this post was submitted on 24 Dec 2025
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Linux

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how to defend against embrace & extinguish? (sopuli.xyz)
submitted 9 hours ago by reksas@sopuli.xyz to c/linux@lemmy.world
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Since its looking more and more that popularity of linux is going to keep rising, I'm kind of worried about how corporations will respond. Way they do things has always been either just trampling weaker things or corrupting them if they cant. Has this topic been considered before in linux communities?

I really like everything about how linux related things work; how application repositories are full of nice things that fellow users have made because they wanted to and not necessarily to make money out of them. And the general wibe of being made for community by the community. And I want it to stay that way.

I think at some point, big corporations like microsoft or google will try adding their crap to the repositorys and try to make them used by majority. Maybe they will also try worming in into the development projects themselves and keep making things more compatible with their own systems or gain more influence over how things are done. Or maybe they are already doing this, i dont know.

I'm quite certain things will escalate more as linux usage rises, as it will directly mean less profits for the corporations (or less perceived profits, you know how they are). And if these things are not considered beforehand, it means the corporations will be able to do more damage before its reacted on and it might be too late by that point. At least that is how i feel about it.

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[–] ambitiousslab@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 hours ago

Here are some things I think can help hold back co-option:

  • As others have said, use copyleft licenses for your projects and consider licenses when choosing what to use or contribute to.
  • Use distros/package repos that are community-run and have firm stances on what is and isn't free software. Don't use proprietary software if at all possible - always look for an alternative.
  • Support open standards, open data and free culture projects like the fediverse, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia, XMPP, etc. If companies can't control the device, they will try and control the way your device interacts with the world and/or vital services instead. The more freedom we have in adjacent areas, the less they can get their foot in the door.
  • Support charities/volunteers who protect software freedom or adjacent causes, like the Software Freedom Conservancy, NLnet, your fedi admin, FSF, FSFE, EFF, etc.
  • Support some community-run projects you use either by contributing time, or money if the developer(s) ask for it.

I really like everything about how linux related things work; how application repositories are full of nice things that fellow users have made because they wanted to and not necessarily to make money out of them. And the general wibe of being made for community by the community. And I want it to stay that way.

Finally, if anyone is interested in what you think about it, share this point of view with them! I think what's been created is really neat too and the more people who care about the values and freedom, instead of just its technical capabilities, the more chance we have. The only way the big companies can succeed in co-opting this movement is if they can sway enough people who don't care about the values.