Central Point Software

Central Point Software (CPS) was a prominent developer of PC utilities software for MS-DOS and Windows, also known for creating Apple II copy programs. Founded in 1980 by Michael Burmeister-Brown in Central Point, Oregon, the company initially gained fame with its Copy II Plus series, enabling duplication of copy-protected disks. The first version, Copy II Plus v1.0 for the Apple II, was released in June 1981, followed by Copy II PC for IBM PCs in 1983. CPS also produced hardware add-ons like the Copy II PC Deluxe Board and Option Board with TransCopy software.

In 1985, CPS launched PC Tools, an integrated DOS shell and utilities package that became a flagship product, competing with Norton Utilities. The company expanded into Macintosh systems with MacTools and later released PC Tools for Windows in 1993. However, their delayed entry into the Windows market contributed to their acquisition by Symantec in 1994 for $60 million.

CPS's portfolio included various utilities such as Central Point Anti-Virus, licensed from Carmel Software, which was also used by Microsoft. The company's products spanned multiple platforms and functionalities, including backup tools, file managers, and anti-virus software, solidifying their position in the software market before Symantec acquired them.