COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 51121

Software Publishers

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

60companies1853–1994founding years50still active10no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedVivendi Universal S.A.
1853
FoundedRand McNally & Company
1856
FoundedR.R. Donnelley & Sons Company
1890
FoundedNCR Corporation
1900
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedHoughton Mifflin Company
1908
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedScholastic Corporation
1920
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedEncyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
1943
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedH & R Block, Incorporated
1955
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedElectronic Data Systems Corporation
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedApple Computer, Inc.
1977
FoundedActivision, Inc.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
FoundedInformix Corporation
1980
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedSGIFoundedSun Microsystems, Inc.
1982
FoundedIntuit Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedIwerks Entertainment, Inc.
1986
FoundedPeopleSoft Inc.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
TechnologyLinux and open source challenge proprietary software.
FoundedTenFold Corporation
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Vivendi Universal S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1853 · France
Formerly known as the Générale des Eaux Group, Vivendi Universal S.A.
Vivendi Universal S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1853 · France
Formerly known as the Générale des Eaux Group, Vivendi Universal S.A.
Rand McNally & Company →
Active · founded 1856
Rand McNally & Company, a leading U.S.
Rand McNally & Company →
Active · founded 1856
Rand McNally & Company, a leading U.S.
Smith & Wesson Corporation →
Active · founded 1857
Smith & Wesson Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer of handguns.
Smith & Wesson Corporation →
Active · founded 1857
Smith & Wesson Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer of handguns.
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company →
Active · founded 1890
The largest commercial printing company in North America and a dominant player in the world communications arena, R.R.
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company →
Active · founded 1890
The largest commercial printing company in North America and a dominant player in the world communications arena, R.R.
Follett Corporation →
Active · founded 1894
1930s:Company expands into book publishing and wholesaling.
Follett Corporation →
Active · founded 1894
1930s:Company expands into book publishing and wholesaling.
NCR Corporation →
Active · founded 1900
When National Cash Register Company was formed during the last two decades of the 19th century, it had one…
NCR Corporation →
Active · founded 1900
When National Cash Register Company was formed during the last two decades of the 19th century, it had one…
Houghton Mifflin Company →
Active · founded 1908
1840s:Henry Oscar Houghton enters printing business.
Houghton Mifflin Company →
Active · founded 1908
1840s:Henry Oscar Houghton enters printing business.
International Business Machines Corporation →
Active · founded 1910
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is the largest computer maker in the world.
International Business Machines Corporation →
Active · founded 1910
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is the largest computer maker in the world.
Scholastic Corporation →
Active · founded 1920
The Scholastic Corporation is one of the leading publishers and distributors of books, magazines, and other educational…
Scholastic Corporation →
Active · founded 1920
The Scholastic Corporation is one of the leading publishers and distributors of books, magazines, and other educational…
Kodansha Ltd. →
Active · founded 1925 · Japan
Kodansha Ltd.
Kodansha Ltd. →
Active · founded 1925 · Japan
Kodansha Ltd.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. →
Active · founded 1943
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., has published one of the world's finest encyclopedias for more than two centuries.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. →
Active · founded 1943
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., has published one of the world's finest encyclopedias for more than two centuries.
H & R Block, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1955
The name of H & R Block, Incorporated has become synonymous with the business of preparing income tax returns, and…
H & R Block, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1955
The name of H & R Block, Incorporated has become synonymous with the business of preparing income tax returns, and…
A.B. Watley Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1958
A.B.
A.B. Watley Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1958
A.B.
Electronic Data Systems Corporation →
Active · founded 1962
Electronic Data Systems Corporation (EDS) is a recognized leader in the management of information technology.
Electronic Data Systems Corporation →
Active · founded 1962
Electronic Data Systems Corporation (EDS) is a recognized leader in the management of information technology.
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
A fast-growing company in an expanding market, Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
A fast-growing company in an expanding market, Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Apple Computer, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Apple Computer, Inc.
Apple Computer, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Apple Computer, Inc.
Activision, Inc. →
Active · founded 1979
Headquartered in Santa Monica, with five domestic and ten international offices, Activision, Inc.
Activision, Inc. →
Active · founded 1979
Headquartered in Santa Monica, with five domestic and ten international offices, Activision, Inc.
Sierra On-Line, Inc. →
Active · founded 1979
Sierra On-Line, Inc., a subsidiary of Vivendi Universal Publishing (formerly known as Havas Interactive), operates as…
Sierra On-Line, Inc. →
Active · founded 1979
Sierra On-Line, Inc., a subsidiary of Vivendi Universal Publishing (formerly known as Havas Interactive), operates as…
Informix Corporation →
Active · founded 1980
Informix Corporation is a leading developer of relational database software for computers using the UNIX operating…
Informix Corporation →
Active · founded 1980
Informix Corporation is a leading developer of relational database software for computers using the UNIX operating…
Broderbund Software →
Active · founded 1981
Broderbund Software, which became a division of Mattel, Inc.
Broderbund Software →
Active · founded 1981
Broderbund Software, which became a division of Mattel, Inc.
SGI →
Defunct · founded 1982
Known for 17 years as Silicon Graphics Inc., SGI is one of the leading manufacturers of graphics computer systems,…
SGI →
Defunct · founded 1982
Known for 17 years as Silicon Graphics Inc., SGI is one of the leading manufacturers of graphics computer systems,…
Sun Microsystems, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1982
Archrival of Microsoft Corporation, Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Sun Microsystems, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1982
Archrival of Microsoft Corporation, Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Adobe Systems Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Adobe Systems Inc.
Adobe Systems Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Adobe Systems Inc.
Intuit Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Intuit Inc.
Intuit Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Intuit Inc.
Corel Corporation →
Active · founded 1985 · Canada
Corel Corporation is one of the world's largest developers of business productivity, graphics, and operating systems…
Corel Corporation →
Active · founded 1985 · Canada
Corel Corporation is one of the world's largest developers of business productivity, graphics, and operating systems…
Iwerks Entertainment, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Iwerks Entertainment, Inc.
Iwerks Entertainment, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Iwerks Entertainment, Inc.
PeopleSoft Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1987
PeopleSoft Inc.
PeopleSoft Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1987
PeopleSoft Inc.
THQ, Inc. →
Active · founded 1990
THQ, Inc.
THQ, Inc. →
Active · founded 1990
THQ, Inc.
TenFold Corporation →
Active · founded 1993
TenFold Corporation is a major provider of vertical software applications for corporations in the insurance, health…
TenFold Corporation →
Active · founded 1993
TenFold Corporation is a major provider of vertical software applications for corporations in the insurance, health…
Netscape Communications Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1994
Netscape Communications Corporation, based in Mountain View, California, is one of the leading providers of open…
Netscape Communications Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1994
Netscape Communications Corporation, based in Mountain View, California, is one of the leading providers of open…
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