Linux Foundation Code of Ethics

Version 1.0, last updated August 22, 2025

1. Purpose

The Linux Foundation (“LF”) is dedicated to building sustainable ecosystems that support open-source innovation and collaboration for the benefit of all. This Code of Ethics (this “Code”) sets forth the principles and standards of ethical behavior expected of all employees, contractors, volunteers, and anyone acting on behalf of LF.

By following this Code, we protect the trust placed in us by our members, contributors, and the broader open-source community, and uphold our mission of fostering a neutral, inclusive, and transparent environment for global collaboration.

2. Our Ethical Principles

Integrity

We act honestly and responsibly in every interaction, making decisions guided by fairness, objectivity, and the best interests of LF and the communities we serve.

Respect

We treat everyone with dignity, inclusion, and professionalism, valuing diverse perspectives and experiences in our workplace and in our interactions with stakeholders.

Openness & Transparency

We share information appropriately, communicate truthfully, disclose conflicts of interest, and avoid actions that could mislead others or compromise trust.

Accountability

We take responsibility for our decisions and actions, honoring commitments to colleagues, members, partners, and the open-source community.

Stewardship

We safeguard LF’s reputation, resources, and the neutrality of our projects. We act as responsible custodians of data, intellectual property, and relationships entrusted to us.

3. Ethical Expectations

All individuals representing LF are expected to:

• Behave Professionally: Engage courteously and constructively with colleagues, members, contributors, and partners.
• Promote Inclusivity: Avoid language, actions, or decisions that marginalize or discriminate against others.
• Act Honestly: Communicate clearly and accurately. Never falsify information or withhold material facts inappropriately.
• Comply with Laws and Policies: Follow applicable laws, regulations, LF internal policies, and open-source licensing obligations.
• Protect Confidentiality: Safeguard proprietary, member, and personal information. Avoid unauthorized use or disclosure.
• Use Resources Responsibly: Apply LF funds, systems, and assets for legitimate organizational purposes only.
• Disclose Conflicts of Interest: Comply with LF’s Conflict of Interest Policy, and promptly report any situation where personal or financial interests may compromise—or appear to compromise—professional judgment or LF’s neutrality.

4. Prohibited Behaviors

• Harassment, discrimination, bullying, or retaliation of any kind.
• Fraud, bribery, corruption, or improper influence on decision-making.
• Misrepresentation of LF authority, affiliations, or credentials.
• Unauthorized sharing of confidential or sensitive member or project information.
• Violations of antitrust, export control, or other laws impacting our work.
• Any behavior that undermines LF’s mission, neutrality, or public trust.

5. Ethical Decision-Making

When facing uncertainty, ask yourself:

1. Is it legal?
2. Is it consistent with LF’s mission, values, and this Code?
3. Would I be comfortable if this decision were made public?
4. Does this action protect LF’s reputation and the trust of its community?
5. If the answer is uncertain, seek guidance from a manager, HR, or the Legal & Compliance team before acting.

6. Legal Compliance

• Complying with Applicable Laws: All individuals representing LF must comply with all laws applicable to their conduct and activities performed on LF’s behalf, including without limitation the specific laws and regulations explicitly described in this Code.
• Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption: All individuals representing LF must comply with all laws and regulations applicable to LF’s activities that prohibit bribery and other corrupt actions.
• Export Controls: All individuals representing LF must comply with all laws and regulations applicable to LF’s activities regarding restrictions on exports, including as applicable the U.S. Export Administration Regulations.
• Trade Sanctions: All individuals representing LF must comply with all laws and regulations applicable to LF’s activities regarding trade sanctions, including as applicable those programs administered by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control.
• Human Trafficking, Modern Slavery and Child Labor: LF does not utilize or tolerate slavery, child labor, human trafficking, forced labor, or any other form of illegal or inhuman labor practices. LF will act in conformance with all applicable laws and regulations prohibiting such activities including without limitation the UK Modern Slavery Act of 2015, the Australian Modern Slavery Act of 2018, and other similar laws.
• Insider Trading: All individuals representing LF must comply with all laws and regulations applicable to LF’s activities regarding insider trading of any company’s securities, and the use of material non-public information for such purposes.
• Personal Data: All individuals representing LF must comply with LF’s Privacy Policy (and the privacy policies of other LF-managed entities, as applicable) and with all applicable laws and regulations in their handling of personal data, personally identifiable information, and equivalent types of data.
• Confidential Information: As a general matter, as a non-profit organization whose core mission is the hosting and support of its open collaboration project communities, LF does not expect or desire to receive the confidential information or trade secrets of third parties that it interacts with. In particular and without regards to anything to the contrary, materials contributed to and/or published by LF’s open collaboration project communities are intended to be non-confidential and publicly available under their applicable licenses. In the rare instances where individuals representing LF do receive confidential information of a third party (such as inadvertent disclosures to trainers during in-person training sessions), such LF representatives are expected to limit their use and disclosure of any such information in order to appropriately protect its confidentiality.
• Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity: LF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. LF prohibits any form of discrimination or harassment based on race, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions or any other status protected under applicable law. LF complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act, and applicable laws providing for nondiscrimination in employment against qualified individuals with disabilities. All individuals representing LF must comply with all laws and regulations regarding discrimination and harassment. LF’s Employee Handbook sets forth more specific policies and requirements regarding non-discrimination, equal opportunity employment, non-retaliation, and accommodation of disabilities.

7. Reporting Concerns

• Speak up if you see behavior that may violate this Code, the law, or other LF policies.
• Reports may be made to your manager, HR, or Legal. Anonymous channels are available where legally permissible.
• No retaliation will be tolerated against anyone making a report in good faith or participating in an investigation.
• LF takes all reports seriously and will investigate promptly, addressing confirmed violations with appropriate actions, as more fully set forth in LF’s Employee Handbook.

8. Consequences of Violations

Violations of this Code may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment, revocation of contracts, or exclusion from LF activities. LF may also report unlawful activity to relevant authorities as required.

9. Commitment to Ethical Culture

The Linux Foundation leadership team is committed to maintaining a workplace where ethical decision-making, transparency, and accountability are part of everyday actions. This Code will be reviewed regularly and updated as needed to ensure alignment with our mission and evolving global standards for ethical conduct.

10. Scope and Relationship to Other Codes

The Linux Foundation regularly engages with third parties, such as contributors to our open collaboration projects and participants in our project communities (collectively, “Community Members”), who are not LF employees or contractors. LF does not control the actions of Community Members, and this Code does not apply to them. LF expects Community Members to act in a professional and respectful manner in accordance with the community norms reflected in the codes of conduct applicable to their activities, including:

• the various codes of conduct adopted by LF’s hosted and supported projects; and
• the LF Events Code of Conduct, applicable to attendees at LF-operated events.

As a non-profit organization, LF is generally not a “vendor” or “supplier” of goods and services. For example and in particular, LF is not a vendor or supplier in the context of making available memberships in LF and its projects; sponsorship opportunities for LF events; or the open source software and other artifacts published by LF project communities. Accordingly, the LF is generally not able to accept companies’ and organizations’ own “Supplier Codes of Conduct” and similar documents. Nonetheless, all individuals representing LF are expected to act in accordance with this Code in relation to all of their activities performed on LF’s behalf.