{"id":29748,"date":"2020-08-11T16:04:06","date_gmt":"2020-08-11T20:04:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/?p=29748"},"modified":"2021-01-06T16:24:53","modified_gmt":"2021-01-06T21:24:53","slug":"mozilla-layoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/11\/mozilla-layoffs\/","title":{"rendered":"Mozilla Layoffs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Frederic Lardinois<\/a>, in January (via Hacker News<\/a>):<\/p>\n

Mozilla laid off about 70 employees today, TechCrunch has learned.<\/p>\n

In an internal memo, Mozilla chairwoman and interim CEO Mitchell Baker specifically mentions the slow rollout of the organization’s new revenue-generating products as the reason for why it needed to take this action. The overall number may still be higher, though, as Mozilla is still looking into how this decision will affect workers in the U.K. and France. In 2018, Mozilla Corporation (as opposed to the much smaller Mozilla Foundation) said it had about 1,000 employees worldwide.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

Mitchell Baker<\/a> (via Hacker<\/a> News<\/a>, 3<\/a>, Jacob Kastrenakes<\/a>):<\/p>\n

Today we announced a significant restructuring of Mozilla Corporation. This will strengthen our ability to build and invest in products and services that will give people alternatives to conventional Big Tech. Sadly, the changes also include a significant reduction in our workforce by approximately 250 people.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

To start, that means products that mitigate harms or address the kinds of the problems that people face today. Over the longer run, our goal is to build new experiences that people love and want, that have better values and better characteristics inside those products.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

Recognizing that the old model where everything was free has consequences, means we must explore a range of different business opportunities and alternate value exchanges. How can we lead towards business models that honor and protect people while creating opportunities for our business to thrive? How can we, or others who want a better internet, or those who feel like a different balance should exist between social and public benefit and private profit offer an alternative? We need to identify those people and join them. We must learn and expand different ways to support ourselves and build a business that isn’t what we see today.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

This is all rather vague, but it sounds like they want to diversify away from Firefox and have laid off<\/a> most of the Servo team. What could be more important to the mission than maintaining an independent browser engine? On the other hand, Firefox is expensive to develop, and it’s not clear how to replace the funding that had been provided by its primary competitor.<\/p>\n\n

Catalin Cimpanu<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Mozilla’s contract with Google to include Google as the default search provider inside Firefox is set to expire later this year, and the contract has not been renewed. The Google deal has historically accounted for around 90% of all of Mozilla’s revenue, and without it experts see a dim future for Mozilla past 2021<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

Maciej Stachowiak<\/a>:<\/p>\n

For Mozilla folks looking for a landing spot, Safari and WebKit teams have a number of openings.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

Previously:<\/p>\n