# Source: WordPerfect and Novell Historical Sources

**Type:** source
**Status:** Draft
**Confidence:** Medium
**Source Type:** Mixed Secondary Sources and Official Product Site
**URL:** https://www.wordperfect.com/en/
**Publisher:** Alludo/Corel, Wikipedia contributors, and business press sources
**Accessed:** 2026-06-18
**Updated:** 2026-06-18

## Summary

This source note covers the first-pass evidence for the WordPerfect and Novell historical work page. The strongest readily accessible sources identify WordPerfect's Utah origin with Alan Ashton, Bruce Bastian, BYU, Orem, Satellite Software International, WordPerfect Corporation, and Novell's 1994 acquisition.

## Useful Claims

- WordPerfect began as a Utah word-processing program tied to BYU and the city of Orem.
- Satellite Software International later became WordPerfect Corporation.
- WordPerfect became a dominant DOS-era word processor before losing ground in the Windows and Microsoft Office era.
- Novell acquired WordPerfect Corporation in 1994 and later sold much of the personal-productivity product line to Corel.
- The current WordPerfect product survives under non-Utah ownership.

## Reliability Notes

The current official product site is reliable for modern product ownership and positioning, but weak for early Utah history. Wikipedia and business-press obituaries are useful orientation sources but should be replaced or supplemented with Novell annual reports, archived press releases, old WordPerfect Corporation materials, and contemporary Utah newspaper coverage.

## Related Pages

- [WordPerfect and Novell's Utah Software Ambition](wordperfect-and-novell.md)