Overview

Xerox is an American multinational document-technology company whose name became closely associated with plain-paper photocopying. The business began in Rochester, New York, in 1906 as Haloid, a manufacturer of photographic paper and related equipment. Its decisive commercial breakthrough came from the development of xerography, the dry-copying process based on electrostatic imaging and toner. Haloid worked with physicist Chester Carlson to turn the process into a practical office machine, eventually launching the Xerox 914 in 1959. The 914 was widely regarded as the first commercially successful plain-paper copier and made copying faster, simpler, and more accessible than earlier photographic and mimeographic methods. The success of the 914 transformed the company. Haloid adopted the Xerox name in 1958 and became Xerox Corporation in 1961. During the 1960s and 1970s, Xerox expanded from copiers into duplicators, microfilm systems, fax equipment, computer printers, color copiers, and data-processing hardware. Models such as the Xerox 813 desktop copier, Xerox 2400 duplicator, Xerox 6500 color copier, and Xerox 9200 duplicating system broadened the company’s role in offices and commercial print environments. The company also became known for distinctive advertising, including the 1960s campaign demonstrating the 914’s ease of use and the 1975 Brother Dominic campaign for the Xerox 9200. Xerox’s research organizations had an influence well beyond copying. Xerox PARC developed or advanced technologies associated with personal computing, including graphical user-interface concepts, the desktop metaphor, the computer mouse, Ethernet-related work, and desktop publishing. Although some of these innovations were commercialized more successfully by other companies, they helped establish Xerox as an important research institution in the history of computing. The company’s dominance attracted regulatory scrutiny. In 1975, Xerox settled a United States Federal Trade Commission antitrust case through a consent decree that required broad licensing of its patent portfolio. The resulting access for competitors, particularly Japanese manufacturers, contributed to a major reduction in Xerox’s share of the United States copier market. Xerox also pursued diversification into telecommunications, insurance, financial services, publishing, computing, and outsourcing, with mixed results. Several of those activities were later sold or separated. In the 1990s, Xerox repositioned itself around digital document production and document services. The DocuTech production publisher, introduced in 1990, helped establish print-on-demand and digital production printing as major categories. Xerox increasingly combined hardware with software, maintenance, supplies, workflow tools, network connectivity, financing, and outsourced document operations. The company acquired Affiliated Computer Services for approximately $6.4 billion in 2010, significantly expanding its business-process and information-technology services operations. In 2016, those services were separated into Conduent, leaving Xerox more focused on document technology and document outsourcing. Today, Xerox sells office printers, multifunction printers, production printers, digital presses, scanners, print-management software, workflow tools, consumables, financing, and managed print and document services. Its current portfolio includes VersaLink and AltaLink office systems, ConnectKey-enabled devices, and production-printing platforms. Xerox remains a public company, trading under the symbol XRX, and has operated on Nasdaq since 2021 after decades on the New York Stock Exchange. Its brand continues to signify both enterprise document infrastructure and the broader cultural act of photocopying.

History

Xerox traces its origins to Haloid, founded in Rochester, New York, in 1906 to produce photographic paper and equipment. The company’s transformation began after Chester Carlson developed xerography, an electrostatic dry-copying method, in 1938. Joseph C. Wilson recognized the commercial potential of Carlson’s work and arranged for Haloid to develop it into an office product. The company adopted the term xerography and changed its name to Haloid Xerox in 1958, followed by the shorter Xerox name in 1961. Early products included the Flat-plate 1385, the Copyflo microfilm printer, and related systems that helped the company refine imaging, document feeding, and paper-handling technologies. The 1959 Xerox 914 was the pivotal product. As the first successful plain-paper copier, it allowed users to reproduce documents with a simple operating procedure and without the specialized photographic processes used by earlier machines. Its commercial success established Xerox as the leading name in office copying and made the brand name a common verb associated with photocopying. During the 1960s Xerox broadened its product range. The Xerox 813 brought plain-paper copying to the desktop, while the Xerox 2400 and later duplicators targeted higher-volume users. The company introduced early fax and remote-copying systems, computer printers, microfilm equipment, and color-copying technology. It also built research and computing capabilities. Xerox PARC became influential for work on graphical interfaces, mouse-based interaction, networking, personal computing, and document-centric software. The company’s research achievements were historically important even when the resulting commercial products did not dominate their categories. Xerox’s market power led to regulatory action in the United States. The 1975 FTC consent decree required extensive patent licensing. This lowered barriers for rivals and was followed by a substantial decline in Xerox’s domestic copier share. The company attempted diversification into computing, telecommunications, publishing, insurance, finance, and other businesses. Its purchase of Western Union International for a telecommunications initiative proved unsuccessful and was later reversed. Xerox also acquired Scientific Data Systems, Kurzweil Computer Products, and other technology businesses before divesting several non-core operations. In the 1980s, Xerox emphasized quality improvement and product-line renewal. The company introduced the Memorywriter electronic typewriter and expanded into scanning and digital imaging. In the 1990s, digital copiers and networked multifunction systems became central to its strategy. The DocuTech production publisher helped establish digital print-on-demand, while Xerox increasingly sold integrated document services rather than standalone machines. The company used the identity “The Document Company” during this period to emphasize the connection between paper documents and digital workflows. The early 2000s brought financial pressure and a major turnaround led by Anne Mulcahy. Xerox reduced debt, restored profitability, and continued investing in research and development. It acquired the Tektronix color-printing and imaging division, creating a foundation for the Phaser line and solid-ink products, and later acquired XMPie for personalized cross-media marketing software. The company moved its headquarters to Norwalk, Connecticut, in 2007. The 2010 acquisition of Affiliated Computer Services expanded Xerox into business-process and information-technology services. This diversification was later reversed when Xerox separated those operations into Conduent in 2016. The remaining Xerox business concentrated on printers, multifunction systems, production printing, software, document outsourcing, managed print, and associated services. Xerox became a subsidiary of Xerox Holdings Corporation in a corporate reorganization and moved its listing from the New York Stock Exchange to Nasdaq in 2021. Under subsequent leadership, the company has continued pursuing digital workflow, workplace automation, production print, and document-management services while maintaining its historic printing and imaging businesses.

