This comes from the "How to lose your job in one easy step" department: a Microsoft executive has gotten slapped for saying that Windows 7 has "borrowed" from Mac for some design elements.
A Computerworld story lays out the details. Microsoft has responded in a blog post, basically calling the employee an ignoramus. The blogger says that nothing of the sort happened.
I don't care either way, actually. Windows 7 is the best-looking operating system Microsoft's ever produced, and it's very functional. Whether or not it's Mac-inspired is irrelevant to me. On the other hand, it's a shocking comment to hear from a Microsoft manager.
Let’s be honest, Linux, Windows, Apple, Google, Oracle, etc all borrow from each other, even if it’s just at a subconscious level. These companies just don’t want to admit it publicly