Re:Google pays ‘enormous’ sums to maintain search-engine dom...
by _aavaa_ on Friday September 09, 2022 @12:47PM
(#32781618)
But the fact that Mozilla continue to require Google's money to survive means that not enough people would make the same choice.
Re:Google pays ‘enormous’ sums to maintain search-engine dom...
by jorams on Friday September 09, 2022 @01:24PM
(#32782230)
While I don't think user payments would be enough to fund development, I don't think "they need Google's money" is evidence for it. It's not like paying for Firefox is currently an option.
Firefox is developed by the Mozilla Corporation. The closest thing to paying for Firefox is probably donating to the Mozilla Foundation, but that money is used for education and advocacy.
Re:Google pays ‘enormous’ sums to maintain search-engine dom...
by _aavaa_ on Friday September 09, 2022 @02:20PM
(#32782980)
> It's not like paying for Firefox is currently an option.
That's a choice made by the Mozilla Corporation, not a technical impossibility.
Re:Google pays ‘enormous’ sums to maintain search-engine dom...
by bink on Friday September 09, 2022 @01:02PM
(#32781891)
Perhaps, but also consider that they are only in this position because Google uses their search monopoly to fund development of a free alternative... much like Microsoft used their desktop OS monopoly to do the same in the 90s.
Mozilla's value to Google might be only being "the other guy", but Mozilla is valuable to me (a consumer) because they are producing a Firefox, which is a product I consider valuable.
Obviously I would prefer that Mozilla can find a self-sustainable business model to support Firefox development. But if I had to choose between "Mozilla doesn't exist" and "Mozilla exists only because it gets money from Google", then I choose the latter.