OSDL, FSG to Form The Linux Foundation

The two main drivers of the Linux operating system, Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) and the Free Standards Group (FSG) have joined forces to form the Linux Foundation, in an attempt to double their strength, wingspan and influence.

Jim Zemlin, who heads the Linux Foundation, has announced that the two industry consortiums are in the final stages of combining their respective operations. He says the focus for the foundation is on what the organization can do to help the Linux community more effectively and compete with its primary operating system rival Microsoft. The foundation will also look to expand the legal protection for developers and continue to provide a ‘safe haven’ for Linux kernel developers.

Zemlin said, “Computing is entering a world dominated by two platforms: Linux and Windows. While being managed under one roof has given Windows some consistency, Linux offers freedom of choice, customization and flexibility without forcing customers into vendor lock-in. The Linux Foundation helps in the next stage of Linux growth by organizing the diverse companies and constituencies of the Linux ecosystem to promote, protect, and standardize Linux.”

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In addition, the Linux Foundation will manage the Linux trademark and provide legal services, including the ‘Open Source as Prior Art’ project to defend against patent challenges and patent commons. According to news reports, the group will also support ongoing regional activities such as the Japanese Linux Symposium, and will work to foster closer collaboration among community developers, OSDL members and users to produce more code to advance open-source projects. In all, the Linux Foundation intends to become a single stop for Linux development.

Analysts say that the combination of the two Linux consortiums was inevitable. According to them, for Linux to be a long-term product for customers, it needs to be interoperable and backward compatible between old and new Linux releases. At present, Linux developers are required to tweak their applications, to run on six to seven different distributions.

The open source Linux operating system, is currently backed by IT giants such as IBM, Intel, Oracle and HP, among others. Zemlin is now keen for the foundation to attract new members particularly among end users, government agencies and individual developers.

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