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About this quote

What does it mean?
Rendering Office docs in other browsers harms the company; proprietary capabilities should be enforced.
In plain terms
Don't let other browsers render Office docs well; keep it proprietary.
What can you take from it?
Proprietary features can be a competitive moat.

Where it applies

  • business strategy

Putting it to work

  • product differentiation

Questions to consider

  • Is openness or control better for business?

Another view

Open compatibility often drives adoption.

More from Bill Gates

  1. I'm a big believer that as much as possible, and there's obviously political limitations, freedom of migration is a good thing.

    Permalink to quote #31
  2. There are people who don't like capitalism, and people who don't like PCs. But there's no one who likes the PC who doesn't like Microsoft.[3]

    Permalink to quote #33
  3. Stolen's a strong word. It's copyrighted content that the owner wasn't paid for. So yes.

    Permalink to quote #30

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