Open Source Still Profitable, But Innovators Capture Only 2.2% of Value
FinanceYF5 · x · 2026-08-12
The author argues that open weights don't mean developers can't profit; rather, profits shift to new areas. Research indicates that innovators capture only about 2.2% of the total social value they create.
Real profits typically flow to those who control data, distribution, customer relationships, and service networks. For example, while EMI invented the CT scanner, the market was ultimately dominated by giants like GE and Siemens.
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