2021
Nasdaq listing begins
[1]Xeroxen.wikipedia.org
Xerox changes its principal stock-market listing from the New York Stock Exchange to Nasdaq.
2016
Conduent separation
[1]Xeroxen.wikipedia.org
Xerox separates its business-process services operations into a new public company, Conduent.
2010
Affiliated Computer Services acquisition closes
[1]Xeroxen.wikipedia.org
Xerox completes its approximately $6.4 billion acquisition of ACS.
2000
Tektronix color-printing division is acquired
[1]Xeroxen.wikipedia.org
The acquisition strengthens Xerox’s color-printing portfolio and contributes to the Phaser product family.
1990
DocuTech production publishing begins
[1]Xeroxen.wikipedia.org
The DocuTech 135 helps establish digital production printing and print-on-demand.
1975
Antitrust consent decree
[1]Xeroxen.wikipedia.org
Xerox agrees to broad patent licensing in settlement of a United States antitrust case.
1973
Xerox introduces its first color copier
[1]Xeroxen.wikipedia.org
The Xerox 6500 expands the company’s core copier business into color reproduction.
1963
Xerox 813 desktop copier launches
[1]Xeroxen.wikipedia.org
The 813 brings plain-paper copying to a compact desktop format.
1961
The company becomes Xerox
[1]Xeroxen.wikipedia.org
Haloid Xerox adopts Xerox as its corporate name and lists its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange.
1959
Xerox 914 launches
[1]Xeroxen.wikipedia.org
The Xerox 914 establishes the modern plain-paper photocopier market.
1955
Copyflo enters the market
[1]Xeroxen.wikipedia.org
Xerox introduces an automated xerographic microfilm printer.
1938
Chester Carlson develops xerography
[1]Xeroxen.wikipedia.org
Carlson creates the electrostatic dry-copying process that later becomes the technical foundation of Xerox products.
1906
Haloid is founded
[1]Xeroxen.wikipedia.org
The Rochester-based company begins as a manufacturer of photographic paper and equipment.

Products and positioning

A technology and services provider for workplace printing, digital document workflows, production print, and managed document infrastructure.

Plain-paper photocopier · 1959
Xerox 914
Introduced in 1959, the Xerox 914 was the company’s defining product and one of the first commercially successful plain-paper photocopiers. Its automatic document handling, dry-toner process, and relatively straightforward operation made office copying faster and more practical. The machine established Xerox’s leadership in copying and became one of the most influential office products of the twentieth century.
Desktop copier · 1963
Xerox 813
The Xerox 813, introduced in 1963, miniaturized plain-paper xerographic copying for desktop use. It represented the company’s effort to move copying from centralized reproduction rooms into ordinary offices and helped extend the Xerox product architecture into smaller workplace environments.
Color copier · 1973
Xerox 6500
The Xerox 6500 was the company’s first color copier. Launched in 1973, it extended xerographic reproduction beyond monochrome documents and helped establish color copying as a commercial office and graphics-production category.
Digital production publishing · 1990
Xerox DocuTech
DocuTech production publishers combined digital imaging, document composition, and high-volume output. The family helped popularize print-on-demand workflows, allowing users to produce variable or short-run documents without relying entirely on traditional offset-print processes.
Office multifunction printer
Xerox AltaLink
AltaLink is a family of enterprise multifunction printers designed for larger workgroups and office environments. Depending on configuration, systems provide printing, copying, scanning, faxing, network connectivity, security controls, and integration with document-management workflows.
Office multifunction printer
Xerox VersaLink
VersaLink is a workplace printer and multifunction-platform family aimed at small and medium-sized workgroups. The range emphasizes networked printing, scanning, mobile access, security, and ConnectKey-enabled workflow applications.
Workflow and device platform
Xerox ConnectKey
ConnectKey is Xerox’s technology platform for connected multifunction devices. It links hardware with embedded applications, cloud and mobile connectivity, security functions, scanning workflows, and device-management capabilities, supporting Xerox’s shift from standalone copiers toward integrated document services.

