09.03.19
Gemini version available ♊︎Openwashing Report: The Linux Foundation Champions Openwashing of IBM
Summary: Everything is nowadays “open”; just pay the membership/sponsorship fees to the Linux Foundation, which will ‘do the rest’ (outsourcing everything to Microsoft and working with its media partners on dishonest openwashing campaigns); this first part (of three) deals with IBM
DOES Jim Zemlin speak for Open Source? No, he does not. He does not even use it and he’s fronting for foes of Open Source. Sadly, a lot of imposers and phonies like him are hijacking representative roles in our communities. They claim to be speaking on our behalf and politicians are listening.
Let’s look at some new examples of openwashing by the Linux Foundation (of massive proprietary software companies).
IBM
Former IBMer and former Microsofter Jason Perlow (we wrote about him many times before) now helps the openwashing of IBM's overpriced hardware (former employer) by the Linux Foundation at the CBS-owned tabloid, ZDNet. He did lots of Microsoft propaganda there while working for Microsoft (salaried by Microsoft). This is considered ‘normal’ at ZDNet. Lots of Microsoft boosters work there as so-called ‘reporters’, but they’re no better than Microsoft Peter (still arrested for pedophilia).
“Former IBMer and former Microsofter Jason Perlow (we wrote about him many times before) now helps the openwashing of IBM’s overpriced hardware (former employer) by the Linux Foundation at the CBS-owned tabloid, ZDNet.”As we noted last month, POWER (or ‘Open’POWER) isn’t open source or open-source or Open Source or whatever. InfoQ has just correctly spoken of the “Instruction Set”, which is what actually got ‘opened’ (uploaded to Microsoft, GitHub). It often seems like the main service offered by the Linux Foundation is outsourcing. Where to? Microsoft. So the Linux Foundation is as much about Linux as NSA is about “Security” (it’s in the name, the second letter of the acronym). GitHub is proprietary software — a simple fact that never seems to bother Mr. Zemlin (he blessed the takeover by Microsoft) as long as GitHub gives his foundation a bunch of cash. What on Earth is this foundation turning into? Like we said a week ago, it’s more about Microsoft than about Linux. Can we suggest the following rebrand?
Please do note that POWER has nothing to do with Red Hat; Red Hat’s offerings have traditionally been fine (relatively ethical) and didn’t need faking ‘openness’. This post of ours is all about IBM, not Red Hat.
We have meanwhile noticed some more openwashing pieces about IBM uploading some bits of design to Microsoft (it’s Open Core). Microsoft front ‘Motley Fool’ (yes, chain of ownership) wrote that “Big Blue offers the world a blueprint for its Power CPUs, reducing some companies’ dependence on proprietary technologies.”
By outsourcing some stuff to proprietary GitHub? Oh great! How open! How very gracious…
The headline said “IBM’s Latest Move Could Hurt Intel and AMD…”
“By outsourcing some stuff to proprietary GitHub? Oh great! How open! How very gracious…”Like Microsoft, Intel and AMD have their own openwashing operations as well. They too are outsourcing most of this stuff to GitHub (i.e. to Microsoft); proprietary software is all “open” now.
Just remember: “There’s a GitHub repo” means there’s something on a Microsoft-controlled proprietary software platform.
Being on GitHub implies neither FOSS nor public access. A lot of the stuff is proprietary and Microsoft dubs that “Inner Source”… you are merely a ‘guest’ on Microsoft’s private platform (where censorship is rife and utterly prejudiced), but you get to tell people that you ‘share’ and ‘collaborate’…
We’ve also just noticed Analytics India Magazine writing about this openwashing endeavour from IBM (backed by the Linux Foundation of Mr. Zemlin for extra marketing impact).
How about “IBM’s Open Source POWER Play: A RISC-V Business?”
“As we explained last month, IBM is openwashing POWER (or ‘Open’POWER) to distract from Free/libre stuff such as RISC-V.”RISC-V is without a doubt a positive development. It’s great, no doubt, but some are faking it and openwashing by association (as even some key members of the RISC-V Foundation did). IBM put Red Hat in it earlier this summer and now it’s looking to compete by making POWER seem ‘equally’ open (or more open or nearly as open… just something ‘open’).
As we explained last month, IBM is openwashing POWER (or ‘Open’POWER) to distract from Free/libre stuff such as RISC-V. ‘Open’POWER is nothing new; they’re sort of re-announcing it, this time with help from the Linux Foundation. Remember Zowe, the “Open Mainframe Project”? Also Linux Foundation. Just try to ignore all the patents and what happened with TurboHercules. IBM is as protectionist as ever.
In the next part we’ll be dealing with the openwashing of Microsoft by this so-called ‘Linux’ Foundation. It’s even uglier than whatever the Foundation does for IBM. █
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