> So is the difference here that one endeavor is done for profit and the other isn’t? If an open source project becomes profitable for the maintainers, do they now have a obligation to fix and support their software?
Yes, doesn't that seems reasonable? Presumably Gitlab became as popular as it did only because they offered free-tier repos, and generated revenue another way. YouTube only became popular because they offered free content and generated revenue another way, and so on.
Suppose you managed to start a company with a couple of loyal customers, and then as you grow bigger you ignore those loyal customers' needs in deference to newer customers that pay more. Maybe it's "good business" to pursue more profit, but kind of shitty to spit in your original customers' faces no?
The article makes no allowance for things like loyalty or obligation.
In this framework, if you don’t like how Gitlab, YouTube, or Gmail is treating you, then you can use a competitor, build your own replacement, or suck it up.
> The article makes no allowance for things like loyalty or obligation.
No such obligation to users exists in open source. The open source developer is his own customer. At best, you could argue there's a reciprocal duty to your fellow contributors, but I don't see how you can extend that any further.
By contrast, Gitlab and YouTube only became profitable because of the free contributions from others, and your views that YouTube monetized, so in fairness it seems like there should be some reciprocal duty there.
Yes, doesn't that seems reasonable? Presumably Gitlab became as popular as it did only because they offered free-tier repos, and generated revenue another way. YouTube only became popular because they offered free content and generated revenue another way, and so on.
Suppose you managed to start a company with a couple of loyal customers, and then as you grow bigger you ignore those loyal customers' needs in deference to newer customers that pay more. Maybe it's "good business" to pursue more profit, but kind of shitty to spit in your original customers' faces no?