More generally, if a company uses software X (open-source or not), they need to: a) make a contract with a company that takes responsibility for X, or b) hire

More generally, if a company uses software X (open-source or not), they need to: a) make a contract with a company that takes responsibility for X, or b) hire somebody who takes responsibility for X, or c) take responsibility for X on your own It doesn't help to "buy" closed-source software X from another company if you can't count on them in case of emergency, i.e. if they vanish, go bankrupt or put their lawyers onto you. Then, better take open-source software where you can take responsibility on your own, for which it may help to hire one or more of the lead developers.