73.2% of Linux Edits are Corporate in Origin

Via Nicholas Carr, a recent survey of the changes to Linux over the past three years shows that 73.2% of the changes to the kernel are from corporations (IBM, Red Hat, Novell, etc.). Carr sees this as the triumph of the market enclosing the free labor of peer production.

The shift in Linux kernel development from unpaid to paid labor, from volunteers to employees, suggests that the Net doesn't necessarily weaken the hand of central management or repeal old truths about business organization.

I think this is a notable occurrence, but not entirely unforeseeable. These corporations have a high incentive to improve Linux due to their reliance on it. However, it is still interesting that these disparate organizations are working together through often informal chains to create something of such value.

Although it dealt with websites, this could also serve to influence the outcome of the Carr-Benkler Wager.

I'll be sure to update this post as others weigh in with more enlightened views.