Feed: Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Feed Link: https://www.engadget.com/
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Title: Nonprofit search engine Ecosia offers $0 for control of Chrome

Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2025 21:21:58 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/nonprofit-s...

Germany-based search engine and browser nonprofit Ecosia is the latest party
to make an offer for Google's Chrome. Questions about Chrome's fate have been
swirling since the news that the Department of Justice would push for Google
to sell the browser after the ruling that the company's search engine
business constituted a monopoly. Although Google is planning to appeal the
decision, that hasn't stopped other big tech businesses from pitching
themselves as potential owners of Chrome.

Ecosia's proposal is different. Rather than selling off the valuable browser
for an upfront windfall, this plan would see Google transforming Chrome into
a foundation. Ecosia would assume operational responsibility for the browser
for ten years, but Google would retain the ownership and intellectual
property rights. Under the arrangement, Ecosia would devote about 60 percent
of Chrome's profits toward climate and environmental projects. It wouldn't
pay a cent upfront for the stewardship role, but the remaining 40 percent of
Chrome's profits would be given back to Google. Considering Ecosia is
projecting Chrome to generate $1 trillion over the next decade, that's no
small potatoes.

On the surface, this idea is pretty far-out. However, going the stewardship
route would deepen an existing relationship between Google and Ecosia. Google
already powers the environmentally-focused benefit corporation's search
engine, and the two parties have an established revenue-sharing agreement.
Putting Chrome in the hands of a nonprofit rather than a for-profit rival may
actually be a positive for Google, both financially and in public opinion.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-
tech/nonprofit-search-engine-ecosia-offers-0-for-control-of-chrome-
212158739.html?src=rss

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