Computer glitch: how Ashton-Tate lost its leadership in PC software arena; acquisitions, new products have been disappointing, and critics blame CEO; rocky road for dBASE IV

Article Abstract:

At a press conference in Oct 1988, Edward Esber, Jr, chief executive at Ashton-Tate Corp, surprised everyone by not knowing how to use dBASE IV, the company's new data base management program. And Esber apparently did not know that the program was marred by problems. Later, Esber promised a new version of dBASE IV, but it has not yet appeared. This episode is seen as one of many mistakes that Esber has made. Ashton-Tate has mishandled three acquisitions and at least two product-development efforts. Poor personnel decisions have been made, including the appointment and subsequent departure of a chief operating officer and key engineer, that negatively affected the company. Esber's relations with Apple CEO John Sculley have gone sour, resulting in Apple business being directed elsewhere. Errors at Ashton-Tate have taken a toll. Many now view Ashton-Tate as an also-ran among software companies.

Marketing, Chief executive officers, Executive, Esber, Edward M., Jr., Borland dBASE IV (DBMS)

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Borland gains Ashton-Tate, loses dBase: Justice conditions merger to resolution of dispute on intellectual property

Article Abstract:

The US Department of Justice approves Borland International Inc's acquisition of the software publisher Ashton-Tate, but with the unusual requirement that Borland not acquire Ashton-Tate's main software product, the dBASE data base management system (DBMS). Borland already owns the second-most-used DBMS, Paradox, and with the acquisition of Ashton-Tate, Borland is expected to control about 70 percent of the DBMS market. The Justice Department's decision, that the basic components of dBASE, including the menu structure and command language, be placed in the public domain, is seen as an attempt to encourage competition and prevent a few companies from dominating the market. Borland is also required to settle an ongoing intellectual property dispute between Ashton-Tate and Fox Software as part of its acquisition of Ashton-Tate.

Legal counsel and prosecution, Mergers, acquisitions and divestments, United States. Department of Justice, Borland International Inc., Acquisition, Merger, Ownership, TATE, Borland dBASE (DBMS), BORL, Product Acquisition

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Ashton-Tate loses flagship software's copyright shield

Article Abstract:

Ashton-Tate loses a legal battle when a federal judge rules that the software publisher's flagship data base products are not entitled to copyright protection. The action is another blow to the software publisher, which has been trying to reverse losses and disappointing sales experienced in 1990. Competitors are now allowed to make clones of Ashton-Tate's dBase products. The ruling mentions that Ashton-Tate has misled the Copyright Office by repeatedly failing to acknowledge that dBase was derived from a program in the public domain. Ashton-Tate indicates that it plans to appeal and indicates that dBase was inspired by the public domain program in question.

Software, Copyright, Copyrights, Patents, Databases, Database, Patent/Copyright Issue, Legal Issues, Software packages

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