--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If an innovative piece of software comes…" description: "\"If an innovative piece of software comes along, Microsoft copies it and makes it part of Windows. This is not innovation; this is the end of innovation..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e51/larry-ellison-3963_copies_if-an-innovative-piece-of-software-comes_822012.jpg" --- # If an innovative piece of software comes along, Microsoft… ![“If an innovative piece of software comes along, Microsoft copies it and makes it part of Windows. This is not innovation; this is the end of innovation.” quote by Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e51/larry-ellison-3963_copies_if-an-innovative-piece-of-software-comes_822012.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e51/larry-ellison-3963_copies_if-an-innovative-piece-of-software-comes_822012.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e51/larry-ellison-3963_copies_if-an-innovative-piece-of-software-comes_822012.jpg) > “If an innovative piece of software comes along, Microsoft copies it and makes it part of Windows. This is not innovation; this is the end of innovation.” [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Microsoft imitates successful software, stifling true innovation and competition. **In simple terms:** Copying stops real progress. Key Takeaway Demand originality, not imitation. Themes innovation competition technology business ethics Mood critical analytical Type observational critical When to use this quote - product development - software industry - corporate strategy - regulatory policy Key Concepts Intellectual property market dynamics creative stagnation Questions to Reflect On - How can firms balance learning from others with fostering original creation? - What policies encourage genuine innovation? A Different Perspective Imitation can spur incremental improvements but may suppress breakthrough ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comes Microsoft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comes-microsoft-481418/) [Copies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copies/) [End Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-innovation-481420/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Innovation End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation-end-481419/) [Innovative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovative/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Microsoft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/microsoft/) [Microsoft Copies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/microsoft-copies-481421/) [Pieces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pieces/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Software](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/software/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Window](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/window/) [Windows Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/windows-innovation-481417/) ## Related quotes > [What seems extraordinary is that the richest countries in the world, in terms of economic output, are the ones where we work hardest. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/what-seems-extraordinary-is-that-the-richest-countries-in-the-world-2/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [ “\[..\]Although personally, I think cyberspace means the end of our species." Yes? Why is that?" Because it means the end of innovation," Malcolm said.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/although-personally-i-think-cyberspace-means-the-end-of-our-species-2/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [A structured design approach can heighten the hit rate in the fuzzy front end of innovation processes in public and private sectors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-martin-skibsted/a-structured-design-approach-can-heighten-the-hit-rate-in-the-fuzzy/) [Jens Martin Skibsted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-martin-skibsted/) > [It's my job for Oracle, the number two software company in the world; to become the number one software company in the world. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/it-s-my-job-for-oracle-the-number-two-software-company-in-the-world/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [Microsoft is already the most powerful company on earth but you ain't seen nothing yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/microsoft-is-already-the-most-powerful-company-on-earth-but-you-ain-t/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [It's Microsoft versus mankind, with Microsoft having only a slight lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/it-s-microsoft-versus-mankind-with-microsoft-having-only-a-slight-lead/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [I think I am very goal oriented. I'd like to win the America's cup. I'd like Oracle to be the No 1 software company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/i-think-i-am-very-goal-oriented-i-d-like-to-win-the-america-s-cup-i-d/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [In market research I did at Microsoft Corp. in the early 1990s, I estimated that the 'Wall Street Journal' took in about 75 cents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/in-market-research-i-did-at-microsoft-corp-in-the-early-1990s-i/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) > [Microsoft is the productivity and platform company for the mobile-first and cloud-first world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/microsoft-is-the-productivity-and-platform-company-for-the-mobile/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [Most big companies don't like you very much, except hotels, airlines and Microsoft, which don't like you at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/most-big-companies-don-t-like-you-very-much-except-hotels-airlines/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [We have design capability, which everyone thought we sold to Microsoft, but we didn't sell it. We will maintain the Nokia feel in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajeev-suri/we-have-design-capability-which-everyone-thought-we-sold-to-microsoft/) [Rajeev Suri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajeev-suri/) > [Let me be clear - Microsoft has no beef with open source.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mundie/let-me-be-clear-microsoft-has-no-beef-with-open-source/) [Craig Mundie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-mundie/) > [ Software gets slower faster than hardware gets faster. (Or, sometimes known by\] Grove \[the head of Intel\] giveth and Gates \[the head of Microsoft\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niklaus-wirth/software-gets-slower-faster-than-hardware-gets-faster-or-sometimes/) [Niklaus Wirth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niklaus-wirth/) > [When Gates was active in business, he was the smartest - so focused that no company could surpass Microsoft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/when-gates-was-active-in-business-he-was-the-smartest-so-focused-that/) [Masayoshi Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masayoshi-son/) > [If Bill Gates left Microsoft we wouldn't allow Donald Trump to run it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/if-bill-gates-left-microsoft-we-wouldn-t-allow-donald-trump-to-run-it/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) ## More by Larry Ellison > [I own a home in Kyoto, Japan actually on the temple on grounds in Nanzenji that is going to become a Japanese art museum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/i-own-a-home-in-kyoto-japan-actually-on-the-temple-on-grounds-in/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [You can't spend as much money as I have, even if you try. I've been trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/you-can-t-spend-as-much-money-as-i-have-even-if-you-try-i-ve-been/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [I think I am very goal oriented. I'd like to win the America's cup. I'd like Oracle to be the No 1 software company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/i-think-i-am-very-goal-oriented-i-d-like-to-win-the-america-s-cup-i-d/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [I love sailing. I like it more when I am winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/i-love-sailing-i-like-it-more-when-i-am-winning/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [See things in the present, even if they are in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/see-things-in-the-present-even-if-they-are-in-the-future/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [Game-playing is more fun when it's virtual because you're more successful. ... in reality, only one person gets to be LeBron.