According to: http://www.linuxfoundation.org/about/members : Linux foundation members: Platinum:Fujitsu Hitachi IBM Intel NEC Oracle Qualcomm (QUIC) Gold:AMD China Mobile Cisco Etri Google HP Motorola NetAPP Nokia Novell Panasonic Toyota Silver: skipped This remainds me of ISO committees. It's there to facilitate open international standards, but over the time the organisation was infested with big corporations and interest groups. They pay big money for sitting in the committees which work on standards, vote on the them and publish them. This kind of system allows members to influence standars and maintain awareness of developments. Is there any place for community there? NO This kind of organization is not for small companies or communities. The decision is not surprising, all of the members have significant patent portfolios and long history of patent fights. Do they want community? NO, their goal is to marginalise organisations such as FSF. My guess is that several of the for-mentioned entities have created informal interest group which has pushed this decision. Similar things happened in past with OASIS standard. Think about entrusting wolves with the well being of a sheep. Meee, Meeee.....