In response to criticism from the tech community regarding his controlling nature, Steve Jobs opted to express his views through an open letter. His approach was influenced by Bill Campbell, a close friend and board member who visited him to discuss the draft of the letter. Jobs sought Campbell's opinion on whether his intentions appeared retaliatory, to which Campbell reassured him that emphasizing factual information was the right course.

The primary focus of Jobs' letter was on the technical shortcomings of Adobe's Flash software. This effort was meant to clarify his stance and provide insight into the reasoning behind his criticisms, rather than simply retaliating against Adobe. The correspondence exemplifies Jobs' commitment to addressing issues head-on with factual arguments.