VSHN.timer #257: Open Source vs. corporate greed – who wins in the end?

Welcome to another VSHN.timer! Every Monday, 5 links related to Kubernetes, OpenShift, CI / CD, and DevOps; all stuff coming out of our own chat system, making us think, laugh, or simply work better.

Open source was supposed to be the great equalizer – free software, built by the people, for the people. But as big corporations get more involved, the lines between community-driven innovation and corporate control keep blurring. Are we witnessing the golden age of open source, or its slow transformation into just another business model? Let’s take a look at five key developments shaping the future of open-source business models.

1. IBM acquires HashiCorp: Open Source for sale?
   IBM has completed its acquisition of HashiCorp, absorbing one of the biggest names in open-source infrastructure. HashiCorp’s transition to a Business Source License (BSL) sparked controversy in 2023, and now, under IBM, the future of tools like Terraform and Vault is uncertain. Will IBM embrace the open-source spirit or tighten its grip?
   https://newsroom.ibm.com/2025-02-27-ibm-completes-acquisition-of-hashicorp,-creates-comprehensive,-end-to-end-hybrid-cloud-platform
   
2. Nextcloud vs. Microsoft: A fight for Fair Play
   Nextcloud has long been a vocal critic of Microsoft’s monopolistic tactics. Now, its CEO alleges that Microsoft offered them money to withdraw an EU antitrust complaint. If true, this would be a stark example of how big tech uses financial muscle to silence competition – leaving smaller open-source projects fighting an uphill battle (in German):
   https://dnip.ch/2025/02/24/nextcloud-chef-microsoft-wollte-uns-dafuer-bezahlen-dass-wir-die-beschwerde-zurueckziehen/
   
3. Who pays for Open Source?
   Perforce is demanding that open source users “pay their fair share” while itself contributing nothing back to the very open source projects that power Puppet Enterprise, says Ben Ford. The Puppet community – responsible for foundational tools, modules, and even securing major deals for Puppet – has been the real driving force behind the company’s success, yet Perforce continues to exploit this goodwill without acknowledgment or reciprocity. This blatant hypocrisy not only alienates the community but also undermines the fundamental give-and-take that makes open source sustainable.
   https://overlookinfratech.com/2025/02/28/paying-their-fair-share/
   
4. Mozilla’s controversial Terms of Use rewrite
   After a wave of backlash, Mozilla is rewriting Firefox’s Terms of Use. This incident highlights a broader tension in open-source projects: balancing user trust with financial survival. Mozilla’s struggle reflects a growing concern – how do you keep open-source principles intact while still paying the bills?
   https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/03/mozilla-rewrites-firefoxs-terms-of-use-after-user-backlash/
   
5. The future of web browsers & Open Source
   Web browsers are one of the most critical pieces of software, yet their development is increasingly controlled by corporate interests. This article explores the future of browsers in a world dominated by Google – and whether open-source alternatives stand a chance.
   https://www.bitecode.dev/p/web-browsers-and-our-future-as-developers

Open-source software is at a crossroads. The ideals of free and open collaboration are clashing with financial realities and corporate influence. Will companies find sustainable ways to fund open source without compromising its principles, or will we see more projects swallowed by big tech?

Should open-source projects accept corporate funding, even if it risks corporate influence? How can open-source developers ensure long-term financial sustainability? Are we heading toward a future where open-source software is just another corporate tool? Get in touch with us, and see you next week for another edition of VSHN.timer.

PS: check out our previous VSHN.timer editions about Open Source: #152, #170, #191, #194, #214, #234, #235, #256

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