Nobody pays for FOSS, we can force them to

In a provocative post, Laurie Voss explores the persistent financial challenges facing open-source software maintainers. Despite the critical reliance of global infrastructure on FOSS, the current voluntary funding models remain largely ineffective. Voss argues that the industry must move beyond reliance on altruism or corporate goodwill. Instead, the author proposes a shift toward structural changes that effectively 'force' commercial entities to contribute back to the ecosystem. By integrating financial obligations into the supply chain or leveraging regulatory frameworks, the goal is to ensure that companies profiting from open-source code provide sustainable support for its development. The piece challenges the status quo, suggesting that without a shift from optional donations to mandatory participation, the long-term viability of essential software projects remains at risk. This perspective highlights the growing tension between the open-source ethos and the economic realities of modern software development.