No one owns the Bitcoin network, just like no one owns the technology behind email. Bitcoin is controlled by all Bitcoin users around the world. Developers can improve the software, but they cannot force changes to the rules of the Bitcoin protocol because all users are free to choose the software they want to use. In order to maintain compatibility with each other, all users also need to choose software that follows the same rules. Bitcoin can only work properly if all users reach a complete consensus. Therefore, all users and developers have a strong incentive to accept and protect this consensus.
