Mastodon just took a bold step by transitioning to a nonprofit structure to ensure its independence and protect against future risks, like being “ruined by a billionaire CEO.” In doing so, it highlights a critical issue for open-source projects: ownership of domains, intellectual property, and the vision of the platform.

This move feels like a direct response to the ongoing drama in the open-source world, where Automattic’s CEO Matt Mullenweg has aggressively gone after WP Engine while asserting control over WordPress.org. The saga is a reminder that even in open source, centralized ownership of key assets can have massive consequences. Mastodon’s shift serves as a model for other projects looking to prioritize community trust and eliminate the risks of single-leader ownership. It’s a lesson that could shape the future of open-source governance.

Mastodon’s founder cedes control, refuses to become next Musk or Zuckerberg

Mastodon shifts to nonprofit ownership, calls for $5M in donations to expand.