Martin A. Goetz

Abstract: Martin A. Goetz, In this interview, Marty Goetz, a founder of ADR (Applied Data Research) discusses the suit ADR brought against IBM in 1969 because of the unfair competitive environment created because IBM bundled software with their hardware. He describes the difficulty of convincing customers to pay for software as long as they believed that IBM would provide it to them at no cost and how the risk of ending up in a competitive situation with IBM made it difficult to decide to invest in the development of new software products. He discusses the difference between competing with IBM on applications products, where they were not strong, and competing with them on systems software and utilities. He describes ADR’s financial ups and downs resulting from the competitive environment and the recession in 1970-71 and their success in the 1970s and 1980s resulting from the expansion of their product line.

Oral History of Martin Goetz

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