Bonum Certa Men Certa

The Corporate Coup Against the Soul of the Free Software Community Is Not Over

Video download link | md5sum 7aae2b19743ecec30dc69a131f5871dd



Summary: The erosion of community role in the development of GNU/Linux is a growing problem; part of the problem is that large corporations target technical and philosophical (perceived) leaders in coordinated smear campaigns, led by media they own

THE operating system many people who read Techrights are using was developed in the mid 80s. It was developed initially by a man in his 30s, who recently embarked on a visit to eastern Europe to give talks in spite of all the mobbing from the media, mostly distracting from actual Epstein enablers and allies such as Bill Gates.



In the early 90s a young student from Finland developed an operating system kernel known as Linux. Together with the former, GNU, it adds up to a solid operating system with many pertinent programs, including GNU core utilities (new major release yesterday).

"Just like the Web, which was captured by large and monopolistic corporations that eventually put DRM in it, Linux is being captured by some of those same corporations and their agenda is similar."These two gentlemen and their friends spent decades developing a system which some have dubbed "revolution OS" -- an operating system (OS) which gradually replaces proprietary ones in every sector, whether it's servers or small devices (like phones). With locked-down things like handheld consoles and Chromebooks -- not that they advance freedom in any meaningful way -- this "revolution OS" (GNU/Linux) is fast becoming the de facto standard everywhere.

It's not too shocking that the big corporations are trying to control both GNU and Linux. But in order to accomplish this they've been trying to implement coups, a slow process by which they gradually weaken a community role or ownership (Linux Foundation is all about passing ownership to its sponsors).

“The trouble started when it [the Linux Foundation] cancelled the community representation...”
      --Techrights Associate
The video above is inspired by a chat we had this morning.

since doing this video the total number of known (to Lupa) Gemini capsules jumped a couple more to 1,668. We'll exceed 2,000 some time soon, maybe in a couple of months. Just like the Web, which was captured by large and monopolistic corporations that eventually put DRM in it, Linux is being captured by some of those same corporations and their agenda is similar.

We need to resist the coup. This means we need to support the founders, even those we don't always agree with. Power vacuums are almost always being filled by corporations, which sometimes themselves engineer those vacuums based on false pretexts. This accurately describes what has been done to Linus Torvalds, the founder of Linux.

“That CoC crap did its job in distracting from the infiltration and destruction. Heck, they even signed Linus up for unnecessary treatment.”
      --Techrights Associate
"Linus needs to take his trademark, fork the code, and walk," an associate of ours notes. "I hope he has at least given the idea consideration. I presume that regardless of his inclinations he is afraid of the huge amount of administrivia and financing required to start anew. The trouble started when it [the Linux Foundation] cancelled the community representation [...] the removal of community representation was a huge warning [as] the corruption arrived quickly. What could be done to ensure a slower takeover of a replacement institution? A lot of it comes down to the individuals participating and their integrity. However, they are supported in staying on track by sound guidelines and maybe the right charter. That CoC crap did its job in distracting from the infiltration and destruction. Heck, they even signed Linus up for unnecessary treatment."

"In Business Insider," I've noted, "they stated clearly that he had been signed for therapists as if he was mentally ill. Smacks of Communist Russia. I regard that a form of self-humiliation and degradation, akin to what was done to Assange to demoralise him [and] the stallman.org site has not been the same. RMS-lite, Linus-lite. That's how the authorities like it. Self-censorship. Lithuania says that China now enforces this using 'phones'."

“With Assange lies and disinformation still circulate. And some of those who were actively spreading those lies are still around in FOSS circles...”
      --Techrights Associate
The associate says that "inappropriate, wrong, and unnecessary medical treatment was / is used as a form of torture."

"With Assange lies and disinformation still circulate. And some of those who were actively spreading those lies are still around in FOSS circles..."

It may sound like it's all just "old news", but it is not. "The important thing is to show both that it has been a long-term problem and that it is highly relevant in the current environment," the associate stresses.

Recent Techrights' Posts

How to Identify Demonisation or Dehumanisation Tactics Against Interesting Figures or Luminaries in Free Software
Rather than in general or generally in technology
We Should Learn From Bulgaria
Why can't European companies and government recognise and react to a threat (when they see one)?
Canonical: Ubuntu is GAFAM (US), We're Resellers of American Proprietary Software
They want people to pay for a licence
Links 03/02/2026: "Distraction is a Sin" and Fake "Encryption" (Surveillance With Good Marketing)
Links for the day
 
