The Apple-Microsoft Companies Relationship

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Microsoft and Apple are among the household names in the world of Information Technology (IT). These companies have enjoyed a healthy relationship initially, and as such shared technological ideas of mutual benefit. However, in the late 1980s their relations strained, culminating into a legal battle.

Importantly, it is hard to mention Apple without recognizing its influential CEO and the co-founder- Steve Jobs. He is basically behind the success story that is Apple.¹ It is against this background that the thesis of this essay is framed. As such, this essay focuses on the Apple-Microsoft controversy and analyzes the personal traits of Steve Jobs that led to Apples success story.

The controversy between Apple and Microsoft that culminated into a legal battle did single-handedly strain Apple-Microsoft relations, lasting for almost a decade before the former, as an afterthought, financed Apple with $ 100 million in 1997. The legal battle between the two was related to copyright infringement. In a lawsuit, Apple had accused Microsoft of violating the copyright licensing agreement by adopting similar visual GUI elements and operating systems (OS) in its units.²

Some critics read malice of Apples actions, believing that their battle was out to gag its competitors by trying to acquire the entire intellectual property rights over the desktop metaphor for computer interfaces, and perhaps all GUIs, on personal computers.³ In the long run, and after four years of legal battle, Apple lost most of its claims.

The only features that were found to be infringing on the copyright were the folder and trash can icons which were adopted in HP computers. Filed in 1988, the case lasted for almost half a decade, and subsequently followed by an appeal attempt which was denied by the Supreme Court.⁴

Apple and Windows were initially in a good relation and at some point they shared ideas of mutual benefit. As such, it was not surprising that Apple approved Microsoft to specifically incorporate some of its GIU elements in its software- Windows 1.0. However, with the development of an improved version- Windows 2.0, Microsoft purportedly adopted some extra features from its partner e.g. the ability overlap window.⁵

This is what prompted Apple to take the battle to Court and subsequently annexed extra claims after the development of a third generation- Windows 3.0. In its details of the copyright document, Apple was interested in protecting the Macintosh OS holistically by exploring the look and feel idea, believing that this would cater for each entity of the interface.

Such elements like the existence of windows on the screen, the fact that they are rectangular, the fact that they are resizable, and the fact that they have title bars were believed to have been catered for in the license.⁶ Following a standout at the Court, the judge ordered that Apple presents all the GUI elements that were purported to have been copyrighted.

As a result, Apple compiled a list of 189 GUI elements believed to have been breached by Microsoft. However, the jury ruled in favor of Microsoft after highlighting that 179 of the purported elements were genuinely obtained by Microsoft as per their initial agreement. Moreover, the other elements were declared non-copyrightable since they were either counterfeited by Apple or had no alternative ways of expressing them.⁷

The software fraternity developed a keen interest on the case and as such they elicited mixed reactions with some casting Apple as a villain, trying to use the courts to negotiate its dwindling market. Others thought that Microsofts behavior was unethical, accusing it of flouting their initial agreement and taking advantage of a loophole in the look and feel agreement. The court on the other hand played into the hands of Microsoft by shallowly exploring the look and feel idea.

Some legal minds thought that the suit would have swung in Apples favor had it been filed as a patent issue. Nevertheless, Apple had not patented its software as a new invention vital in comprehensively protecting its look and feel idea. As such, Apple has continued to explore some other elements from Macs OS.⁸ To this end, it has adopted the Quichtime player and Media Player among other features. Importantly, by doing this, Microsoft is not breaching any intellectual property law.⁹

Steve Jobs represents an iconic figure in the world of Information Technology. His contributions in this sphere are simply unprecedented. From Apple II, incorporating a mouse and a keyboard, the Macintosh, fitted with a graphical user interface (GUI), to the current version of multifaceted gadgets e.g. iPhones; Jobs innovations have truly metamorphosed the IT world. Importantly, he is the co-founder and the CEO of Apple Computers.

Behind these extraordinary successes we see a man portraying unique personal traits that are perhaps the reason that he is successful. Against this backdrop, we are tempted to ask ourselves what are these personal traits that make him remarkably successful?

At the heart of his successes Steve Jobs exhibits an intelligent sense to design. He boasts abilities to redesigning seemingly complicated mechanisms into something simple, leaving its users perplexed and completely satisfied. He partially owes these abilities to his step-dad- an automobile assembler, who natured him to embracing good designs. His exposure to the world of electronics at a tender age with Hewlett-Packard (HP) being his mother company functioned to sharpen his skills.¹⁰

As he developed further into the industry, his traits were further exposed, portraying what is referred to as High Conflict People (HCP) traits.¹¹ These people are difficult to deal with in any form of relationship. They basically attack and blame their surrounding environment (people). To this, they could combine a lot of all-or-nothing thinking, unmanaged emotions and extreme behavior.¹² This is a perfect recipe for failure.

Surprisingly, Steve harbors all these combinations; however, he has succeeded against all odds. Vitally, he positively uses this trait to push his managers beyond the limits to achieve better results. Also, he exhibits other characters which mask the negative effects of HCP.

One interesting character that led to his success is that he is always focused, and as such he reduced Apples broad line of products to four amazing products that consequently developed into the iMac, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad.¹³ Another important personal trait is that he harbors an incredible instinct for collaboration. As from a tender age, Jobs was brought up in a collaborative environment at his home in Silicon Valley and later on at a communal apple orchard.¹⁴

He embraced a cordial relationship with HP, a company that offered him a platform for him to express his ideas. He benefited from his willingness to learn from others and while his peers chose to specialize he maintained his calm and collaborated.¹⁵ He uses this ability to bring competent personalities on board to help improve the company.

In a conclusion, the Apple-Microsoft battle ruined the relationship between the two companies. The much affected company was Apple who lost the legal battle and considerable market. Had it patented its software, Apples story would have been different. Even so, Apple enjoys a celebrated personality in Steve Jobs whose personal traits that include a sense to focus and an incredible instinct to collaborate has led to its success.

Bibliography

Andrews, P. Apple-Microsoft Lawsuit. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2011.

Bill, E. Lessons from Steve Jobs Biography: HCP or Collaborative Leader? LCSW 5, no. 7 (2011): 89. Web.

Booth, Cathy, and Jackson David. STEVES JOB: RESTART APPLE. New York: Pantheon Books, 2012.

Elkind, Peter. The trouble with Steve Jobs. London: Sage Publications, 2008.

Evans, Jonny. EMI, Apple Corps deal good news for iTunes? MacWorld. April 12, 2007.

Fisher, Lawrence. Xerox lawsuit against Apple Computer Over Macintosh Copyright. New York: New York Publishers, 1989.

Hertzfeld, Andy. The Original Macintosh. London: Sage Publications, 2012.

Kreps, Daniel. McCartney Says Beatles Going Digital in 08, New Alice in Chains Album, Queens of the Stone Age Booted From Rehab Clinic. Rolling Stone. November 14, 2007.

Linzmayer, Owen, and Chaffin Bryan, This Week in Apple History. New York: Vintage Books, 2004.

Lohr, Steve. Creating Jobs. New York: New York Press, 2012.

McCracken, Harry. Steve Jobs: Mourning Technologys Great Reinventor. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2011.

Pollack, Andrew. Most of Xeroxs Suit Against Apple Barred. The New York Times. 2008. Web.

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The Apple-Microsoft Companies Relationship

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