Can Firefox Stick to its Open Source Roots?

Some fear huge profits from search deal make Mozilla a Google proxy

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 12, 2007 3:54 PM CST

(Newser) – The image of the Mozilla Foundation is that of Internet underdog—an open source, non-profit network of developers whose Firefox browser has nabbed 15-20% of the market from Microsoft's Internet Explorer. But as the New York Times reports, a Google tie-in deal has enriched the foundation's for-profit Mozilla Corporation subsidiary to the tune of $74 million in total assets, making it more like a typical Silicon Valley startup.

The contradictions are part of being what one analyst calls “the first corporate open-source project," and prompt speculation on tech sites like Slashdot that Mozilla is merely a proxy for Google in its war against Microsoft. Net expert and Columbia law professor Tim Wu says despite this, the alliance makes sense: “We’re living in a cold war between open and closed systems, and Google is happy to lend support to entities that it sees as allies."

Mozilla Corporation CEO Mitchell Baker. (Mozilla Corporation)

A car sports Firefox decals in support of last month's Firefox Rock Festival. ((c) firefoxrockfestival)

The Firefox logo. (Mozilla Corp.)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Firefox to Offer Do-Not-Track Tool ... With One Catch

Companies will first have to agree not to track you

(NEWSER) - If you don’t like the idea of online companies tracking your every move , you may want to start using Firefox. Mozilla announced its Web browser will be the first to answer the FTC’s call for a do-not-track system , the Wall Street Journal reports. Just one problem: In order for the browser's do-not-track feature to actually protect your privacy, tracking companies must first agree to stop monitoring users who have enabled the feature (its default setting will be "off")—and so far, no companies have announced they would do so. More»

New Sony Vaio PCs Will Include Google Web Browser

Facing Microsoft, search giant aims to expand market for Chrome

(NEWSER) - Google Chrome, languishing in the browser wars, will get a substantial boost thanks to a deal with Sony—which is shipping new Vaio PCs with Chrome pre-installed. Google is also talking to other computer manufacturers, the FT reports, as it attempts to weaken the dominance of Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which commands 68% of the field. Google Chrome, despite good reviews from techies, has only a 2% share after a year. More»

Google to Launch Web Browser

'Chrome' announcement appears in comic book

(NEWSER) - Google will soon launch its own Web browser, called Chrome, aiming to make web surfing easier and faster, the Wall Street Journal reports. The announcement is the latest volley in the long battle between Microsoft and Google, which released the news by sending a comic book outlining Chrome's features to a blog that follows the company. More»

Firefox Loses Some of Its Edge: Mossberg

It's not the fastest browser anymore

(NEWSER) - Mozilla's Firefox is still good, but it doesn't stand out as much as it used to, Walter S. Mossberg writes in the Wall Street Journal. The latest edition of the web browser, version 3.5, works well on both PCs and Macs, but "Firefox has lost its traditionally biggest advantage: greater speed than its rivals." In tests, Mossberg found that it often lagged behind Safari 4.02 and Chrome 2.0. More»

Tech Leaders Unite Against Microsoft

Nokia, IBM, Oracle join EU antitrust case over Explorer's dominance

(NEWSER) - A technology consortium whose members include IBM, Nokia, and Oracle has joined the European Commission’s antitrust case against Microsoft, the Financial Times reports. The consortium, Ecis, joins Google and the Mozilla Foundation in accusing Microsoft of using Windows to distort the web browser market in favor of Internet Explorer. Ecis member firms will testify against Microsoft, which was notified of the complaint by the EU's executive branch in January. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Can Firefox Stick to its Open Source Roots?

Some fear huge profits from search deal make Mozilla a Google proxy

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Google • Microsoft • Firefox • Mozilla

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Firefox to Offer Do-Not-Track Tool ... With One Catch

Companies will first have to agree not to track you

New Sony Vaio PCs Will Include Google Web Browser

Facing Microsoft, search giant aims to expand market for Chrome

Google to Launch Web Browser

'Chrome' announcement appears in comic book

Firefox Loses Some of Its Edge: Mossberg

It's not the fastest browser anymore

Tech Leaders Unite Against Microsoft

Nokia, IBM, Oracle join EU antitrust case over Explorer's dominance

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Can Firefox Stick to its Open Source Roots?

Some fear huge profits from search deal make Mozilla a Google proxy

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Google • Microsoft • Firefox • Mozilla

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Firefox to Offer Do-Not-Track Tool ... With One Catch

Companies will first have to agree not to track you

New Sony Vaio PCs Will Include Google Web Browser

Facing Microsoft, search giant aims to expand market for Chrome

Google to Launch Web Browser

'Chrome' announcement appears in comic book

Firefox Loses Some of Its Edge: Mossberg

It's not the fastest browser anymore

Tech Leaders Unite Against Microsoft

Nokia, IBM, Oracle join EU antitrust case over Explorer's dominance

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?