Ten years ago today Netscape filed for its IPO, making millions for early investors and setting off the dot com boom.

Netscape went on to lose the browser wars, get bought out by America Online and eke out an existence as a shadow of its former self.

If you’re feeling bit by the nostalgia bug, check out this copy of the Netscape IPO Prospectus which is currently for sale on eBay and contains such prophetic statements as:

“The Company’s goal is to make its software the de facto standard for navigating, publishing information and executing transactions on the Internet and private IP networks; however, there can be no assurance that such goal will be achieved.”

On a related note, the Belfast Telegraph has a nice recap of the dot com decade titled Ten Years of the Net. Apparently last year was the “Year of the Blog” while this year it’s all about online news, though lawsuits might be more like it.

(link via BoingBoing)

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