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The Linux Foundation changes its events' branding

The top 'Linux' event is being consolidated with other conferences under the 'open source' name.
Written by Steven Vaughan-Nichols, Senior Contributing Editor

If you've been paying close attention to how The Linux Foundation has been expanding from just Linux to all of open-source software, you could see this coming. The Foundation has just announced that LinuxCon, CloudOpen, and ContainerCon are being combined under one umbrella event: The Linux Foundation Open Source Summit.

The Linux Foundation and open source

The Linux Foundation is really about open-source software in general, not just Linux in specific.

The organization has also changed its tagline recently. Instead of "Linux" being first and foremost, The Linux Foundation is now "the nonprofit advancing professional open source management for mass collaboration". As the Foundation has taken in more and more projects, including helping to run the Apache Foundation's events, this move could be seen coming a mile off.

Linux Foundation Executive Director Jim Zemlin explained:

In recent years, open source has expanded to be the default software in virtually every area of technology, so it is important that the broad community have a place to gather and exchange ideas. The Linux Foundation Open Source Summit will gather the best and brightest from every corner of open source technology together for an event where they can collaborate and share best practices.

The Linux Foundation Open Source Summit in North America and Europe will also contain a new event, Community Leadership Conference.

The events will take place on the following schedule:

The Linux Foundation Open Source Summit Japan - May 31 to June 2, 2017 in Tokyo, Japan

The Linux Foundation Open Source Summit North America - Sept. 11 to Sept. 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, Calif.

The Linux Foundation Open Source Summit Europe - Oct. 23 to Oct. 25, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic

Attendees will have access to sessions across all events in a single venue. This will enable them to collaborate and share information across a wide range of open-source topics. Each event will feature educational opportunities, an expo hall, networking activities, and hackathons. The events will also come with The Linux Foundation's diversity initiatives. These will include free childcare, nursing rooms, non-binary restrooms, and a diversity luncheon.

In addition, a new event, the Community Leadership Conference (North America and Europe only) will be joining the Open Source Summit events. This conference is meant to provide world-class content and networking for building empowered and productive open source communities. The Community Leadership Conference is being led by Jono Bacon, a global leader in community strategy and management and author of the community organization bible, The Art of Community.

"As open source continues to grow and expand into new areas such as hardware, data, IoT, standards, and beyond, having an accessible, productive community strategy is critical for success", said Bacon in a statement. He continued, "I am excited to launch the Community Leadership Conference as part of the Open Source Summit to support the continued evolution of community leadership and the success of those who practice it."

Registration for the three Open Source Summit events will open in December.

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