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I would argue that it's not about intent. The most reliable way to predict the behavior of a corporation is to expect them to take the action which will optimally help their bottom line.

So for instance, the team building VSCode might be the most altruistic FOSS diehards on the planet, but that doesn't matter if the people managing them see an opportunity to leverage their work to profit MS at the expense of developers.



Optimally help their stock price*, which is supposed to factor in longer term effects including developer community goodwill etc.


If you have compelling evidence of corporations choosing long-term "good will" over short term profits I would be very interested to see it


every generous return policy by a shop

every PR action

free(as in beer) software (e.g. visual studio)

charitable donations (e.g. google to wikipedia)

not pressing charges for rampant cracking (photoshop used by students/children)

diversity photo ops/hiring practices

non-firing of incompetent employees

free workshops or tours for the public/children


Those are almost all tax deductions or are required by law.




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