Re: Mozilla For Profit?

Anthony Long wrote:

> Was wondering if some of the Mozilla board members on this list and
> others could weigh in on why the change and how the new corporation
> intends to make money and also thoughts on similar strategies for
> other consumer-facing open source projects like OpenOffice.org.

I read through the responses, and was surprised that nobody mentioned a
LLC (Limited Liability Company):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limited_liability_company (decent
reference, your mileage may vary and is bounded by the geo-legal space
you exist in)

Presently, I'm looking into things for myself related to
non-profit/not-for-profit (undecided at this point), but since the NGO
will not be based in the U.S., I am researching various arenas to do
what it is that I wish to do - which incorporates Open Source (such as
the MAHIN project that I am working on in Trinidad/Guyana), as well as
other things related to ICT in developing countries. So my context is
somewhat different, especially in a geo-legal space.

In the U.S. - and I believe that this is a U.S.-centric discussion
because of the context of what I have read - LLC is a viable option but
LLP (Limited Liability Partnership) is also nice in that it is more
flexible to partnership, which can be an asset in certain situations.
Hypothetically, it could allow other LLPs to be partners in a central
LLP - and since Open Source projects are typically modular, it might
make sense to plan for the financial and legal entities to have that
flexibility.

The disclaimer here is that I'm not looking for funding; I will be
funding it from my own pocket from an inheritance. One of the main
decisions that has to be made before deciding which path is taken is how
one, or a legal entity, expects to receive funding. 'Corporation' gives
lenders/venture capital folk all sorts of warm fuzzies that LLC and LLP
will never do. But from the context of the list as well, I expect that
venture capital is the focus of most discussion, and Corporation might
suit the needs better for a for-profit entity.

Yet the central question remains: How does one expect to get the money?
That is the ultimate decision that must be made before selecting a type
of legal entity. Manna from heaven looks pretty crappy on any business
plan... and that's another thing I would encourage being thought out
before deciding a legal structure. Knowing where the money comes from
and where it goes is a very important thing. I'm on page 44 of my
business plan right now... and I still haven't made concrete decisions
on the legal structure because I will be fitting the idea into one or
more of these existing structures. And yes, I'm using OpenOffice.org. :-)

-- 
Taran Rampersad
Presently in: San Fernando, Trinidad
[email protected]

http://www.knowprose.com
http://www.easylum.net
http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/Taran

"Criticize by creating." — Michelangelo