Angry Birds Boss Credits Piracy For Popularity Boost 321
An anonymous reader writes "Mikael Hed is the CEO of Rovio Mobile, the company behind popular mobile puzzle game Angry Birds. At the Midem conference Monday, Hed had some interesting things to say about how piracy has affected the gaming industry, and Rovio's games in particular: '"We could learn a lot from the music industry, and the rather terrible ways the music industry has tried to combat piracy." Hed explained that Rovio sees it as "futile" to pursue pirates through the courts, except in cases where it feels the products they are selling are harmful to the Angry Birds brand, or ripping off its fans. When that's not the case, Rovio sees it as a way to attract more fans, even if it is not making money from the products. "Piracy may not be a bad thing: it can get us more business at the end of the day." ... "We took something from the music industry, which was to stop treating the customers as users, and start treating them as fans. We do that today: we talk about how many fans we have," he said. "If we lose that fanbase, our business is done, but if we can grow that fanbase, our business will grow."'"
Tomorrow's Headline (Score:5, Funny)
Rovio Mobile indicted for taking part in the Mega Upload conspiracy.
Uh oh (Score:5, Funny)
We took something from the music industry
Incoming lawsuit?
Exactly. (Score:5, Funny)
That's why I always use the bathroom in the restaurant next door.
Re:That's unpossible! (Score:4, Funny)
Re:That's unpossible! (Score:5, Funny)
http://chrome.angrybirds.com/ [angrybirds.com]
Your welcome. Your wife has already thanked me :)
Re:That's unpossible! (Score:4, Funny)
welcome???
geee thanks, what i really needed was another distraction to prevent me from doing the work i was supposed to already have finished.
i'm blaming you in advance for this not being finished on time. (i wish i could backdate this blame, it was seriously due november last year, then skyrim happened)
they took something from the music industry?! (Score:4, Funny)
We took something from the music industry...
NOBODY takes ANYTHING from the music industry without paying for it! I'm sure they will have RIAA lawyers on there doorstep within a few hours.
...which was to stop treating the customers as users, and start treating them as fans
oh, they were just kidding - the music industry has yet to learn this lesson.
Re:I stole a car the other day ... (Score:5, Funny)
you know, if you'd just pirate your movies like a normal person you wouldn't have to see all those silly "you wouldn't steal a car" ads at the start, and then you probably wouldn't think that stealing a car is the same thing as pirating software.