It is probably best remembered by the name it had as it began its spin-off from AT&T: UNIX System Laboratories (USL)." However Negus believes that in three crucial respects USL's actions – in continuing to release a source code product to its partners, in working to define industry standards such as POSIX, and in making decisions on the direction of Unix based on technical merit not corporate advantage – paved the way for the rise of a Unix-like entity such as the Linux operating system, and that this beneficial historical role has been obscured by the SCO–Linux controversies. See also History of Unix References External links History and Timeline from The Open Group 1989 establishments in New Jersey 1993 disestablishments in New Jersey 1993 mergers and acquisitions AT&T subsidiaries Bell Labs Defunct companies based in New Jersey Defunct software companies of the United States Novell Software companies established in 1989 Software companies disestablished in 1993 Summit, New Jersey Unix history