Following this story has prompted a few questions, figured some HN users would have the background to fill it in. What is the value in owning Freenode IRC? Wh

Following this story has prompted a few questions, figured some HN users would have the background to fill it in. What is the value in owning Freenode IRC? What is Andrew Lee trying to achieve here? From the outset, the most likely outcome seems to the one occurring. Disruption of the existing organisation following by splintering of the user base and forever declining relevance of the organisation. But unless that was the goal, I'm confused as to why.