--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: About three million computers get sold…" description: "\"About three million computers get sold every year in China, but people don't pay for the software. Someday they will, though. As long as they are going..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fff/bill-gates-137_business_about-three-million-computers-get-sold-e_1320556.jpg" --- # About three million computers get sold every year in… ![“About three million computers get sold every year in China, but people don't pay for the software. Someday they will, though. As long as they are going to steal it, we want them to steal ours. They'll get sort of addicted, and then we'll somehow figure out how to collect sometime in the next decade.” quote by Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fff/bill-gates-137_business_about-three-million-computers-get-sold-e_1320556.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fff/bill-gates-137_business_about-three-million-computers-get-sold-e_1320556.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fff/bill-gates-137_business_about-three-million-computers-get-sold-e_1320556.jpg) > “About three million computers get sold every year in China, but people don't pay for the software. Someday they will, though. As long as they are going to steal it, we want them to steal ours. They'll get sort of addicted, and then we'll somehow figure out how to collect sometime in the next decade.” [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He predicts that widespread software piracy will eventually turn into a market for paid software, using addiction as leverage. **In simple terms:** Piracy may become a stepping stone to legitimate sales. Key Takeaway Leverage piracy to convert users to paying customers. Themes technology business ethics monetization Mood analytical strategic Type business technology When to use this quote - software distribution - market strategy - consumer education Key Concepts economics consumer behavior digital rights management Questions to Reflect On - Can addiction truly drive legal purchases? - What ethical concerns arise from exploiting piracy? A Different Perspective Assumes users will willingly switch to paid versions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Computers Sold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers-sold-3548060/) [Decades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decades/) [Figures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figures/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Million Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-computers-4399919/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Software](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/software/) [Someday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/someday/) [Steal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steal/) [Steal Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steal-want-4228404/) [Stealing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stealing/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Steal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-steal-324597/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [The first thing I think, I was building computers, I started to build a computer when I was 17 or 18 at home, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jones/the-first-thing-i-think-i-was-building-computers-i-started-to-build-a/) [Peter Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jones/) > [“We want you to take from us. 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