#SFC's at #SCaLE2026! Again our booth — Network Sponsor¹ — is up front (Thank you, #SCaLE organizers!) — next to all the #BigTech wealthy megacorps who likely spend more on their booths for 1 event than SFC's annual budget.
#Microsoft isn't satisfied w/ just the space they paid for though: They are giving away bouncy light-up balls & have decided to regularly block the common area in front of our booth to demo their balls.
I give them credit for finding a new way to embrace, extend & extinguish.
¹ At #SCaLE2026, #SFC is again the Network Sponsor. For the 2nd year, the entire #SCaLE network is operating on #OpenWrt One's — the only wireless router hardware in history to comply with #GPL & #LGPL from Day 0 *&* have no proprietary software² for its operating system & UI.
Want One? Visit #SoftwareFeedom Conservancy's booth (on left entering expo hall) to buy One (while supplies last).
Not at #SCaLE? https://sfconservancy.org/activities/openwrt-one.html
²It does have binary blobs on some components.
#Microsoft encroachment & cooption of FOSS continues at #SCaLE2026. $MSFT has now blocked access in all common areas that reach #SoftwareFreedom Conservancy's booth.
This continued for 10 minutes while $MSFT raffled off proprietary products. (Must be present at the booth to win).
It's consistent with the bad behavior Microsoft's engaged in for decades – just fascinating to see them literally & physically gather people to keep others away for #FOSS. That's a new one.
@jezra 😲
I'm not surprised California has a law on this, & I'd love to know more.
Can you point me to the statute & the regulations? I'll read up & see if #Microsoft did yesterday at #SCaLE2026 violates.
AFAICT, raffle was structured this way:
* Agree to spend at least a few minutes talking to $MSFT (or nearby $MSFT's #GitHub)
* Receive one of those tiny paper tickets with a number
* Return to booth at specified time
* Must be present to win.
* ≈ 4 prizes, ≈ $200 each
#SCaLE
OMG, I'm so glad FOSDEM never fell into the trap of doing corporate booths...
- replies
- 0
- announces
- 0
- likes
- 0