March 4th, 2009
Linux Foundation takes on Linux.com
The Linux Foundation finally owns Linux.com.
Sourceforge, the previous owner, has transferred the domain to the foundation, and agreed to sell ads on the site. The Linux Foundation agreed, in turn, to handle editorial and community stewardship.
This looks like true creative destruction in action. The Linux Foundation gets its site and the opportunity to build news and forums into the address. Sourceforge gets a chance to sell advertising and reduces its costs.
Sourceforge had suspended publication of news on the site in December. Former Linux.com writer Bruce Byfield described how he replaced his income from the site in a January 3 blog post. He continues to survive hiccups and wrote a piece about the transfer for his new bosses yesterday.
Linux Foundation executive director Jim Zemlin offered nothing but praise to Sourceforge, noting they could have sold the name to the highest bidder but chose to approach the foundation instead.
At one time Linux.com claimed to serve 25 million users at the site. How many will it have a year from now? The foundation seems intent on letting users and developers direct the site for now, with no indications that editorial additions are imminent.
Got any ideas?
Dana Blankenhorn has been a business journalist for 30 years, a tech freelancer since 1983. You can follow Dana on Twitter. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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| 03/04/09
