structural:reformatting, stylistic:tone
Open Communities

Open Standards, Open Source and Open Data are now a huge part of our economy, and all share a version of this problem. Propagated by the internet, our digital economy has made it easy copy and distribute information. Projects from operating systems to content management systems have been developed and maintained by a small group of contributors. Meanwhile a much larger number of individuals, companies, and governments benefit. This happens often without acknowledgement, let alone contributing back to the project. This dynamic has led to sustainability concerns, as core maintainers face burnout and underfunding despite the critical infrastructure role these digital public goods play. Scholars and advocates have highlighted the need for new models—such as public funding, corporate contributions, or support from government institutions.