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A nice place to discuss rumors, happenings, innovations, and challenges in the technology sphere. We also welcome discussions on the intersections of technology and society. If it’s technological news or discussion of technology, it probably belongs here.

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truth of opensource and foss (lemmy.dbzer0.com)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Big Tech makes the cart FOSS, then they harvest the wheels... while a bunch of people discuss whether to add wings or to make it waterproof. /s

FOSS, and in particular the GPL, has two sides:

User protection: users get the guarantee that whenever the original dev(s) or Big Tech(s) get bored, switch objectives, or go belly up, then someone else will be able to continue development if they wish.
Corporate cooperation: corporations get the guarantee that no other corporation can take their work, add a couple killer features, and use them to kick the original corporation out of the market.

The problem with FOSS, begins with the argument of "but if I can't take your work to kick you off the market and leave all users stranded, then it isn't real freedom". Kind of similar to the arguments around "free speech".

There is a way for "Big Tech" to play along with everyone, then it's up to each corporation whether they will.