Editing Tetris (section)

===Spread beyond the Soviet Union (1985–1988)===
Under Soviet law, intellectual rights were not protected, and the state-run organization [[Elektronorgtechnica]] (Elorg) had a monopoly on the import and export of software.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/11471 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304100515/https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/11471 |title=Интеллектуальная собственность / Тетрис |trans-title=Intellectual Property / ''Tetris'' |website=[[Kommersant]] |language=Russian |date=September 12, 1995 |archive-date=March 4, 2014 |access-date=November 30, 2024}}</ref> Pajitnov lacked knowledge of the business world so he asked his supervisor, Victor Brjabrin, who had knowledge of the world outside the Soviet Union, to help him publish ''Tetris''. Pajitnov offered to transfer the rights to the Academy and was delighted to receive a non-compulsory remuneration from Brjabrin through this deal.{{sfn|Ichibian|2009|page=87–88}} In 1986, Brjabrin sent a copy of ''Tetris'' to the Hungarian game publisher [[Appaloosa Interactive|Novotrade]],{{sfn|Ichibian|2009|page=88}} and copies began circulating via [[floppy disk]]s throughout Hungary.{{sfn|Ichibian|2009|page=89}} Robert Stein, an international software salesman for the London-based firm Andromeda Software, saw the commercial potential during a visit to Hungary in June 1986.{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|page=302}}{{sfn|Temple|2004|loc=11 min}} After an indifferent response from the Academy,{{sfn|Temple|2004|loc=12 min}} Stein contacted Pajitnov and Brjabrin by fax to obtain the license rights.{{sfn|Temple|2004|loc=11 min}} The Soviet researchers expressed interest in forming an agreement with Stein via fax, but were unaware that this fax communication could be considered a legal contract in the Western world;{{sfn|Temple|2004|loc=12 min.}} Stein began to approach other companies to produce the game.{{sfn|Ichibian|2009|pages=89–90}}

Stein approached publishers at the 1987 [[Consumer Electronics Show]] in Las Vegas, and signed two agreements: he sold the European rights to the publisher [[Mirrorsoft]]{{sfn|Ichibian|2009|page=90}}{{sfn|Kent|2001|p=479}} and the American rights to its sister company, [[Spectrum HoloByte]].{{sfn|Kent|2001|p=294,479}} Spectrum HoloByte obtained the rights after a visit to Mirrorsoft by the Spectrum HoloByte president, Phil Adam, when he played ''Tetris'' for two hours.{{sfn|Ichibian|2009|page=90}}{{sfn|Temple|2004|loc=15 min}} At that time, Stein had not yet signed a contract with the Soviet Union.{{sfn|Kent|2001|p=479}} Nevertheless, he sold the rights to the two companies for £3,000 and royalties of 7.5–15% of sales.{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|page=304}} Before releasing ''Tetris'' in the United States, the Spectrum HoloByte CEO, [[Gilman Louie]], asked for an overhaul of the graphics and music.{{sfn|Ichibian|2009|page=90}} The Soviet spirit was preserved, with fields illustrating Russian parks and buildings as well as melodies anchored in Russian folklore of the time. The company's goal was to make people want to buy a Russian product. The game came complete with a red package and Cyrillic text, an unusual approach on the other side of the [[Berlin Wall]].{{sfn|Temple|2004|loc=16 min}} 

''Tetris'' was [[Tetris (Mirrorsoft and Spectrum HoloByte)|first commercially released]] in the West on the IBM PC, with other computer systems planned for release in the following weeks. The Mirrorsoft version was released in Europe on January 27, 1988,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-28-fi-39274-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217174932/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-28-fi-39274-story.html |title=Soviets Play Capitalist Game With New Computer Puzzle |work=[[The Los Angeles Times]] |agency=[[Reuters]] |date=January 28, 1988 |archive-date=December 17, 2024 |access-date=November 17, 2024 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref> and the Spectrum HoloByte version on January 29, 1988.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/29/business/new-software-game-it-comes-from-soviet.html |last=Lewis |first=Peter H. |title=New Software Game: It Comes From Soviet |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 29, 1988 |access-date=November 17, 2024 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023171204/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/29/business/new-software-game-it-comes-from-soviet.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Mirrorsoft versions for systems such as the [[Amiga]], [[Atari ST]], and [[Commodore 64]] rewrote the code of the original IBM version.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=126}} Boosted by [[word of mouth]] and positive reviews,{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=124}}{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|page=307–308}} Mirrorsoft sold tens of thousands of copies in two months,{{sfn|Ichibian|2009|page=91}} and Spectrum HoloByte sold over 100,000 units in the space of a year.{{sfn|Temple|2004|loc=18 min}} According to Spectrum HoloByte, the average ''Tetris'' player was between 25 and 45 years old and was a manager or engineer. At the [[Software and Information Industry Association|Software Publishers Association]]'s Excellence in Software Awards ceremony in March 1988, ''Tetris'' won Best Entertainment Software, Best Original Game, Best Strategy Program, and Best Consumer Software.{{sfn|Ichibian|2009|page=91}}

The only document certifying a license fee was the fax from Pajitnov and Brjabrin, meaning that Stein had sold the license for a game he did not yet own. He contacted Pajitnov and asked for a contract for the rights. Stein began negotiations via fax, offering 75% of the revenue generated by Stein from the license.{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|page=304}} Elorg was unconvinced and requested 80%. Stein made several trips to Moscow and held long discussions with Elorg representatives.{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|page=305}} He came to an agreement with Elorg on February 24, 1988.{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|page=308}} On May 10,{{sfn|Temple|2004|loc=22 min}} he signed a contract for a ten-year worldwide ''Tetris'' license for all current and future computer systems.{{sfn|Ichibian|2009|page=92}} Pajitnov and Brjabrin were unaware that the game was already on sale and that Stein had claimed to own the rights prior to the agreement.{{sfn|Kent|2001|p=479}} Although Pajitnov did not receive a percentage of these sales,{{sfn|Ichibian|2009|page=92}} he said that "the fact that so many people enjoy my game is enough for me".{{sfn|Ichibian|2009|page=96}}