[canadianwriter]

The data is local, obsidian is just a markdown viewer at it's core. They have sync but that's a paid for product.

Their model is selling to large companies and sync users. Not data sales.

[Analemma_]

They also offer optional E2E encryption of synced vaults, such that you can only open them with your local password. Of course we can't know for sure that they're not peeking at the data, but it all seems above-board and I don't think it makes any sense to try and have that as a business model.

[ihuman]

> Their model is selling to large companies

I'm not sure if that's the case now. Why would companies pay for licenses when they're optional and don't give any features?

[Ferret7446]

The same reason companies contribute to FOSS projects and various charity efforts? Despite what many people believe, companies are not forced to make money at all costs.

[ffsm8]

Why should they have before? It was local and you could just use it?

[ihuman]

Before you were in violation of the terms of use, and most companies would rather pay for a license than risk a lawsuit