Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX) (pronounced [ˈziɹ.ɑks]) is one of the world's largest document-management companies, providing the industry's broadest range of color and black-and-white printers, multifunction systems, copiers, digital production printing presses, and related consulting services and supplies.

Corporate headquarters are in Stamford, Connecticut, though its largest population of employees is based in and around Rochester, New York, the area in which the company was founded. The UK Headquarters is situated in Welwyn Garden City, in Hertfordshire. The company is so identified with its product that the term "Xerox machine" is often used to refer to xerographic duplicators produced by other companies. The term "xeroxing" has become synonymous with "copying." Though common, the company does not condone such uses of its trademark.

Originally named Haloid and beginning as a manufacturer of photographic paper and equipment, the company came to prominence in 1959 with the introduction of the first one-piece, plain paper photocopier using the process of xerography (electrophotography), the Xerox 914. The company expanded substantially throughout the 1960s, making millionaires of some long-suffering investors who had nursed the company through the slow research and development phase of the product. In many ways, this time resembled the early years of Microsoft. Proceeds from the introduction of this new industry allowed the company to open a famous research center, the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center or Xerox PARC.

Diversity

Xerox received a 100% rating on the first Corporate Equality Index released by the Human Rights Campaign in 2002. They have maintained this rating in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Xerox has been recognized by a number of other organizations for its diversity[1] leadership as well. The company was on Fortune magazine's list of "50 Best Companies for Minorities" for seven out of seven years. It was named to the top 10 of DiversityInc magazine's list of "Top 50 Companies for Diversity" for 2005. In 2004 and 2005, the National Association for Female Executives listed Xerox among the "Top 30 Companies for Executive Women." Xerox has operated a formal supplier diversity[2] program since 1985 and has spent nearly $5 billion with diverse suppliers since that time. Its successes in supplier diversity have frequently been recognized as well.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce named[3] Xerox as the winner of the 2005 U.S. Community Service Award.

Trademark issues

The success of the Xerox brand has led to "xerox" to be commonly used as a synonym for "photocopy" (both as a noun and a verb) in North American English; for example, "I xeroxed the document and placed your xerox on your desk." Though common, the company does not condone such uses of its trademark, and is particularly concerned about the ongoing use of Xerox as a verb as this places the trademark in danger of being declared a generic word by the courts. The company is engaged in an ongoing campaign to convince the public that Xerox should not be used as a verb. To this end, the company has written to publications that have used Xerox as a verb, and has also purchased print advertisements declaring that "you cannot 'xerox' a document, but you can copy it on" a photocopier, particularly "a Xerox Brand copying machine." The AP Stylebook respects trademarks. Xerox Corporation continues to protect its trademark diligently in most if not all trademark categories. Despite their efforts, many dictionaries continue to mention the use of "xerox" as a verb. These include the Oxford English Dictionary, generally regarded as the definitive reference on the English language.