Chapter 54 Anti-piracy fighter!

Li Zetian deliberately sent Wozniak to participate in the development of Mos6502, so that Apple would have experience in microprocessor development. You can set up your own processor design department in the future!

Apple will not stop cooperating with other processor companies, but it would be better if it could design its own chips. Chip overlords like Intel are often accommodated by other computer companies, compatible with it, and controlled by others, resulting in the characteristics of their own products not being fully expressed.

1974 passed quickly. Starting from 1975, many kinds of personal computers appeared on the market, which was a chaotic situation.

Apple-l also suffered a huge impact.

Li Zetian decided to cut the price. The price of Apple-l gradually dropped from the initial price of 2,000 US dollars, first to 1,900 US dollars, then to 1,800 US dollars, and then dropped to 1,500 US dollars and then stopped falling.

These are nothing, competition is inevitable.

However, some computer companies blatantly copied Microsoft's BASIC language compiler, then slightly modified it and installed it on their own personal computers.

This kind of piracy has caused huge losses to Microsoft!

No, as soon as Li Zetian went to Microsoft, Bill Gates reported the matter to him.

"Chronos, these companies simply ignore Microsoft and ignore the law. They must be taken to court, otherwise they will cause increasing losses to Microsoft!" Bill Gates said.

In fact, Microsoft's BASIC copyright licensing fee is very low, and it adopts the strategy of small profits but quick turnover to occupy the market as soon as possible. However, there are always some companies that are not willing to spend even small amounts of money.

Li Zetian strongly supported Bill Gates' suggestion, "Sue it! Fight piracy resolutely! All computer companies that copied Microsoft's BASIC language compiler have gone to court. They would rather spend money on lawsuits than let the villain succeed! Through this This time I’ll kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, let’s see who dares to pirate our software in the future!!!”

Of course, Li Zetian's words are only aimed at companies subject to national legal constraints. Forget about companies in mainland China, the state doesn't care. Does Li Zetian still have control?

Piracy is frozen three feet, not cold in one day.

But if you look at it from another angle, piracy helps Microsoft's operating system quickly occupy the market and form a monopoly!

"Well, okay! Then I'll ask my father for help. The legal fees can be reduced!" Bill Gates nodded.

"Well! That would be great!" Li Zetian smiled.

"By the way, in addition to computer manufacturers pirating our software, computer enthusiasts are also spreading "pirated" BASIC compilers crazily. They even spread the word, and they don't even know which BASIC compiler this is. Developed by the company!”

At that time, hard disks were too large and expensive, and floppy disks were also too expensive. The main storage tool was magnetic tape. To be precise, it was a cassette-type "computer tape". It had the advantages of large capacity and low price, and was the main memory of computers at that time. As long as computer enthusiasts have a "computer belt", they can easily copy a BASIC compiler, causing Microsoft to suffer losses!

To deal with companies, you can also sue them through legal procedures; but to deal with computer enthusiasts, the law can't do anything. After all, the laws at that time were not sound and restrictive.

Li Zetian frowned and said: "Well, this is indeed a big problem. Computer enthusiasts are a very large group. If they all use genuine BASIC, Microsoft will get a huge income! Bill, what can you think of to prevent them from spreading? Did you pirate BASIC?"

Bill Gates shook his head and sighed: "There is no good way, and the law cannot restrain it. We can only rely on ourselves! I plan to write a few articles for computer enthusiast newspapers and condemn this kind of piracy with abhorrence. I hope it can Arouse people’s conscience!”

Li Zetian nodded, that was all he could do for now.

At this stage, authorized copies of BASIC are Microsoft's only income. If everyone engages in piracy, Microsoft will have no income. It will not be able to pay employees' salaries, rent, electricity and water bills, etc. This is a very serious problem. question!

A few days later, Bill Gates' article was published in several computer magazines.

"To all computer enthusiasts who are using and spreading pirated versions of Microsoft BASIC, your piracy has deeply damaged the interests of a company. I hereby strongly condemn this behavior! For software developers, they We spend a lot of time and money trying to develop a good software. If everyone uses and spreads pirated software, software developers will not get the respect and rewards they deserve. I wonder who will be willing to take the trouble to develop a good software in the future. An excellent software? By then, no developers will be willing to develop software, and the market will be filled with junk software, seriously hindering the normal development of computer software..."

Not only did he write letters to major newspapers, he also often gave lectures at computer enthusiast clubs.

For a time, Bill Gates became Microsoft's anti-piracy fighter, and even attracted the attention of the US legal department. Some officials proposed to formulate complete laws for software, computer and other industries, especially the issue of piracy.

Li Zetian felt surprised that Bill Gates had really made some noise...

At the same time, Microsoft's exposure has greatly increased during this anti-piracy campaign. Most computer enthusiasts know that the most popular BASIC compiler on the market was developed by Microsoft. As people's awareness of genuine products has increased, Microsoft's revenue has begun to rise, with revenue exceeding $200,000 for the first time in January! ! !

Of course, $200,000 isn't much. But as the number of personal computers increases, Microsoft's revenue will soar like a rocket! And once the Excel spreadsheet office software is developed, Microsoft's revenue will skyrocket. Even if a copy sells for $100, people will come in droves. With Excel alone, Microsoft can become a company with a market value of over 100 million US dollars!

Li Zetian couldn't help but often think that Microsoft wanted to embrace Apple's lap at first, and then IBM's lap. During this period, there were countless powerful opponents. Before it was strong, it was really a bit pitiful! It is really not easy for Bill Gates to develop Microsoft into an extremely huge software empire! ! !

Li Zetian is very relieved that Bill Gates is in charge of Microsoft. Under the leadership of Tian Shuai, Apple has also developed rapidly.

What Li Zetian has to do is to rely on the memory in his mind to control the overall situation and come up with ideas.

"Tian Shuai, please help me contact the Hollywood director George Lucas and ask him to meet. I heard that he plans to shoot a science fiction film called "Star Wars". The theme of this film is similar to our Apple -ll personal computer fits the bill perfectly. So, I’m going to get Apple to invest in this movie and put Apple-ll ads in the movie!”

"Advertising in the movie?" Tian Shuai said in surprise, the first time he heard someone say that.

Li Zetian explained in detail: "Scenes of using Apple-ll personal computers appear many times in the movie, and some close-ups are added. If the movie becomes popular, more people will see our company's products, and naturally it will It has played a great publicity role!”

Tian Shuai nodded frequently and praised Li Zetian's idea, "However, Mr.li, if no one watches this movie, wouldn't our investment be a loss?"

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PS: After reading this, feel free to vote