IRS Looking at Google/Mozilla Relationship

ric482 writes "With the release of the Mozilla Foundation's 2007 financial report, questions have been raised by the IRS, who are due to perform an audit on the non-profit organization behind the massively popular Firefox browser. Last year, the Foundation received $66 million of its total $75 million revenue (88 percent) from search engine maestros Google, so the IRS are looking for blood over the organization's tax exempt status. Back in 2006, Mozilla got $59.5 million from Google — around 85 percent of the organization's revenue. Google and Mozilla are part of a 'you scratch my back, I'll pay your bills' sort of agreement, with the Google search bar firmly placed in the toolbar, and on the default homepage. Things were a bit rocky a couple of months back when Google unveiled the Beta-run of its Chrome browser, but Mozilla and Google hugged it out and sealed a deal that will last for another three years. That deal will expire in November 2011."

Comments

Blame Microsoft

[plover]

Why not blame Microsoft? Maybe they filed a complaint with the IRS.

Unleash the conspiracy theories!

Re:Blame Microsoft

[Anonymous Coward]

> Why is it that Firefox has been out since my
> early college days

Because you're very young.

Re:Blame Microsoft

[confused one]

Why is it that Firefox has been out since my early college days

Why you young whipper snapper. I remember when Lynx and Mosaic first came out. When pages were all TEXT. And we LIKED it.

For that matter, I remember computers before any of this fancy "graphics" stuff was common. Before X. Before the Mac. Before Windows.

*grumble* firefox *grumble* young people *grumble

Re:Blame Microsoft

[fugue]

Exactly. The issue here is that Mozilla Foundation is a non-profit organization, but Google clearly is not. Presumably IRS could be interested in exactly how close ties they have.

Yeah, but doesn't Google qualify for tax-exempt status as a religious organisation?

Re:Blame Microsoft

[ColdWetDog]

Yeah, but doesn't Google qualify for tax-exempt status as a religious organisation?

I believe you are thinking about Apple.

Re:Blame Microsoft

[GoodNicksAreTaken]

mIcRoSoft is the IRS!

Laundering

[Swizec]

It's true then! Google is really an evil Mafia-type organizations hence the quick rise to popularity and Mozilla is their money laundering machine!

The gig is up guys!

Here we go again

[Trollmastah]

seek topost (thatflamebait);
Firstpost (the thread, fast);

while ($natalie) {
petrifies $to($stone);
not grits;
}

accept the, moderation;
seek the, $-1Troll, $-1offtopic'
and wait;
stat thekarma;

unlink and listen (for, $theflames);

for (a, karmawhore our /.) {
system ("is trollheaven");
--

Re:Why go after Mozilla?

[Sir_Lewk]

Damn, I was hoping that'd be a link to the wikipedia page for wikipedia.

Re:Yea, microsoft is guiltless on this one too

[Anonymous Coward]

Ever since I put a MS sticker on my bumper, I have yet to get pulled over. Also, tinfoil hats are quite fashionable. The trick is to find real tin foil.

Re:Link?

[frenchbedroom]

What, you wanted us to RTFA ? You must be new here.

Solution to the economic crisis

[russotto]

The IRS seems to have the usual paradigm a bit confused.

1) Find one of the few sectors making a profit
2) Take them down
3) ????

Re:Solution to the economic crisis

[Arthur B.]

If it moves tax it.
If it still moves, tax it more.
If it's stopped moving, subsidize it.

Re:Why go after Mozilla?

[Anonymous Coward]

Have you ever seen them both in the same room at the same time?

* They both have strong views on "truth"
* They are both often heavily criticised
* Both are highly self-referencing

Hmmm....

Re:What makes Mozilla different?

[sootman]

They'll do that by auditing the books, piling through receipts and conducting interviews with appropriate personnel.

I smell a new TV show! Like CSI, but with accountants!