In 1981, IBM came up with the first PC. It went on to become the most popular sort after computer in the world.
Yet, why didn't they copyright it? Why did they leave it as it is and let everyone copy it? Now, everyone can produce a PC motherboard without breaking the copyright law and likewise the harddisk and the CD Rom.
I am sure if they had done it, IBM would make billions today, just like Microsoft.
2007-04-30 04:49:53 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Other - Hardware
To the best of my knowledge, IBM did invent the first PC. Those that came before were known as mirco-computers.
2007-04-30 05:02:45 · update #1
Last time I checked the stock reports IBM were making billions
.
2007-04-30 04:54:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
IBM did patent their machines. But its very easy to get around copyrights and patents. If you look at anything these days (TV, MP3 players etc) manufacturers are just copying each other and bringing out very simliar products without breaking any rules as they have found a way to circumnavigate the patents. Also IBM's strategy was all wrong in the 80s. They thought that big business servers was the way the market was going and did not bother to focus on the PC.
The only reason people couldn't copy microsoft is because they can hide source code much easier. Also, they had first user advantage - in the beginning, they gave microsoft packages away free with computers. Apple, being a far superior programme, refused to and lost out in the market.
2007-04-30 05:04:33 · answer #2 · answered by beanie 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Look up the History of the PC ...
My interpretation is that the IBM Board of Directors just authorised a "better terminal" for IBM's Mainframes. The team that put the PC together went well outside their brief by adding a couple of Floppy Drives and their Divisional Managers then used it to enter the 'personal' - as oppposed to Company (mainframe) or Department (mini) - computer market ...
In those days there were dozens of 'personal computers' aimed at the consumers and hobbiests and no-one expected the IBM 'PC', which was so expensive that only Comnpanies could afford to buy them, to 'win' .. and IBM never expected anyone else to be able to afford to build them ..
2007-04-30 04:55:53 · answer #3 · answered by Steve B 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
"Reverse engineering something to produce a 100% compatible competitor is incredibly important to the technology marketplace. For example, the only reason that the PC industry is as vibrant and successful as it is now is because Compaq reverse-engineered the IBM BIOS in 1982 to produce the IBM-compatible Compaq portable. Without reverse engineering, IBM would still be the only maker of PCs today."
2007-04-30 05:02:11 · answer #4 · answered by joatman71 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
your quest is all wrong
First it wouldnt be a copyright it would be a paitent
second a PC is a combination of a number of things IE cpu,memory,harddrive,floppy ect.
all ibm invented was an afordable home processor
also this question is like saying why didnt Ford copyright the car.
2007-04-30 11:03:40 · answer #5 · answered by rage.dave 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The main reason they didn't patent it was down to an attitude within IBM that it would not really sell.
The other silly decision they made was to only license DOS from Bill instead of buying it outright.
2007-04-30 04:58:53 · answer #6 · answered by Easy Peasy 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
pateints are only good for so long - and microsoft do's software any way - so the two don't compete at all. and there were more than one computer makers long befor ibm just go back to timex sinclar and others to see
2007-04-30 04:55:41 · answer #7 · answered by russ s 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Go and review your post, your info is all wrong. IBM did not invent the first PC, and it was not and never has been the most sought after brand, and it had nothing to do with copyright, but they did patent it, and license it.
This is a list of non IBM PC compatible business personal computers (PC), and Personal Workstation (PW) computers, that came on the market before the IBM-PC (August 1981).
* Apple III designed as a business system by Apple Inc.
* Astrocom 760 by Astrocom Corporation
* C4P and C8P systems made by Ohio Scientific
* Commodore Business Machines (CBM) a series of mostly compatible machines by Commodore International
* CompuColor 8001 by Intecolor
* Cromemco (S-100 compatible computers)
* DEC Professional (computer) *three models) from Digital Equipment Corporation
* The Digital Group (multiple platform microcomputers)
* DPS-1 by Intersystems
* Gimix (SS-50 SWTPC compatible computers)
* Helix (SS-50 (and later SS-64) SWTPC compatible computers)
* Midwest Scientific (SS-50 SWTPC compatible computers)
* Morrow Designs (S-100 compatible computers)
* NorthStar Horizon by North Star Computers
* HP-85A From Hewlett-Packard
* MSI computer systems from Midwest Scientific Instruments
* M20 from Olivetti
* Noval 760 by Noval/Gremlin
* Ohio Scientific (multiple platfomrs micro computers)
* QDP-100 and QDP-8100 systems from Quasar Computer Systems
* RCC REX by Realistic Controls Corporation
* S-100 bus systems, built from components made by various companies, mostly running CP/M
* SBC/9 by Percom
* SBS-8000 by Small Business systems
* Sol-20 by Processor Technology
* Sphere computer by Sphere inc.
* Smoke Signal Broadcasting (SS-50 SWTPC compatible computers)
* Superbrain by intertec Data Systems
* SWTPC (South West Technical Products Corporation) systems
* Tano Systems (SS-50 SWTPC compatible computers)
* TRS-80 model I and Model II by Tandy Corporation
* H-8 CP/M microcomputer by Heathkit
* Z-89 by Zenith/Heathkit
2007-04-30 04:55:24 · answer #8 · answered by Dynamasis 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
They did copyright it. We're outside the 25 years now and technology has moved on so a copyright lawsuit would be pretty tricky now.
2007-04-30 04:53:48 · answer #9 · answered by Del Piero 10 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Very true but it is hard to see if something is going to be popular.
2007-04-30 04:53:44 · answer #10 · answered by SkEgY 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