Actually Internet Explorer 1.0 was a rebranded Spyglass browser . After failing to get an exclusive license from Mosaic Netscape and failing to get an exclusive license from the NCSA, Microsoft does get a non-exclusive license for a browser from Spyglass, that was 'given away' with Windows as Internet Explorer 1.0 around 1994. As such Microsoft deemed it unnecessary to actually pay Spyglass. Mosaic Netscape was released in 1994, despite this factoid, in 1996 we have Bill Gates welcoming Netscape into the Industry.