The Linux Foundation is a body that directly supports Linux and many other open source projects. It's a well known and important part of the Open Source ecosystem.

Members of the Foundation can be Corporate Members (on different levels) or Individual Members. Individual members pay a yearly subscription of 99$. Representatives from both companies and individuals have places on the Foundation Board.

Recently the Foundation quietly changed its bylaws to no longer allow Individual Members to vote for their representative and can no longer have the option to run for these elections. At the same time, the name of "Individual Members" has been renamed to "Individual Supporter" while still needing to pay the same subscription fee. This means that the only paying members with official decision powers are the Corporate Members.

We, the signers of this petition, believe that this move will hurt relations with the Open Source communities in general and the Linux community in particular. The idea of a community is a key component of the Open Source world and it's very important that the members of the community have a voice in the group where they activate.

This is not a movement against the Linux Foundation, but rather a move to show the Linux Foundation that people still want to be close to Foundation's life and respectfully ask that the decision regarding the Individual Members be reverted. Giving back the rights of the Individual Members will show that the Linux Foundation is still interested in each and every open source enthusiast.

Thank you!