Is The Fox selling out? - bit-tech.net Forums

WilHarris · 4th Aug 2005, 23:10

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2005/08...rporate_board/

jezmck · 4th Aug 2005, 23:12

Let's hope not.

I reckon that if they tried to make it closed source there'd be enough non-employees to keep it going as an open source project.

Cheap Mod Wannabe · 4th Aug 2005, 23:13

This is going to be interesting... Once again a proof that you never know what'll happen tomorrow in a technology world.

Stompy · 4th Aug 2005, 23:13

Discuss link goes back to the article not to here.

Anyways... Sounds to me like the values of Firefox could be going astray...

Da Dego · 4th Aug 2005, 23:15

An updated note that I couldn't write in the news, because this part is speculation.

By American tax law, a foundation must spend the bulk of its profits towards its purpose, or pay a hefty penalty as well as tax on all receipts. They've been getting a lot more money from google/yahoo, because the market share for the Fox has grown tremendously in a short amount of time.

They may not be dumping all that money back into the Fox anymore...which means they either have to incorporate (losing their foundation status) so they can keep their profits, or pay a big penalty.

Our open-source love may have just gone big business on us all...

Oh, and typo...standardss should be made standards.

And fix the discuss link.

cpemma · 4th Aug 2005, 23:34

Very tempting, when you're sat on a very popular product, to look at how you can make a few quid on the side. It's a bad time to upset the fanbase, though, with a certain other browser maybe improving its act...

Firehed · 5th Aug 2005, 00:18

I think there are enough people working on Firefox so that even if Mozilla goes overly corporate, Firefox will continue in one form or another from the latest (or perhaps final) open-source chunk o' code.

Kipman725 · 5th Aug 2005, 00:40

I think more information needs to be presented, at the moment it isn't clear what the purpose of the spin off companie is.

Neogumbercules · 5th Aug 2005, 02:15

If they can put more money into making Firefox even better than it already is, then I'm all for that.

Cheap Mod Wannabe · 5th Aug 2005, 02:37

Even if They charge you?

Maybe they're planning to make free-simplier and pro version which you have to buy... hmm I wonder

Anyways lets wait for more info

Kevo · 5th Aug 2005, 10:19

Google needs to buy them out. I mean Google has already poached all the people that made Firefox good in the first place

(PTK) · 5th Aug 2005, 12:10

Man, this worries me. Not a lot, but still worries.

Spaced_invader · 5th Aug 2005, 13:49

it's still early days, I don't think they will start charging for it as it's an open source project they have to ask everyone that ever contributed code to the fox the close the source. that usually involves $$$ or lies stating the offending code is removed... but how can you prove that if it's now closed source... In my opinion they are just trying to avoid penalties like "da dego" said. Part of their fanbase is there because they are open source and it is free, charging now would be ludicrous and many new branches would spawn from the projects.
any way enough ranting.... back to mindless repetition....

glnsize · 5th Aug 2005, 20:22

I dont care if they do go closed source (i dont think they will)... If they can continue to put out a quality browser for free! I don't care if they get rich... or anything else for that fact. IMO firefox is just a name if they pull a netscape someone else will just pickup were they left off, and we'll all be using thing-a-ma-doodle v.2.4!!!

4th Aug 2005, 23:10	#1
WilHarris Just another nobody Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Oxford Posts: 2,671	Is The Fox selling out? http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2005/08...rporate_board/

4th Aug 2005, 23:12	#2
jezmck ____ Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Whiteley, Hants Posts: 4,094	Let's hope not. I reckon that if they tried to make it closed source there'd be enough non-employees to keep it going as an open source project. __________________ Have you seen The SketchUp Components Collection's latest items? Interested in a DXF Blueprints Collection? Discuss it here.

4th Aug 2005, 23:15	#5
Da Dego Brett Thomas Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cleveland, OH USA Posts: 3,906	An updated note that I couldn't write in the news, because this part is speculation. By American tax law, a foundation must spend the bulk of its profits towards its purpose, or pay a hefty penalty as well as tax on all receipts. They've been getting a lot more money from google/yahoo, because the market share for the Fox has grown tremendously in a short amount of time. They may not be dumping all that money back into the Fox anymore...which means they either have to incorporate (losing their foundation status) so they can keep their profits, or pay a big penalty. Our open-source love may have just gone big business on us all... Oh, and typo...standardss should be made standards. And fix the discuss link. __________________ "Frankly that seems overkill. iluvtrees2 arguing with spec is the intellectual equivalent of a bunny rabbit taking on a pissed-off lion." - Nexxo Last edited by Da Dego; 4th Aug 2005 at 23:23.

