Hackaday

The IBM PC clone wars of the 1980s fundamentally shaped modern computing. When IBM released the PC in 1981 using off-the-shelf parts and an open bus architecture, companies like Compaq, Columbia Data Products, and Eagle Computer rushed to create compatible machines. The key challenge was legally replicating the BIOS without copyright infringement. Phoenix Technologies solved this with a clean-room implementation, licensing it to manufacturers for $290,000 plus legal indemnification. IBM's legal battles failed, and their 1987 attempt to regain control with the incompatible, expensive PS/2 flopped. Clone makers often offered better features at lower prices, eventually becoming the dominant force while IBM faded from the PC market.

Clone Wars: IBM Edition