Recent: 2020 is the Year When the Open Source Initiative Became (More Officially) Defunct (video below)



Summary: The Open Source Initiative (OSI) stand abandoned this year at FOSDEM; “Looks like the only stand abandoned is OSI,” we've been told

AT FOSDEM, according to a source of ours, the OSI stand was "abandoned". For those who don't know, FOSDEM is happening this weekend. "Looks like the only stand abandoned," says our source, "is OSI" (link here).

"This year's virtual FOSDEM has stands for many different projects etc," the source explains, "and community participants discuss various topics in the stand chats."

The links confirm.

“Looks like the only stand abandoned is OSI.”
      --Anonymous"Not that I would ever go," the source notes, "but... wow."

List of Stands is here and the "OSI is listed but seems abandoned," the source says. "Here is a post on OSI [Web site] about attendance at FOSDEM, but it looks like the "non-elected" interim general manager has all but abandoned the stand... interesting... no?"

"There's time for individuals and even the non-elected interim general manager to present," our source concludes (more here). "I admire her courage to admit she has problems completing tasks... funny, but not really surprising. At any rate, the OSI seems to have completely abandoned the OSI stand and chat for the stand?"

"Given the degree of corporate infiltration, however, we doubt any person would be allowed to get this job to set the OSI back on track."Our source has also mentioned the typos-filled post. To quote: "FOSDEM is a long running free and open source community event that has moved online for its 21st year. This year's event will be a little different, but the silver lining is that you have the option to particpate [sic] at home, without any travel. This year's talks are all pre-recorded, and the speakers will be online to answer questions right after the intitial [sic] broadcast. If you want to be part of the live conversation, you'll have to join the conference in real time."

The other day we said that the upcoming choice of permanent leadership (one person alone) will be a "make or break" moment for the OSI. Given the degree of corporate infiltration, however, we doubt any person would be allowed to get this job to set the OSI back on track. The infiltration is led by proprietary software vendors looking for openwashing PR, i.e. the opposite of Free software or a clear distortion of the concept. ⬆