giants of the era

Chapter 54 Anti-piracy fighter!
Li Zetian deliberately sent Wozniak to participate in the development of Mos6502, so that Apple also has 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 even better if it can design chips itself.Chip overlords like Intel are often accommodated by other computer companies, compatible with it, and controlled by others, resulting in the inability to fully express the characteristics of their own products.

1974 passed quickly, and from 1975 onwards, there were many kinds of personal computers on the market, and it was a chaotic situation of demons dancing.

Apple-l also received a huge impact.

Li Zetian decided to lower the price. The price of Apple-l gradually decreased from the initial price of 2000 US dollars, first to 1900 US dollars, then to 1800 US dollars, and then to 1500 US dollars.

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 are simply ignoring Microsoft and ignoring the law. They must be taken to court, otherwise, Microsoft will cause more and more losses!" Bill Gates said.

In fact, Microsoft's BASIC copyright authorization fee is very low, and it follows the strategy of small profits but quick turnover to occupy the market as soon as possible.However, there are always some companies that are unwilling to spend even a small amount of money.

Li Zetian is very supportive of Bill Gates' suggestion, "Sue! Resolutely crack down on piracy! All computer companies that copied Microsoft's BASIC language compiler have gone to court, and they would rather spend money in lawsuits than let villains succeed! Through this Let’s make an example of others, I see who will dare to pirate our software in the future!!!”

Of course, Li Zetian's words are only aimed at companies that are bound by national laws. Forget about companies in mainland China, the country doesn't care, so Li Zetian still cares?

Piracy is frozen three feet, not a day's cold.

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

"Well, okay! Then I'll ask my father for help, and the lawyer's fee will be less!" Bill Gates nodded.

"Well! That would be great!" Li Zetian said with a smile.

"By the way, in addition to computer manufacturers pirating our software, the group of computer enthusiasts is also frantically spreading "pirated" BASIC compilers, and even spread them, they don't 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 tapes. To be precise, they were cassette-type "computer tapes", which had the advantages of large capacity and low price.As long as computer enthusiasts have a "computer belt", they can easily copy a copy of the BASIC compiler, which will cause Microsoft to suffer losses!

To deal with enterprises, you can also take legal procedures to sue them; but to deal with computer enthusiasts, the law is powerless, after all, the laws at that time were not perfect and were extremely weak.

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 lot of money! Bill, do you think of a way to prevent them from spreading Pirated BASIC?"

Bill Gates shook his head and sighed: "There is no good way, the law can't be restrained, we can only rely on ourselves! I plan to write a few articles for the newspapers and periodicals of computer enthusiasts, condemning this kind of piracy with hatred, I hope it can Arouse people's conscience!"

Li Zetian nodded, this is the only way to do it for now.

At this stage, authorized copies of BASIC are Microsoft’s only income. If everyone engages in piracy, Microsoft will have no income. Employees’ wages, rent, electricity, water, etc. cannot be paid. 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 distributing pirated copies of Microsoft BASIC, your piracy has deeply damaged the interests of an enterprise, and I hereby strongly condemn this behavior! For software developers, they I have spent 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. Let me ask, who is willing to bother and work hard to develop a good software in the future? Excellent software? At that time, no developer is willing to develop software, and the market will be flooded with junk software, seriously hindering the normal development of computer software..."

He not only wrote letters to major newspapers, but also often gave lectures at computer enthusiasts clubs.

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

Li Zetian felt stunned, and really made Bill Gates a little famous...

At the same time, Microsoft's exposure rate has greatly increased in this anti-piracy operation. Most computer enthusiasts know that the most popular BASIC compiler on the market is developed by Microsoft.With the strengthening of people's awareness of genuine products, Microsoft's revenue began to increase, and in January it broke through 1 US dollars for the first time! ! !

Of course, $20 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 sold for $100, people would flock to it.With Excel alone, Microsoft can become a company with a market value of over [-] million US dollars!

Li Zetian couldn't help thinking that Microsoft would embrace Apple's thigh at first, and then IBM's thigh. During this period, there would be countless powerful opponents. Before it was not strong, it was really pitiful!It is not easy for Bill Gates to develop Microsoft into a huge software empire! ! !
Li Zetian is still very relieved that Microsoft has Bill Gates in charge.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 by the way.

"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 PC fits well. So, I'm going to get Apple to fund the movie and put an Apple-ll ad in it!"

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

Li Zetian explained in detail: "It is the scenes of using Apple-ll personal computers many times in the movie, plus some close-up shots. If this movie becomes popular, then more people will see our company's products. It has played a great role in publicity!"

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

PS: After reading it, feel free to vote
　PS: After reading it, feel free to vote
　　
　
(End of this chapter)