> Is there really a clear line of authority between the glibc maintainers and RMS? Obviously, yes. RMS is currently the president of the FSF and glibc is a FSF

> Is there really a clear line of authority between the glibc maintainers and RMS? Obviously, yes. RMS is currently the president of the FSF and glibc is a FSF project, created and directed and maintained and funded by the FSF. Just because some developer parachutes into a project that doesn't mean the project owners lose their rights over the project, or that the developer becomes the new owner. If you want to contribute to a project, you do so by respecting and complying with the wishes of those directing the policy. The FSF started the glibc project and manages glibc's development and establishes the policies followed by the glibc project. It's the FSF, and not any random developer who just so happena to have commit access to a repository.