January 10, 1994



I have been approached many times over the past two decades by individuals and corporations seeking to use my name and/or likeness for commercial purposes. I have always declined, no matter how lucrative the offer or how important the corporation. My endorsement is not for sale.



For this reason, I was profoundly distressed to see your lead front-page story "Trio of Power PC Macs spring toward March release date" proclaiming Apple's announcement of a new Mac bearing my name. That this was done without my authorization or knowledge is especially disturbing. Through my attorneys, I have repeatedly requested Apple to make a public clarification that I knew nothing of its intention to capitalize on my reputation in introducing this product, that I derived no benefit, financial or otherwise, from its doing so. Apple has refused. I would appreciate it if you so apprise your readership.



Carl Sagan

Director, Laboratory for Planetary Studies

Center for Radiophysics and Space Research

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY

Late-1993, renowned astronomer Carl Sagan learnt that Apple's forthcoming computer, the Power Macintosh 7100 , had been given a codename of "Carl Sagan" — the joke being that they would sell " billions and billions ." This was mentioned in a MacWEEK article some time later, to which Sagan sent the following letter in response.Apple soon changed the codename to "BHA." Upon learning that it stood for "Butt-Head Astronomer," Sagan filed a lawsuit for defamation of character, and lost. He then sued Apple again, for the original codename, and lost again. So he appealed. Late-1995, the two parties settled out of court, and Apple apologised for any unintended distress caused by the situation.The 7100's final codename was "LAW." It stood for "Lawyers Are Wimps."