In 1985, as Steve Jobs was departing from Apple, a deal was made between John Sculley and Microsoft that allowed the latter to license Apple's graphical user interface for Windows 1.0. In exchange, Microsoft agreed to make its popular Excel software exclusive to the Macintosh platform for a period of two years. This arrangement reflected a significant moment in the evolving relationship between the two companies.

However, by 1988, after Microsoft's release of Windows 2.0, Apple decided to take legal action against them for the licensing agreement. Sculley defended the collaboration, implying that it was a strategic move rather than a betrayal of Apple's innovations. This legal battle highlights the competitive tensions in the tech industry during that era, particularly concerning intellectual property and software development.