Firefox: What happens when “open source” makes big profits?

Written by Darren Hewer

While AOL is discontinuing support for Netscape (the archaic browser) Netscape’s open source offspring, Firefox, is going strong. Current stats show that Firefox comprises around 14% of web browser use. Although this pales in comparison to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (around 79%) it is still IE’s strongest competitor.

Its great success, however, brings new problems, such as: Will Mozilla Foundation (the non-profit group which controls Firefox intellectual property) go public? Sillicon Alley Insider comments:

Mozilla’s earnest Mitchell Baker and friends will, of course, publicly say "NEVER!" But let’s be serious. Why wouldn’t the Mozilla Foundation, which presumably exists to do good for the world, want to be the proud possessor of several billion dollars worth of public company stock?

According to SAI’s follow-up, Mozilla’s operating profits were already an impressive $47 million in 2006 (presumably higher in 2007).

Should Mozilla go public? Would such a move be ethical, considering that it would seem to be a conflict of interests to the foundation’s original mission?