UFT-L Archives

Archiver > UFT > 2000-04 > 0954793104


From: "Paul Burchfield" <>
Subject: Re: [UFT] Mattel Sorftware, The Learning Co
Date: Mon, 03 Apr 2000 13:18:24 -0700


Bill,

Here is a message that I just posted to the UFT message board on GenForum about this same topic:

Mattel/The Learning Company doesn't have anything to do with UFT. Genealogy.com, the company that owns UFT, is an independent software company created last year.

Here is a reposting of a brief history that I hope clears things up.

1980-COMMSOFT founded
1981-COMMSOFT introduces its first genealogy program, ROOTS89
1984-Banner Blue Software is founded
1989-Banner Blue introduces Family Tree Maker
1994-Palladium Interactive is founded
1995-Broderbund Software acquires Banner Blue Software (including Family Tree Maker)
1996-COMMSOFT partners with Palladium Interactive and releases Family Gatherings
1997-COMMSOFT sells genealogy software to Palladium Interactive which then releases Ultimate Family Tree
1997-Intuit sells its Parsons Technology unit (which includes Family Origins) to Broderbund Software, and the Banner Blue division of Broderbund Software is put in charge of Broderbund genealogy products
1998-The Learning Company acquires Broderbund Software
1998-The Learning Company acquires Palladium Interactive, and UFT becomes a part of the genealogy unit at Banner Blue
1999-Mattel acquires The Learning Company
1999-Mattel spins off its genealogy unit as a separate company named Genealogy.com

Now that we have been spun off, Mattel's problems are their own and have no bearing on Genealogy.com nor the programs, products, and Web sites that we own and create.

Sincerely,
Paul Burchfield, Genealogy.com Technical Support
Find Ultimate Family Tree knowledge base articles, hints, tips, message
boards and more at:
http://www.uftree.com/UFT/Nav/ufttech.html


>>> "Bill Allen" <> 04/03/00 12:25PM >>>
Wonder what this means for us, if anything


EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - Mattel (MAT) says it has hired investment banker Credit
Suisse First Boston to help sell its software business, whose losses spurred
the resignation of Chief Executive Jill Barad. Most of the software business
consists of Learning Co., which the world's largest toymaker bought last May
for $3.6 billion. Learning Co. makes programs such as Myst and Reader
Rabbit. The division had $205.5 million in pretax losses last year, hurt by
of aging software titles and slow sales. The Learning Co. acquisition was
part of Barad's attempt to expand the maker of Fisher-Price toys, Barbie
dolls and Hot Wheels cars into electronic toys and software. Mattel said it
will treat Learning Co. as a discontinued operation effective March 31.
Mattel doesn't plan to sell any of its main toy brands, it said.


Bill Allen

This thread: