TOPIC: A little computer age history... Sixteen years ago in October...
IBM contracted with Bill Gates of the fledgling Microsoft Corporation to write a new personal computer disk operating system. MS-DOS, as it was known, was based on 86-DOS, written by Seattle Computer Products. Microsoft then purchased the rights to 86-DOS for a mere $50,000, while keeping the IBM deal a secret from Seattle Computer Products.
IBM allowed Microsoft to retain the rights to market MS-DOS separate from the IBM PC project. Microsoft proceeded to make a fortune from the licensing of MS-DOS. That money later funded the development of the Windows operating system.