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If all Google wanted was GPL- and AGPL-free code, they're quite capable of assigning their own engineers / contractors to work on it rather than the more tortuo
by jsty 6y ago
If all Google wanted was GPL- and AGPL-free code, they're quite capable of assigning their own engineers / contractors to work on it rather than the more tortuous route of going via a 3rd party
- bluGill 6y agoTheir accountants probably prefer this route though. They don't get a competitive advantage by have a proprietary license, so open source is a good choice, but the GPL has issues they want to avoid. By going this route they can use tax breaks that are not available for doing the work in house. Sure it is more complex, but the results matter, and the result they are hoping for is someone else does work that they don't pay for.
- konschubert 6y agoAlso it's probably cheaper to fund an OS developer for a year than paying for lunch alone for their own engineers.
- jononor 6y agoWhat kinds of tax breaks are available for the case of using consultants instead of employees?
- bluGill 6y agoIt isn't consultants it is 501 charities doing the work. The charity hires the consultants. There are a lot of tricks needed to make the above work, and details that you need to consult a lawyer and accountant for.
- enriquto 6y ago> they're quite capable of assigning their own engineers but if they develop it for internal usage only, then they don't get the added benefit of destroying the existing copylefted version!