| DesktopLinux.com drops support for Lindows Desktop Linux Summit |
Jan. 16, 2003
DesktopLinux.com is withdrawing our support for the Desktop Linux Summit originated by Lindows.com. We were approached by Lindows.com during the LinuxWorld conference last summer, with a request to provide a "platform" that could bring a vendor-neutral character to the conference. It was our impression that Lindows.com felt the conference was not drawing broad enough support from the Desktop Linux community and its vendors, and that they wanted to create a greater sense of vendor-neutrality by associating the conference with DesktopLinux.com.
Our response was that we would be glad to do that, provided the conference was indeed going to be vendor-neutral. To ensure that, we asked that a "Desktop Linux Summit Advisory Board" be formed, which would review and approve certain aspects of the conference such as its content, press releases, conference materials, etc., and this was accepted by Lindows.com.
Next, a special private discussion forum for the Desktop Linux Summit Advisory Board (made up of all the sponsors of the conference) was established at DesktopLinux.com, so that proposals and news regarding the conference, its agenda, and its materials could be posted for review, comment, and approval by the board members. And a conference website was established at DesktopLinux.com/summit/ to provide the desired vendor-neutral platform.
All appeared to be going smoothly. Based on this strategy and the promise of vendor-neutrality and the oversight of an Advisory Board, numerous companies and organizations signed up for the conference, press releases were issued, and an agenda was developed and published.
Then, last week, Lindows.com suddenly and unilaterally directed DesktopLinux.com to substitute a new agenda for the old one -- one that had not been discussed or reviewed with the Advisory Board. The agenda was a completely new one, with major changes such as substitution of Lindows.com CEO Michael Robertson for Open Source advocate Bruce Perens in the conference welcome keynote slot.
Based on this blatant disregard for the Advisory Board, which we felt was crucial to the vendor-neutrality of the conference, and the unilateral substitution of a completely new agenda, which is, of course, the heart of the conference, DesktopLinux.com no longer can lend its good name and dynamic community to supporting the event. Lindows.com is certainly within their rights to host a conference on any subject whatsoever, but DesktopLinux.com is committed to the principle of vendor neutrality in its editorial content and initiatives, and our continued support for the conference as its major media sponsor would constitute a violation of the trust that the community places in our objectivity.
It is important for us all to bear in mind that Linux depends heavily on community and collaboration. This is what has made GNU/Linux the fastest growing software technology in history, and this is Linux's most valued asset.
-- Rick Lehrbaum
Founder, DesktopLinux.com
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