For Microsoft, 1976 was the first year with an official name, it was the first time Bill Gates raised the issue of piracy and we hired our first full-time employee Marc McDonald.
February 3, 1976
Bill Gates is the first programmer to raise the issue of software piracy. In "An Open Letter to Hobbyists," first published in Computer Notes, Gates accuses hobbyists of stealing software and thus preventing good software from being written
March 27, 1976
Bill Gates gives the opening address at the First Annual World Altair Computer Convention held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
April, 1976
Marc McDonald becomes Microsoft's first official employee. (Other people did work on Microsoft products before that, but on a contract basis)
July, 1976
Microsoft's first advertisement appears in Digital Design magazine.
November 1, 1976
Paul Allen resigns from MITS to join Microsoft full time.
November 26, 1976
The trade name, Microsoft, is registered with the Office of the Secretary of the State of New Mexico.
September 1, 1976
Microsoft leases official office space in the Two Park Central Tower Building at 300 San Mateo Blvd, N.E., Suite 819, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
1976 Headcount/Revenue
The 1976 Calendar Year employee headcount totals six people.
Revenues are $22,496