We're thrilled to announce our new project:
docs.coop/

Building on the great work of Suite Numerique (docs.numerique.gouv.fr/home/), we are offering an opportunity to be part of a new collaborative Docs platform as a service, that provides an ethical alternative to Google Docs, Office 365, Notion etc.

Docs is the result of a joint effort lead by the French 🥖 (DINUM) and German 🥨 (ZenDiS) governments which represents a paradigm shift in the way open source software is funded.

#workercoops #coops #FLOSS #privacy

Yes, software can/should be owned and operated by #coops as #FOSS code, so they are adding to the coding "commons" this bridges the more traditional vertical thinking to work in hand with the grassroot thinking.

They can be complementary with shared FOSS licences

#openweb power that is impossible for the traditional closed source world to reproduce.

This is about CONTROL and TRUST we have this chose in the wider world hamishcampbell.com/?s=control

I hugely respect, but disagree with @witchescauldron

Software should be owned and operated by #coops
of curators, editors, and software developers. Right now the big corporations use open source software for free, make all the money, and do not give back to the community.

Made an infographic about how VISA started and operated as a #coop for most of it's history. The founder Dee Hock envisioned expanding the membership to cardholders and merchants, not just banks.

This would have made it the largest coop the world had ever seen; with over 2 billion members, it's membership would have been almost twice as large as all other #coops in the world combined!

mutualinterest.coop/2023/02/vi…

Published on Mutual Interest, a coop owned by readers and writers.

VISA's founders vision of a global mega co-op - Mutual Interest Media

VISA’s founders vision of a global mega co-op

^{Leo Sammallahti (Mutual Interest Media)}

I've put a lot of work into this post so far entitled "So, er, what even is a co-op?"

Before I transfer it to the @weareopencoop blog, please take a look to help make it better! 💪

Comments that are welcome:

1. Help clarify confusing things
2. Correct spelling/grammar
3. Ask questions to go deeper or further into an issue

docs.google.com/document/d/13r…

(comments that are not welcome: "I don't like Google Docs" 🙄)

@wes @brianb @robert @hubert @deepbluev7 @mpjgregoire

#cooperatives #coops

So, er, what even is a co-op?

So, er, what even is a worker-owned co-op? When we founded WAO, we asked whether it was only “yogurt-knitting vegans” who set up co-operatives.

^{Google Docs}