Where did the ideas that led to what it is
now called open source? How did it begin?
Who began that? 
Well it actually began with the start
of computers, because at that time software
was just passed around between people
and I think it was only like in the late seventies
early eighties
that people started really closing up their
software and saying "No you can never get a
look at the source code, you can't change
this software even if it's necessary for you
to fix it for your own application"
and you can actually blame some of them
on Microsoft. They were one of the real 
poineers of the proprietary software model
In the mid-nineteen seventies a group of hackers
and computer hobbyists in Silicon Valley
formed The Homebrew Computer Club.
In the club's 31 January 1970
newsletter Bill Gates of the recently
formed Microsoft wrote an open letter to the
community
where he made a point-by-point argument for
the relatively new concept of proprietary software.
Up to that point the practice of computer
users have been to freely pass around
software without much though given to its ownership.
Known as "An Open Letter to Hobbyists",
Bill Gates writes, "To me, the most critical thing
in the hobby market right now is the lack of
good software courses, book and software itself.
Without good software and an owner who understands
programming, a hobby computer is wasted.
Will quality software be written for the hobby market?"
Gates goes on to write: 
The feedback that we have gotten from the hundreds 
of people who say they're using BASIC, has all been
positive
Two surprising things are apperent however.
1. Most of these users never bought BASIC
and 2. The amount of royalties we have received
from sales to hobbyist makes the time spent
on the Altair BASIC worth less than two dollars
an hour. Why is this?
As the majority of hobbyists must be aware,
most of you steal your software. Hardware must
be paid for, but software is something to share. Who
cares if the people who worked on it get paid?
Is this fair? One thing you do by stealing 
software is get back at MITS for some problem
you may have had.
MITS doesn't make money selling software. One thing
you do do is prevent good software from being
written
Who can afford to do professional work for nothing?
One hobbyist can put three man years into programming,
finding all bugs, documenting this product and 
distribute it for free.
The fact is no one besides us, has invested
a lot of money in hobby software.
What about the guys that resell Altair BASIC?
Aren't they making money on hobby software? Yes.
But those who have been reported to us may
loose in the end. They are the ones who give
hobbyist a bad name and should be kicked out of
any club meeting that show up at.
I would appreciate letters from anyone who
wants to pay up, or has a suggestion or comment.
Signed: Bill Gates, General Partner
Microsoft
