5 ms·

Not disclosed in this post: Microsoft is a platinum sponsor of the Linux Foundation, which has a price tag of at least $500k per year.

d3sandoval 8y ago
> ...and they are backers of The Linux Foundation, the Apache Software Foundation, the Open Source Initiative and many similar efforts. Looks like disclosure to me
- kragniz 8y ago
  I guess so, but it downplays the amount of cash they're giving to the organization that employs the author of this post.
  - andrewmcwatters 8y ago
    Enough to pay for less than 5 engineers a year? Okay.
    - ConceptJunkie 8y ago
      Yeah, Microsoft can find $500,000 in the couch cushions. It's not even a rounding error for them. It doesn't mean it's not a good thing they're doing it, but it's not like that's a huge contribution.
      - dragonwriter 8y ago
        It's not huge to Microsoft, sure, but it's signficant enough to the Linux Foundation that it effects the independence of any LF reaction to Microsoft (especially since their stance toward Platinum members affects the attractiveness of the membership in general, not just for the member they respond to.)
  - seeekr 8y ago
    I believe it is quite clear to many of us familiar with the space that Microsoft is not some small-time backer of the Linux Foundation and other, related organizations. I certainly did not feel the least bit of an attempt to downplay MS' financial contribution in light of the subject of the conversation.
geggam 8y ago
Is that not tax deductible ? They get a write off and your support as well as the marketing bits.
- IncRnd 8y ago
  My understanding is that the GP was commenting about the author's biases not those of Microsoft. Those are two entirely different perspectives. It doesn't apply here that Microsoft gets a deduction.
- stealthmodeclan 8y ago
  How much is the write off on such donations? Surely can't be 100%.
erikb 8y ago
Despite what I said in the other comment, I have to admit that it's not just a sponsor but also one of the biggest contributors of commits.
linuxftw 8y ago
Also, they have an employee on the board.

d3sandoval 8y ago

> ...and they are backers of The Linux Foundation, the Apache Software Foundation, the Open Source Initiative and many similar efforts. Looks like disclosure to me

kragniz 8y ago
I guess so, but it downplays the amount of cash they're giving to the organization that employs the author of this post.
- andrewmcwatters 8y ago
  Enough to pay for less than 5 engineers a year? Okay.
  - ConceptJunkie 8y ago
    Yeah, Microsoft can find $500,000 in the couch cushions. It's not even a rounding error for them. It doesn't mean it's not a good thing they're doing it, but it's not like that's a huge contribution.
    - dragonwriter 8y ago
      It's not huge to Microsoft, sure, but it's signficant enough to the Linux Foundation that it effects the independence of any LF reaction to Microsoft (especially since their stance toward Platinum members affects the attractiveness of the membership in general, not just for the member they respond to.)
- seeekr 8y ago
  I believe it is quite clear to many of us familiar with the space that Microsoft is not some small-time backer of the Linux Foundation and other, related organizations. I certainly did not feel the least bit of an attempt to downplay MS' financial contribution in light of the subject of the conversation.

geggam 8y ago

Is that not tax deductible ? They get a write off and your support as well as the marketing bits.

IncRnd 8y ago
My understanding is that the GP was commenting about the author's biases not those of Microsoft. Those are two entirely different perspectives. It doesn't apply here that Microsoft gets a deduction.
stealthmodeclan 8y ago
How much is the write off on such donations? Surely can't be 100%.

erikb 8y ago

Despite what I said in the other comment, I have to admit that it's not just a sponsor but also one of the biggest contributors of commits.

linuxftw 8y ago

Also, they have an employee on the board.