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  "path": "/2026/02/04/50-years-ago-a-20-year-old-bill-gates-called-hobbyists-thieves-for-sharing-software.html",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-05T00:41:12.000Z",
  "site": "https://boingboing.net",
  "tags": [
    "Post",
    "Bill Gates",
    "History",
    "open source",
    "software",
    "Technology",
    "Open Letter to Hobbyists",
    "Read the rest",
    "50 years ago, a 20-year-old Bill Gates called hobbyists \"thieves\" for sharing software",
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  "textContent": "[](https://boingboing.net/2026/02/04/50-years-ago-a-20-year-old-bill-gates-called-hobbyists-thieves-for-sharing-software.html \"50 years ago, a 20-year-old Bill Gates called hobbyists \"thieves\" for sharing software\")\n\nThis week marks the 50th anniversary of Bill Gates' infamous \"Open Letter to Hobbyists,\" in which the 20-year-old accused early computer enthusiasts of theft for copying his BASIC interpreter. \"Most of you steal your software,\" Gates wrote in 1976. — Read the rest \n\nThe post 50 years ago, a 20-year-old Bill Gates called hobbyists \"thieves\" for sharing software appeared first on Boing Boing.",
  "title": "50 years ago, a 20-year-old Bill Gates called hobbyists \"thieves\" for sharing software"
}