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Instead of getting into a shouting match over whether piracy is or isn’t stealing, here’s an interesting story. Bill Gates made an interesting comment regardin

Instead of getting into a shouting match over whether piracy is or isn’t stealing, here’s an interesting story. Bill Gates made an interesting comment regarding software piracy in the 1990s. At that time, software piracy was rampant in China, and Microsoft’s Windows operating system was one of the most pirated products. In response to this situation, Gates remarked that if people were going to pirate software, he would prefer they pirate Microsoft’s software. His rationale was strategic: if people in China became accustomed to using Microsoft’s Windows and Office software, they would be more likely to continue using these products in the future, including in business environments where legitimate software licenses are more commonly purchased. (Whether things worked out as he envisioned is a slightly different matter.)

ozim 3y ago
Not so fun part is that this discussion goes on about „generic” idea. I can already see that what works for software does not work for movies. Other topic is also devices supporting DRM. I would say paying for software new versions makes sense there is work to be done to keep it working on new devices etc. Paying for the same book or movie again because distribution rights between corporations changed is messed up.
tuetuopay 3y ago
the same goes for most professional software, like the adobe suite. if people pirated, it's because they're not professionals yet. once they are, they're more likely to buy the software they're used to and not the competition.
lstodd 3y ago
> (Whether things worked out as he envisioned is a slightly different matter.) Well, actually they did, at least in ex-USSR, and I think in Eastern Europe too. After not ever having a single legitimate license in 1990s and early 2000s (and being laughed upon if you had one), by late 2000s Microsoft business took off handsomely.
veidr 3y ago
> (Whether things worked out as he envisioned is a slightly different matter.) But also the key point, right? Although I suspect he was correct. (Also, has very little to do with the purchasing dynamics of movies or music, etc., although those special interests can fuck off...)

ozim 3y ago

Not so fun part is that this discussion goes on about „generic” idea. I can already see that what works for software does not work for movies. Other topic is also devices supporting DRM. I would say paying for software new versions makes sense there is work to be done to keep it working on new devices etc. Paying for the same book or movie again because distribution rights between corporations changed is messed up.

tuetuopay 3y ago

the same goes for most professional software, like the adobe suite. if people pirated, it's because they're not professionals yet. once they are, they're more likely to buy the software they're used to and not the competition.

lstodd 3y ago

> (Whether things worked out as he envisioned is a slightly different matter.) Well, actually they did, at least in ex-USSR, and I think in Eastern Europe too. After not ever having a single legitimate license in 1990s and early 2000s (and being laughed upon if you had one), by late 2000s Microsoft business took off handsomely.

veidr 3y ago

> (Whether things worked out as he envisioned is a slightly different matter.) But also the key point, right? Although I suspect he was correct. (Also, has very little to do with the purchasing dynamics of movies or music, etc., although those special interests can fuck off...)