Originally Posted by Dien Rice

Microsoft "stole" the basis for their first operating system, "MS-DOS" - from other software called "CP/M", which was created by Digital Research. However, I've never heard of Microsoft crediting Digital Research for the concept!

And of course, Microsoft's "Windows" operating system copied Apple's "Macintosh", which in turn got its ideas from Xerox's research unit... (At least Apple gave Xerox a whole bunch of shares in return for taking their ideas - ideas which Xerox weren't using commercially anyway. However, I believe Microsoft gave Apple nada.)

- Dien