1980's software company. Developers of
dBase, one of the first
applications that helped make the use of
personal computers widespread.
Its founder left to start up
Fox Software, makers of
FoxPro.
Ashton-tate lost a
copyright infringement suit it had brought against Fox Software in
1991.
Borland International purchased Ashton-Tate in late 1991.
This was almost immediately followed by
Microsoft's purchase of Fox Software. Borland's
stock lost half its value in one day.