Bonum Certa Men Certa

Guest Contribution: Open Software is Not Open Source

posted by Roy Schestowitz on Oct 27, 2024

provides a neutral, trusted home for developers to collaborate on open software projects

A reader wrote to comment on our article about the Linux Foundation. “The Linux Foundation has turned the important domain into a site that alienates its former readers,” we said.

The reader responded to that by saying: "You're not wrong. It's from the MS Playbook. Join an organization and subvert it from the inside. Seems to be a strategy to replace Open Source with “open software”..."

This reader is deeply familiar with Microsoft's internal documents (obtained through subpoena) because he helped curate them. These are familiar tactics and now, with Microsoft and Bill Gates inside the so-called 'Linux' Foundation, we can expect it to be another Outercurve or CodePlex.

This reader has noticed the following passage. https://www.linuxfoundation.org/ says “The Linux Foundation provides a neutral, trusted home for developers to collaborate on open software projects” (yes, "open software").

We added a screenshot at the top too

Peixin Hou [Director at The Linux Foundation] is currently serving as the Chief Architect of Open Software...”

The so-called "Linux" Foundation.

Used to be Linux.

Then "Open Source" (and only 2% Linux).

Then openwashing PR (calling proprietary stuff "open" in exchange for payments).

Now "open software".

Whatever that is...

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