A self-professed knowledgeable source says Metaphor Computer Systems Inc and its Patriot Partners joint venture with IBM being given no leverage in the IBM Corp-Apple Computer Inc deal and that its technology won’t feature in Pink’s development. IBM had originally thought to develop both avenues at once. It was then keen on merging them, but largely due to money, decided to go with Pink alone. Apple is under orders from its chief to work with IBM or risk Apple’s pulling the plug on Pink altogether, again because of shortage of money. But that apparently doesn’t mean they have to have any truck with Patriot, whose staff is being given only limited access to plans. IBM, in turn, effectively solved its non-compete agreement with Metaphor by effectively buying back the contract when it bought the company for $110m. Metaphor-Patriot officials, under a gag order, would not submit to direct questioning. Neither did they deny the story outright, choosing instead to pass along a cautionary word that what we heard wasn’t complete, implying that their work out of the picture in the short term – would have an impact further on down the road. Later, they came back to say that on-going negotiations are changing things moment to moment and that new developments may have overtaken our talebearer. Another supposedly knowledgeable source, however, also believed that the Patriot impact would be longer term. That latter source also claimed there are a number of names in the hat and that Metaphor founder David Liddell is hardly a shoo-in to head the Big Mac joint venture.