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/game-playing-is-more-fun-when-it-s-virtual-because-you-re-more/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [In some ways, getting away from the headquarters and having a little time to reflect allows you to find errors in your strategy. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/in-some-ways-getting-away-from-the-headquarters-and-having-a-little/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [Taking care of your employees is extremely important and very, very visible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/taking-care-of-your-employees-is-extremely-important-and-very-very/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [If the Internet turns out not to be the future of computing, we're toast. But if it is, we're golden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/if-the-internet-turns-out-not-to-be-the-future-of-computing-we-re/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [When you're the first person whose beliefs are different from what everyone else believes, you're basically saying, "I'm right, and everyone else is wrong."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/when-you-re-the-first-person-whose-beliefs-are-different-from-what/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [If your cash is about to run out, you have to cut your cash flow. CEOs have to make those decisions and live with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/if-your-cash-is-about-to-run-out-you-have-to-cut-your-cash-flow-ceos/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [What can a sales person say to somebody to get them to buy a product that they already use every day if they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/what-can-a-sales-person-say-to-somebody-to-get-them-to-buy-a-product/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [I hate the PC, with a passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/i-hate-the-pc-with-a-passion/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [I think after a certain amount, I’m going to give almost everything I have to charity. What else can you do with it? You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/i-think-after-a-certain-amount-i-m-going-to-give-almost-everything-i/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [It's Microsoft versus mankind, with Microsoft having only a slight lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/it-s-microsoft-versus-mankind-with-microsoft-having-only-a-slight-lead/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) [Explore all 117 Larry Ellison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) ## More Copies quotes > [every being is unique.god neva creates carbon copies,he alys creates originals.he is truly a creator.he neva repeats.but man goes on living in imitation.we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-being-is-unique-god-neva-creates-carbon-copies-he-alys-creates/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My songs are like cheap Neil Young copies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-bachman/my-songs-are-like-cheap-neil-young-copies/) [Randy Bachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-bachman/) > [In that part of the book of my memory before the which is little that can be read, there is a rubric, saying, Incipit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/in-that-part-of-the-book-of-my-memory-before-the-which-is-little-that/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [I remember being a kid and seeing the 'National Inquirer' at the grocery store checkout line. When somebody actually picked up a copy, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-remember-being-a-kid-and-seeing-the-national-inquirer-at-the/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [The idea is not to copy nature, but to give a feeling of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-oudolf/the-idea-is-not-to-copy-nature-but-to-give-a-feeling-of-nature/) [Piet Oudolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-oudolf/) > [“When copies are free, you need to sell things that cannot be copied. Well, what can’t be copied? Trust, for instance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/when-copies-are-free-you-need-to-sell-things-that-cannot-be-copied/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [Mr Witwould: "Pray, madam, do you pin up your hair with all your letters? I find I must keep copies." Mrs Millamant: "Only with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/mr-witwould-pray-madam-do-you-pin-up-your-hair-with-all-your-letters/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [There have to be at least two copies of a photograph, otherwise it’s not a photograph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ruff/there-have-to-be-at-least-two-copies-of-a-photograph-otherwise-it-s/) [Thomas Ruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ruff/) > [In market research I did at Microsoft Corp. in the early 1990s, I estimated that the 'Wall Street Journal' took in about 75 cents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/in-market-research-i-did-at-microsoft-corp-in-the-early-1990s-i/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) > [Guys like Todd Bridges never overcame being a child star. You can't have any big failures. I've always felt regular. I played organized ball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bow-wow/guys-like-todd-bridges-never-overcame-being-a-child-star-you-can-t/) [Bow Wow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bow-wow/) > [It was only after I had been out of the art school that I actually copied a small Seurat, and I copied it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-riley/it-was-only-after-i-had-been-out-of-the-art-school-that-i-actually/) [Bridget Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-riley/) > [We call ourselves creators and we just copy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauryn-hill/we-call-ourselves-creators-and-we-just-copy/) [Lauryn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauryn-hill/) > [People have one of two extreme reactions to my book. They either throw it across the room, or they rush out and buy 10…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/people-have-one-of-two-extreme-reactions-to-my-book-they-either-throw/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [A presentation copy...is a copy of a book whoch does not sell, sent you by the author, with his foolish autograph at the beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/a-presentation-copy-is-a-copy-of-a-book-whoch-does-not-sell-sent-you/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [We are all born originals, why is it so many of us die copies?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/we-are-all-born-originals-why-is-it-so-many-of-us-die-copies/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) [Browse all 971 Copies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If an innovative piece of software comes along, Microsoft copies it and makes it part of Windows. 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