On: Mozilla Reaction to U.S. vs. Google

[wmf]

Sure, but how do we get the people to pay for Firefox?

[gilrain → wmf]

The first step is to let them. There is currently no way for a user to support Firefox development.

[fsflover → gilrain]

There is no chance that people could donate any amount comparable to what Google gives.

[gilrain → fsflover]

There are currently 220 million Firefox users[1]. If 10% of those paid $2 per month, it would be more than $500 million per year. Their Google deal is worth about $400 million in good years.

I imagine it would be fewer than 10%, but even the low single digits would be enough to run a slimmed-down company focused on Firefox alone.

[1] https://data.firefox.com/dashboard/user-activity

[srtjstjsj → gilrain]

Right, so, no chance.

Getting 10% to pay $2/mo for a free product with free alternatives is not going to happen, as it hasn't happened yet.

[sumedh → gilrain]

https://donate.mozilla.org/en-GB/

[detaro → sumedh]

Wrong Mozilla. Mozilla Corporation is developing Firefox (and giving its profits to the parent entity, Mozilla Foundation), the foundation isn't paying for Firefox development.

[abraxaz → detaro]

Yeah, AFAIK the donations all go to other causes. I could not find anything in writing regarding this on their site but this was explained to me on their IRC channel.

[gilrain → sumedh]

It has been confirmed many times that exactly zero of funds donated to the Mozilla Foundation go to Firefox, which is developed by the Mozilla Corporation.

[sumedh → gilrain]

Oh ok, didnt know that.

[tehjoker → wmf]

Personally, I would prefer public funding of a browser.