Ask HN: Why is Firefox losing marketshare and how would you save it?

Re:Ask HN: Why is Firefox losing marketshare and how would y... by onion2k on Monday February 14, 2022 @04:35PM (#30338700)

This set of policies would spell the end of Mozilla, and the end of Firefox unless the community (or another org) picked it up. Mozilla is mostly funded by search engine companies, the largest being Google, and any direct attempt to compete with Chrome would probably end a significant chunk of that funding.

Like it or not, unless Mozilla does what Google sees as acceptable, Firefox can't continue. The only way to turn Firefox around and continue development would be to find an alternative benefactor.

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Re:Ask HN: Why is Firefox losing marketshare and how would y... by wyclif on Tuesday February 15, 2022 @07:17AM (#30345471)

Mozilla is mostly funded by search engine companies, the largest being Google

Not only that, but this creates perverse incentives for Mozilla. Google funds Mozilla to avoid charges of monopoly, and that disincentives Mozilla to compete with Google and make Firefox a competitive browser to Chromium.

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Re:Ask HN: Why is Firefox losing marketshare and how would y... by account42 on Tuesday February 15, 2022 @09:13AM (#30346638)

Mozilla is currently funded by Google but why are you assuming that a non-profit oriented Mozilla could not find other funding sources? All their past attemts seem to be about monetizing the browser but just like Google has been throwing cash at them there will be others whose motives are more alligned with Mozilla doing the same. As far as I am aware there is no way to donate to the development of Firefox and even if there was I and many others would not do so while Mozilla while the Google funding steers Mozilla's interests.

Would Mozilla be able to get as much without Google as they get from Google? Probably not, but if they do follow the suggestions of the OP then hopefully they would not need as much.

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