‘Most of you steal your software’ — Bill Gates complained about software piracy 50 years ago, and was openly irked by community's Altair BASIC ‘theft’

Bill Gates expressed frustration 50 years ago over software piracy in the hobbyist community, particularly with Altair BASIC being widely copied and redistributed without payment. Despite the success of the Altair 8800 in kickstarting the PC revolution, Gates highlighted the issue of stolen software affecting developers' ability to create quality programs. He criticized hobbyists for not valuing software as much as hardware, emphasizing the need for fair compensation to drive innovation. Gates' open letter urged the community to support developers financially to enable the creation of more sophisticated software for enthusiasts.