Linux Solutions

The Linux Foundation – the non-profit organisation that coordinates various Linux-orientated standardisation efforts and employs developers such as Linux founder Linus Torvalds - has added an individual membership, as opposed to corporate membership to the fold.

Individuals can now join through the site by paying a yearly fee that gives members a small amount of clout in Foundation issues, and a free T-shirt. Yes…

The Foundation’s vice president of marketing and developer programs, Amanda McPherson, says that although the Web-design mechanism is new, individual “affiliate” membership has been in the bylaws since the start.

“Our individual members are very important to us. The Linux community has grown to encompass individual advocates, companies, end users, and community developers. We’re working to accelerate collaboration between all of these groups, and our individual membership class is an important part of that,” she said.

The Linux Foundation was founded in 2007 when the Free Standards Group merged with Open Source Development Labs. The Foundations aim is to foster the “growth of Linux”.

Direct participation in the Foundation has always been available to corporate members, who pay fees ranging from $5,000 to $500,000. In addition to attending events and workgroups, corporate members had the right to vote on the board of directors. Platinum-level members receive a seat on the board, while gold-level members vote on an additional three seats, and silver-members vote on one seat.

If you want to be a part of the Linux Foundation then an individual affiliate membership will cost you $49 per annum. There are quite a few rules for the individual affiliate memberships;

*Affiliates do not gain the rights of full membership provided by in the Foundation bylaws. This includes the ability to start a work group or amend any bylaws.

*Affiliates do not have the right to vote as a class for “at-large directors,” and to run for at-large seats themselves. The bylaws that the affiliate can select two such at-large directors, with another chosen by the Foundations Technical Advisory Board, as well as a further two more appointed by the board itself.

And to seal the deal, affiliate members also get access to a quarterly newsletter, and their choice of three different T-shirts. Again, Yes!

The Foundation at present has eight platinum members, seven gold members, and 29 silver members. Although individual affiliate members may only have a small voice in steering the direction of the Foundation, it’s good to see the organisation become more open.