. Given that Microsoft accounted for two-thirds of Mac software sales at the time, maintaining their partnership was crucial for both companies, especially as Mac sales struggled and Windows’ initial offering posed little threat compared to other Apple imitations.
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A disastrous agreement between Microsoft and Apple
It is important to note that Windows was not merely a copy of Mac OS. Microsoft had begun its development before Gates had even encountered the Macintosh. Both operating systems drew inspiration from Xerox PARC, which pioneered many concepts of the graphical user interface. This led to a significant agreement between the two tech giants. On November 21, 1985, Sculley and Gates formalized a deal that licensed the Macintosh’s visual displays to Microsoft. In return, Gates committed to continuing software development for the Mac and granted Apple a two-year exclusivity on Excel, one of Microsoft’s flagship products. However, the agreement controversially provided Microsoft with a “non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, nontransferable license” to utilize aspects of Mac technology in its software, including future developments.
Windows 2.0: Apple sues Microsoft
As the years progressed, Windows 2.0 emerged, showcasing a user interface that bore a closer resemblance to the Macintosh than its predecessor. This prompted Apple to take legal action, leading to a lawsuit filed on March 17, 1988, accusing Microsoft of appropriating its innovations. Unfortunately for Apple, the legal proceedings did not favor them. Judge William Schwarzer ruled that the existing license between Apple and Microsoft encompassed certain interface elements used in the new Windows version, while those not covered were deemed non-copyrightable. This ruling marked the beginning of a decade characterized by Microsoft’s ascendancy and Apple’s struggle for survival in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
