History of Commodore Computer Ownership: Difference between revisions
Created page with "{{Short description|Corporate and intellectual property history of the Commodore computer brand}} '''Commodore''' was once one of the most influential companies in personal computing history, with iconic products such as the Commodore 64, Commodore PET, and Amiga series. Since the company's bankruptcy in 1994, its intellectual property (IP)—including trademarks, ROMs, patents, and software copyrights—has passed through multiple owners across different ju..." |
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Cloanto continues to license legal ROM images via its software packages: [https://www.c64forever.com/ C64 Forever] and [https://www.amigaforever.com/ Amiga Forever]. | Cloanto continues to license legal ROM images via its software packages: [https://www.c64forever.com/ C64 Forever] and [https://www.amigaforever.com/ Amiga Forever]. | ||
== Retro Revival and Perifractic Collaboration ( | == Retro Revival and Perifractic Collaboration (2025–Present) == | ||
=== Perifractic Collaboration === | === Perifractic Collaboration === | ||
In | In 225, retro computing creator [[Christian Simpson]] (known as '''[[Perifractic]]''') reluanched the Commodore brand. | ||
== Trademark and IP Status (2025) == | == Trademark and IP Status (2025) == | ||
Latest revision as of 18:09, 14 August 2025
Commodore was once one of the most influential companies in personal computing history, with iconic products such as the Commodore 64, Commodore PET, and Amiga series. Since the company's bankruptcy in 1994, its intellectual property (IP)—including trademarks, ROMs, patents, and software copyrights—has passed through multiple owners across different jurisdictions. The complex web of Commodore and Amiga IP rights spans decades and continues to evolve through corporate acquisitions, legal disputes, and licensing agreements.
Origins (1954–1994)
Commodore Business Machines (CBM)
Commodore was founded in 1954 as the Commodore Portable Typewriter Company in Toronto, Canada, by Jack Tramiel. It transitioned into calculators in the 1970s, then entered personal computing after acquiring MOS Technology in 1976. This acquisition provided Commodore with engineers and chip designs that would power early products such as the Commodore PET, VIC-20, and the Commodore 64.
Under the corporate name Commodore International Ltd.—incorporated in the Bahamas and headquartered in West Chester, Pennsylvania—Commodore held extensive hardware patents, copyrights, and trademarks related to its home computers.
By the late 1980s, Commodore owned:
- Trademarks: "Commodore", "CBM", "C=" logo, and "Amiga"
- Software: Commodore BASIC, KERNAL, and parts of AmigaOS
- Patents: Audio and graphics chips like the SID and VIC-II
- Hardware schematics, ROMs, and bootloaders for C64, C128, PET, and Amiga systems
Bankruptcy and Asset Dispersal (1994–1997)
In April 1994, Commodore International filed for bankruptcy. Its assets were broken up and sold to different companies over the following years.
Escom AG (1995–1996)
German PC manufacturer Escom AG acquired Commodore’s brand and assets in 1995 for $14 million. They established Commodore BV and Amiga Technologies GmbH to manage the respective brands. Escom also attempted to relaunch the Amiga platform, but went bankrupt in 1996.
Tulip, Gateway, and Amiga Inc. (1997–2004)
Tulip Computers
Dutch firm Tulip Computers acquired the Commodore trademark from Escom's liquidators in 1997. While Tulip didn’t manufacture Commodore computers, it licensed the brand for nostalgia products. In 2004, Tulip sold the Commodore brand to Yeahronimo Media Ventures, which rebranded as Commodore International Corporation (CIC).
Gateway and Amiga Inc.
Gateway 2000 purchased the Amiga IP from Escom in 1997. This included:
- The Amiga trademark
- Source code and distribution rights for AmigaOS
- Workbench GUI components
Gateway later handed off Amiga assets to various shell companies and individuals. Amiga Inc. (Washington State), led by Bill McEwen, and Hyperion Entertainment (Belgium) became key stakeholders in later disputes over AmigaOS development and licensing.
Commodore Licensing Maze (2004–2020)
Commodore International Corporation (CIC)
CIC (formerly Yeahronimo) attempted to relaunch the brand with Commodore-branded MP3 players and Windows-based media PCs. The efforts had limited success and ended in dissolution by the late 2000s.
Commodore USA (2010–2012)
Founded by Barry Altman, Commodore USA licensed the Commodore name (through third parties) and sold PCs like the C64x, a modern PC inside a Commodore 64-style case. Despite enthusiasm from fans, trademark legitimacy was questioned, and the company folded after Altman's death in 2012.
Cloanto Corporation
Cloanto, originally an Italian Amiga software house, became a central IP holder by acquiring licensing rights to:
- Commodore ROMs (C64, C128, VIC-20, PET)
- Commodore BASIC and KERNAL copyrights
- Distribution rights to AmigaOS via Amiga Forever
Cloanto continues to license legal ROM images via its software packages: C64 Forever and Amiga Forever.
Retro Revival and Perifractic Collaboration (2025–Present)
Perifractic Collaboration
In 225, retro computing creator Christian Simpson (known as Perifractic) reluanched the Commodore brand.
Trademark and IP Status (2025)
As of 2025, Commodore and Amiga IP is fragmented:
| Asset | Current Status |
|---|---|
| "Commodore" trademark | Held by various parties depending on jurisdiction (e.g., Tulip, CIC) |
| Commodore 64 ROMs | Licensed by Cloanto |
| Commodore BASIC & KERNAL | Copyrighted, distributed by Cloanto |
| SID/VIC-II patents | Expired |
| Amiga trademark | Disputed; used by Amiga Inc. and licensed by Hyperion |
| AmigaOS 3.x | Rights held by Amiga Inc., licensed to Hyperion |
| AmigaOS 4.x | Developed by Hyperion; legal status disputed |
| Commodore logo ("C=") | Trademark ownership varies; used under license |
See also
References
- "The Commodore Story (documentary)". YouTube. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
- "Who owns Commodore now? A messy tale". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
- "Commodore Trademark Timeline". Lemon64. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
- "C64 Forever". Retrieved 2025-08-14.
- "Amiga Forever". Retrieved 2025-08-14.
- "MEGA65 Official Site". Retrieved 2025-08-14.
- "Commander X16 Project". Retrieved 2025-08-14.