Can Microsoft ever become a non-profit organization

[NoToRiOuS1]

can any corporation of that size ever turn itself into a non profit organization even if that meant open sourcing windows and putting it under the general public license?

 

[Brackis]

That's like asking if Riprorin can ever respect a gay person.

 

[JoeKing]

sure, why not? But it wouldn't be able to maintain its size for very long.







unlike me

 

[DivideBYZero]

What motivation have they for doing that?

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
What motivation have they for doing that?

Indeed. In theory any company can. In practice that would mean not becoming richer yourself, and therefor hardly anyone will ever consider it.

 

[LostHiWay]

Originally posted by: faboloso112
can any corporation of that size ever turn itself into a non profit organization even if that meant open sourcing windows and putting it under the general public license?

Sure they could...I can name two huge ones off the top of my head.

Mastercard & Visa

 

[edro]

They could provide free OS to the public, and charge businesses... but that will never happen.

 

[Amused]

Why would they want to? Why should they?

 

[nineball9]

No. Microsoft is a public company owned by shareholders. A non-profit corporation can not issue shares (stock) nor pay dividends.

Short definition of a non-profit corporation.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: edro13
They could provide free OS to the public, and charge businesses... but that will never happen.

Why would they want to? Why should they?

You are aware that if businesses bear the total cost of all OSes, they will simply pass that cost on to consumers. Then ALL people pay for the OS, not just people with computers.

Pay for what you use. I honestly do not understand the mentality of entitlement.

 

[gsellis]

Originally posted by: nineball9
No. Microsoft is a public company owned by shareholders. A non-profit corporation can not issue shares (stock) nor pay dividends.

Short definition of a non-profit corporation.

QFT - The difference between non-profit and profit is stock and dividends. Non-profits CAN make money.

 

[gigapet]

they could probably do it if they bought all their stocks from the public.