Linux Foundation is a Mediator for Microsoft et al, Not for Small Companies That Support Rather Than Attack the GPL

posted by Roy Schestowitz on Jun 08, 2025,
updated Jun 08, 2025

Many people still wrongly assume that because it is called "Linux Foundation", then it is pro-Linux and represents the same mindset

This morning someone in IRC pointed out that the Linux Foundation steps further away from Linux and now dips its fingers in Content Management Systems (CMSs) [1,2]; as we covered here repeatedly, even as recently as a few years ago, the Linux Foundation dumped WordPress and moved to proprietary software instead!

How are we meant to believe that those same people (who did this dumping of "Open Source") would look after the interests of a company which adopted the GPL more than 20 years ago, i.e. before the Linux Foundation even existed?

The press release is just misleading promotional garbage with openwashing [1,2] (we first saw it days ago and didn't know what it was about) and "Automattic did not immediately respond to a request for comment."[3] There's a Slashdot discussion about it [4], but this is not the old Slashdot. Today's Slashdot relays a fair share of Microsoft propaganda and anti-Linux FUD, so colour us sceptical.

Readers of the links below must bear in mind that the entity attacking Automattic is Microsofters or funded by the Microsofters (we covered this several times before), so one should be wary or exercise caution. Recall and remember that it's not shocking that this front group, LF, helps them (Microsoft is its biggest member and it has been like this for years; it hates Linux and it is against the GPL, too; it's all there in black and white in official documents, so don't expect LF to take advantage of "end of 10" to promote GNU/Linux).

"LF is poo," said a former LF employee to me. I still remember that. At least they recognise what LF truly is. Saying LF is bad isn't the same as saying Linux is bad because only about 2% of the LF's budget is devoted to the "L" in LF.

LF is a parasitic Microsoft-connected outfit that pretends to be something it isn't (or claims to speak for people whom it keeps attacking). In Russia it would be deemed "foreign agent" and "undesirable".

That "Automattic did not immediately respond to a request for comment" is revealing, but I don't know the details (not yet). It may be noted that the lack of comment may not mean much, but the aggressor wasn't Automattic.

So what LF does here is what Trump does with Putin. It's trying to become "buddies" with the aggressor (invader).

My guess about Automattic is, this whole thing didn't start with Automattic but the aggressor, reaching out for openwashing services with LF. Maybe they (Automattic managers) put a counter in, or maybe they still assess what it means to the them. If they oppose this or turn down or speak against what the LF is doing (like, later on, say next week...), then that'll mean LF is once again acting for 1) openwashers; 2) Microsoft.

While it is probably premature to comment (until or unless we see a response from Automattic), it's not irrational to remind people that both LF and the entity attacking Automattic are funded by Microsoft money. So far Automattic has been routinely criticised by us (e.g. [1, 2, 3]), but not for fighting back against an aggressor sponsored by Microsofters to leech and seed chaos. We know this experience [1, 2].

This is not just a personal interpretation of these things. "That Microsoft is trying to attack WordPress from two (or maybe even three) sides could be a topic to cover in depth," an associate said today.

We'll revisit this later when we see a position/stance not from the two Microsoft front groups.

"Many people don't realise that the attacker is Microsoft via proxies," the associate added, "and it's always important to take advantage of an opportunity to point out how Microsoft has infiltrated and neutralized LF. Now, if it is participating in the attack on WordPress, then it has declined further from merely being neutralised to become a tool or a weapon for Microsoft even if just a propaganda weapon." Remember newspeak? Well, GAFAM-controlled (via front groups) is now "FAIR". █

• References

  1. Linux Foundation Announces the FAIR Package Manager Project for Open Source Content Management System Stability

  2. Linux Foundation Announces the FAIR Package Manager Project for Open Source Content Management System Stability

  3. Linux Foundation tries to play peacemaker in ongoing WordPress scuffle

     Automattic did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

  4. Linux Foundation Tries To Play Peacemaker In Ongoing WordPress Scuffle