Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Widespread software piracy in China is tolerated to build user habits, with plans to monetize later.
In plain terms
We allow people to steal our software now to get them hooked for future sales.
What can you take from it?
Market penetration can prioritize user adoption over immediate revenue.

Where it applies

  • emerging markets
  • competitive entry
  • product adoption

Putting it to work

  • grow user base
  • delay monetization

Questions to consider

  • Is it ethical to tolerate theft for growth?
  • When should you stop tolerating piracy?

Another view

This approach risks long-term brand damage and legal issues.

More from Bill Gates

  1. We've done some good work, but all of these products become obsolete so fast... It will be some finite number of years, and I don't know the number - before ou…

    Permalink to quote #16
  2. Microsoft looks at new ideas, they don't evaluate whether the idea will move the industry forward, they ask, 'how will it help us sell more copies of Windows?'

    Permalink to quote #18
  3. It's possible, you can never know, that the universe exists only for me. If so, it's sure going well for me, I must admit.

    Permalink to quote #15

Related quotes

  1. 1. Never give anything away for nothing. 2. Never give more than you have to (always catch the buyer hungry and always make him wait). 3. Always take back ever…

    William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs quote #1
  2. Now that you have seen how I help people transition from homosexual to straight, you can buy my new book or you can purchase my therapeutic tapes, and don't fo…

    Richard CohenRichard Cohen quote #1
  3. I recommended that we establish contact with [the Chinese communists]. We had established contact through a military mission there but that we did not ... we s…

    John P. DaviesJohn P. Davies quote #1