This assignment takes the form of a case study. The decision of four companies in the late 20th Century to license or not license their technology has impacted the lives of many Americans.
In the early 1970's Sony Corporation introduced the first video tape system designed for home use, the Betamax®. The Betamax® was generally considered a superior format in terms of picture quality to the VHS® format, which was subsequently introduced by JVC (Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.) in 1976.
At roughly the same time, Apple® Computer developed the first mass produced "home computer." Subsequently, Bill Gates and Paul Allen formed Microsoft® and marketed the "DOS" operating system. DOS was considered by most knowledgeable people to be inferior to Apple® technology. (Even today, many consider Macintosh® technology to be superior to that of Windows®.)
Obviously today, Windows® and DVDs dominate their fields while the Macintosh® and the Betamax® lost what should have been significant market shares.
Research the history of these four products and ascertain how licensing may have impacted consumer acceptance. Your analysis should generally be between 750 to 1,000 words.