@icedquinn @j I have thought about the idea of, software companies putting their source code into like an escrowed account with the library of congress, to be released at some future point. there are numerous problems with this though, mainly that even I don't think it should be mandatory, I just think it's good to open source your stuff after even you've determined it's not economically viable anymore.

a big problem with this is, capitalism treadmill. maybe a game has died but if you suddenly make it free then a lot of people will just play it forever and not buy your new thing. probably not that many people but enough to annoy the company