4th Aug 2005, 23:34	#6
cpemma Ecky thump Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: S.Yorkshire, OK Posts: 12,333	Very tempting, when you're sat on a very popular product, to look at how you can make a few quid on the side. It's a bad time to upset the fanbase, though, with a certain other browser maybe improving its act... __________________ Nobody's perfect. But being a Yorkshireman is as close as you can get.

5th Aug 2005, 00:18	#7
Firehed Why not? I own a domain to match. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An hour north of Boston Posts: 12,576	I think there are enough people working on Firefox so that even if Mozilla goes overly corporate, Firefox will continue in one form or another from the latest (or perhaps final) open-source chunk o' code. __________________ hire me @ eric-stern.com - web developer and php ninja pics @ my smugmug :: Twitter @firehed :: blog @ firehed.net 40D\|580EXII\|285HV\|AB800\|70-200f/4LIS\|17-50f/2.8\|150f/2.8Macro\|50f/1.8 MacPro @ 8x2.8GHz, 10GB FBDDR2, 3TB HD :: MBP @ 2x2.2GHz, 4GB DDR2, 320GB HD

4th Aug 2005, 23:13	#3
Cheap Mod Wannabe Ultramodder Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Glen Cove, NY Posts: 1,215	This is going to be interesting... Once again a proof that you never know what'll happen tomorrow in a technology world.

4th Aug 2005, 23:13	#4
Stompy Ultramodder Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Suffolk, England Posts: 1,097	Discuss link goes back to the article not to here. Anyways... Sounds to me like the values of Firefox could be going astray...

5th Aug 2005, 00:40	#8
Kipman725 When did I get a custom title!?! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: UK Posts: 1,753	I think more information needs to be presented, at the moment it isn't clear what the purpose of the spin off companie is. __________________ Sn45g game server mod My Electronics Site Hardware: 3400+ Sempr0n, 1GB RAM, 1.28TB local storage, x1950pro,Razer Viper,M$ comfort curve 2000,L70S + 17", Fujitsu 17" CRT Audio: HD-650's, PE congress amp, Sound Blaster AWE64, Soundblaster 24bit

5th Aug 2005, 02:15	#9
Neogumbercules Ultramodder Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,495	If they can put more money into making Firefox even better than it already is, then I'm all for that. __________________ Abit AB9 Pro, Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 CPU, 2GB Corsair DDR2 6400, nVidia 8800GT, Seagate 160 GB HDD.

5th Aug 2005, 02:37	#10
Cheap Mod Wannabe Ultramodder Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Glen Cove, NY Posts: 1,215	Even if They charge you? Maybe they're planning to make free-simplier and pro version which you have to buy... hmm I wonder Anyways lets wait for more info

5th Aug 2005, 10:19	#11
Kevo 426F6C6C6F636B7300 Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 3,670	Google needs to buy them out. I mean Google has already poached all the people that made Firefox good in the first place __________________ - Kevo

5th Aug 2005, 12:10	#12
(PTK) Multimodder Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: N.C. USA Ghosts: 0 Posts: 76	Man, this worries me. Not a lot, but still worries. __________________ // BoneBox II // AMD64 3000+ Venice @ 2.45 // 1024 Corsair VS DDR // ATI Radeon 9800 @ 400/360 // // Epox 9NDA3+ // WD 80Gb SATA x2 in RAID 0 // PSone LCD // Ultra 500W X-Connect // Picture //

5th Aug 2005, 13:49	#13
Spaced_invader Supermodder Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: UK Posts: 493	it's still early days, I don't think they will start charging for it as it's an open source project they have to ask everyone that ever contributed code to the fox the close the source. that usually involves $$$ or lies stating the offending code is removed... but how can you prove that if it's now closed source... In my opinion they are just trying to avoid penalties like "da dego" said. Part of their fanbase is there because they are open source and it is free, charging now would be ludicrous and many new branches would spawn from the projects. any way enough ranting.... back to mindless repetition.... __________________ email me: echo "'1+&9#1)+/6@)0#+/.%20" \| tr "#--/-=" a-z those that should know, know...

5th Aug 2005, 20:22	#14
glnsize Minimodder Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Augusta, Ga, USA Posts: 33	I dont care if they do go closed source (i dont think they will)... If they can continue to put out a quality browser for free! I don't care if they get rich... or anything else for that fact. IMO firefox is just a name if they pull a netscape someone else will just pickup were they left off, and we'll all be using thing-a-ma-doodle v.2.4!!!