Key Organizations in Free & Open-Source Software - The Linux Foundation
The Linux Foundation is a non-profit consortium supported by a wide range of computer, software and information technology companies.
There are three levels of membership (Platinum, Gold and Silver), principally aimed at computer/software industry companies, and also various levels of affiliation, more suited to end-users and other interested organizations (but also available to individuals who wish to become affiliates).
The goal of the consortium is to promote, protect and standardize Linux: - The Linux Foundation provides legal services and sponsorship for key Linux developers, including Linus Torvalds.
Legal services including managing the Linux trademark, supporting the US Patent Office use open source software as prior art, developing a patent commons, and sponsoring the Linux Legal Defense Fund (a fund which offers to "defray legal expenses of Linux end users who may become involved in litigation with The SCO Group on issues that affect the Linux community and industry").
- The Foundation develops, promotes and supports standards such as the Linux Standard Base (LSB) which simplifies the task of software vendors who wish to develop applications that can run on multiple Linux distributions.
- The Foundation promotes Linux itself, and collaboration around Linux.
For example, by providing spokespeople to talk on Linux issues, and by organization and hosting collaboration events.
The Linux Foundation was formed in January 2007 as a result of the merger of two previous organizations: the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL), and the Free Standards Group (FSG).
The Foundation has offices in San Francisco, California and Tokyo, Japan.
There are three levels of membership (Platinum, Gold and Silver), principally aimed at computer/software industry companies, and also various levels of affiliation, more suited to end-users and other interested organizations (but also available to individuals who wish to become affiliates).
The goal of the consortium is to promote, protect and standardize Linux: - The Linux Foundation provides legal services and sponsorship for key Linux developers, including Linus Torvalds.
Legal services including managing the Linux trademark, supporting the US Patent Office use open source software as prior art, developing a patent commons, and sponsoring the Linux Legal Defense Fund (a fund which offers to "defray legal expenses of Linux end users who may become involved in litigation with The SCO Group on issues that affect the Linux community and industry").
- The Foundation develops, promotes and supports standards such as the Linux Standard Base (LSB) which simplifies the task of software vendors who wish to develop applications that can run on multiple Linux distributions.
- The Foundation promotes Linux itself, and collaboration around Linux.
For example, by providing spokespeople to talk on Linux issues, and by organization and hosting collaboration events.
The Linux Foundation was formed in January 2007 as a result of the merger of two previous organizations: the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL), and the Free Standards Group (FSG).
The Foundation has offices in San Francisco, California and Tokyo, Japan.
