You will find that many of the open source backing non-profits are trade organizations. Some notable examples:
- The Linux Foundation (which includes the CNCF and OpenJS Foundation)
- Rust Foundation
- Bytecode Alliance
I don't mean to provide an opinion on incentives (and they are different as the parent suggests). I just mean to share that trade organizations are already common.
Disclaimer: I work for SUSE but not on OpenELA. I am also a maintainer of CNCF projects and on the CNCF TOC.
Small nit but technically OpenJS is a separate 501c6 that is currently managed by the LF, they're not "underneath" the LF in the same way that CNCF is. Not sure why that's the case, probably just historical reasons since they were independent for a long time beforehand? Doesn't seem to change much operationally as they have the normal C6 structure with corporate members, etc.
- The Linux Foundation (which includes the CNCF and OpenJS Foundation)
- Rust Foundation
- Bytecode Alliance
I don't mean to provide an opinion on incentives (and they are different as the parent suggests). I just mean to share that trade organizations are already common.
Disclaimer: I work for SUSE but not on OpenELA. I am also a maintainer of CNCF projects and on the CNCF TOC.