Censorship/Free Speech and Social Control Media
It's important to have a grasp of how contemporary censorship works and how to tackle it
Google News as Slop Booster
this is what Google links to
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Tuesday, February 03, 2026
IRC logs for Tuesday, February 03, 2026
Gemini Links 04/02/2026: "Raspberry Pi Relaxes the Rules for Its RP2040 Hacking Challenge" and "Long Web Society"
Links for the day
IBM Falls by Over 10%
a recipe for disasters like accounting fraud
Links 03/02/2026: Windows Copies GNU/Linux, Windows TCO Shown Again
Links for the day
Gemini Links 03/02/2026: Alhena Turns One, Slop Rejected, and Max Roy Carrouges Recalled
Links for the day
Dr. Andy Farnell on Why and How European Authorities Can Adopt Free Software, Parenting in the Age of Digital Abundance
Will Europe use technology that Europe controls (not the hegemon), for a change?
Seems Like IBM Trolls Use Chatbots to Vandalise Platform That Discusses IBM's Secret Layoffs, Forever Layoffs
Not for the first time either
You Know Your Company is Dead or Basically a Pyramid Scheme When Jim Cramer Keeps Promoting Its Stock
How much does IBM pay for "puff pieces" or "fluff" about QC?
Red Hat (Under IBM) Works for Microsoft (Proprietary Software) and Slop
Yesterday Red Hat's official site, redhat.com, published exactly 5 new blog posts
IBM is Dying (More Layoffs), Red Hat Will Continue to Suffer From the Acquisition
Financial engineering
Colombia Adopting GNU/Linux Even Faster (at Microsoft's and Apple's Expense)
Do politics play any role in this?
An Effort to Tackle Slavery in 'Open Source' Clothing
"a civil rights lawsuit to examine the concerns of censored developers in the free, open source software ecosystem"
$15 billion lawsuit: Ubuntu, Google & Debian crowdfunding campaign launch
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Delusion - Part II - Why We Need to Expose the SRA to More Daylight, Public Scrutiny
SRA is neither effective nor regulated
400-Page US Federal Court Against Abuses by Google, Microsoft and Front Groups That Abuse Volunteers for American Corporations
There are 386 pages in total (in the US claim)
Corporate Influence Never Impacted Us
There's no reason to assume we'll ever "sell out"
Growth of GNU/Linux in Cuba
Right now a lot of the world drafts or already implements a GAFAM exit plan
A Day After EPO Strikes an Escalation to Heads of Delegations to the Administrative Council
They rely on the European media playing along, helping them to hide major blunders, even crimes
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Monday, February 02, 2026
IRC logs for Monday, February 02, 2026
Gemini Links 03/02/2026: Stargazing, Development Boards, and Tcl/Tk Slop
Links for the day
Microsoft Lost 20% of Its Money in the Past 6 Months
Microsoft is hiding what's really happening while mocking critics
Great News, IBM 'Gained' Almost 10% in "Goodwill" Value After Firing Tens of Thousands in 2025
"goodwill" will be inflated despite IBM staff getting sick of IBM
Americans Move to GNU/Linux
some of the biggest American populations
I Still Like Drawing and Various Other Arts (They Help My Activism and Journalism), Slop is an Enemy of Creative People
Recognise that slop isn't intelligence; it's a generational excuse for plagiarism and privatisation of not only the Commons but also proprietary knowledge (without authorisation)
Carmen-Lisandrette Maris (Mission:Libre) Explains to Adolescents and Young Adults How Free Software Improves Privacy
Based on what we've seen and read, Mission:Libre has a solid grasp of Software Freedom
Chatbots Didn't Do Any Good for Microsoft
Google "AI" = search + copypasta
Links 02/02/2026: Cultural Cleansing by China and 'Living Behind Firewalls" in Iran
Links for the day
GNU/Linux Measured at More Than 4% in Russia
growing adoption of GNU/Linux in Russia
Gemini Links 02/02/2026: Stages of Age, Workflows, and Counting Capsules
Links for the day
Oracle's Debt Rose Over 20 Billion Dollars in Just 3 Months
Is "hey hi" becoming a synonym for debt?
Oligarchs' 'Speech Zones' Are Not the "Public Square"
The apologists of social control media, including press that got "addicted" to such fake "media", are helping dictators and oligarchs grab the public attention away from the real press
IBM Misleads and Gaslights Investors With Slop Sold as "AI" (the Business is Waning, Mass Layoffs Continue)
People who do this are dishonest. They should not be put in charge.
Links 02/02/2026: 'Melania' a Horror Movie "Will They Inherit Our Blogs?"
Links for the day
Doing More Detailed Series (Long-Form Works)
Long readings or book-like reading binges are only possible when parts are suitably labeled (name and numbers) if not interlinked
Mobbing at the European Patent Office (EPO) - Part II - Racism, Cocaine Use and White-Collar Corruption
When you hire people illegally, to work for cocaine users and keep quite about the cocaine use, what will be the impact on the reputation of an institution?
A Can of WORMS - Part II - Darkening the Name of RMS, Associating It With Crime
Beware projection tactics
Submit Your Suggestions for EU's Embrace of Software Freedom by Tomorrow
Time to leave GAFAM (US) hegemony behind
Slopless Weekend
This is not sustainable
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Sunday, February 01, 2026
IRC logs for Sunday, February 01, 2026