Controversies

2020
Xerox sues Monument Peak Ventures over patent allegations
In April 2020, Xerox filed a lawsuit against Monument Peak Ventures, alleging that the company had falsely accused Xerox of patent infringement. According to the reported event, Xerox brought the suit on a Thursday, framing its claim around the assertion that Monument Peak Ventures' patent-use allegations against it were untrue. The dispute centers on accusations of patent infringement made against Xerox and Xerox's contention that those accusations were false. No further details regarding the specific patents involved, the relief sought, or the outcome of the litigation were provided in the source account.
Source
2020
Gallio IP Files Patent Lawsuit Against Xerox
Gallio IP LLC filed a patent lawsuit against Xerox Corporation, alleging that Xerox products implementing Secure Access infringed its patent. The suit was filed in the Western District of Texas. The complaint concerns a shared printing system described in the source as defunct. The filing identifies the plaintiff as Gallio IP LLC and the defendant as Xerox Corporation, and centers on Xerox products that implement Secure Access.
Source
1975
Federal Trade Commission antitrust settlement
Xerox resolved a United States antitrust case through a consent decree requiring broad licensing of its patent portfolio. The matter reflected concerns about the company’s dominance of the copier market and enabled competitors to obtain access to important xerographic technology.
Source

Marketing campaigns

1975Brother Dominic
United States
A Super Bowl commercial portrayed Brother Dominic, a monk, using a Xerox 9200 duplicating system to avoid manually copying a large collection of documents. The campaign made the machine’s productivity benefits accessible through humor and became associated with the brand for years.
Outcome. Became one of Xerox’s best-known advertising campaigns and continued in related forms into the 1980s.
Source
1959Xerox 914 simplicity advertising
United States
Advertising for the Xerox 914 emphasized that ordinary users could make copies with minimal training. A memorable execution used a monkey to dramatize the machine’s push-button simplicity and helped make Xerox synonymous with office copying.
Outcome. Strengthened mass-market awareness of the new plain-paper copier category.
Source

Brand decisions

2021
Move primary listing to NasdaqOther
Background
Xerox had traded on the New York Stock Exchange since 1961.
Action taken
The company began trading on Nasdaq.
Aftermath
Xerox continued as a public company under the XRX ticker.
Source
2016
Separate business-process services into ConduentStrategy
Background
Xerox reassessed the combination of document technology with the large services business acquired through ACS.
Action taken
The company separated its business-process services operations into Conduent, a separately traded company.
Aftermath
Xerox returned its strategic emphasis to document technology, printing, and document outsourcing.
Source
2010
Acquire Affiliated Computer ServicesM&A
Background
Xerox sought to expand beyond hardware into information technology, outsourcing, and business-process services.
Action taken
Xerox completed the acquisition of ACS for approximately $6.4 billion.
Aftermath
The transaction substantially expanded Xerox’s services operations, which were later separated into Conduent.
Transaction value. $6.4 billion (2010 acquisition)
Source
1990
Launch the DocuTech production-publishing platformProduct launch
Background
Digital imaging and networked document production were beginning to change the economics of commercial printing.
Action taken
Xerox introduced the DocuTech Production Publisher Model 135.
Aftermath
The platform helped establish Xerox in digital production printing and print-on-demand.
Source
1975
Accept broad patent licensing requirementsStrategy
Background
Xerox faced antitrust scrutiny while holding a dominant position in United States photocopying.
Action taken
The company entered a consent decree requiring licensing of its patent portfolio.
Aftermath
Competitors gained access to xerographic technology, and Xerox’s United States copier-market share later fell sharply.
Source

Recent events

2021
Xerox changes its primary stock-market listing to Nasdaq[1]Xeroxen.wikipedia.org
Other
After trading on the New York Stock Exchange for decades, Xerox began trading on Nasdaq.
2016
Xerox separates its business-services operations into Conduent[1]Xeroxen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Xerox completed the separation of its business-process services operations into Conduent and refocused the remaining company on document technology and document outsourcing.
2010
Xerox acquires Affiliated Computer Services[1]Xeroxen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Xerox completed its approximately $6.4 billion acquisition of ACS, expanding into information technology, business-process outsourcing, and enterprise services.