# Open source: We can force companies to pay maintainers

> Registries charge companies for open source supply, paying maintainers directly.
- Title: Open source: We can force companies to pay maintainers · Seldo
- Summary: Registries charge companies for open source supply, paying maintainers directly. Registries like npm can charge companies for supply chain access…
- Keywords: npm, open source, maintainers, supply chain, registry, software economics, funding, technology, startups, Open, source, force
- Source: Seldo — https://seldo.com/posts/nobody-pays-for-open-source-we-can-force-them-to
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: npm, open source, maintainers, supply chain, registry, software economics, funding, technology, startups
## The open source problem
Nobody pays for open source. We can force them to.

> Nobody pays for open source. We can force them to.
## The stable game
Open source is the dove. Closed source is the hawk.

> Open source is the dove. Closed source is the hawk.
## The equilibrium
Free wins share. Closed wins profit. Both win.

> Free wins share. Closed wins profit. Both win.
## The burnout
60% of maintainers quit or think about quitting.

> 60% of maintainers quit or think about quitting.
## The cost
11% of 1.2 million projects are actively maintained.

> 11% of 1.2 million projects are actively maintained.
## The solution
Registries charge companies for supply chain access.

> Registries charge companies for supply chain access.
## The payment
Royalties go directly to maintainers, pro rata.

> Royalties go directly to maintainers, pro rata.
## The registry
npm, PyPI, Docker Hub all have enterprise tiers.

> npm, PyPI, Docker Hub all have enterprise tiers.
## The problem
Companies pay for supply, not maintainers.

> Companies pay for supply, not maintainers.
## The market
JFrog, Docker, Sonatype make over $1 billion yearly.

> JF
## The fix
Registries meter corporate use and charge for it.

> Registries meter corporate use and charge for it.
## The payment
Royalties go to maintainers, pro rata.

> Royalties go to maintainers, pro rata.
## The registry
Registries own the domain and can charge.

> Registries own the domain and can charge.
## The test
Docker's revenue grew from $12m to $207m in 4 years.

> Docker's revenue grew from $12m to $207m in 4 years.
## The game
Free wins code. Default wins supply.

> Free wins code. Default wins supply.
## The future
AI agents are consuming open source faster.

> AI agents are consuming open source faster.
## Key takeaway

Registries like npm can charge companies for supply chain access, automatically distributing payments to maintainers without forks or charity.