It is my understanding that 501(c)(3) status has always been difficult to get for open source software foundations. Organisations such as the Linux Foundation operate instead under 501(c)(6) (business trade association).
However, the OpenStack Foundation recently applied for 501(c)(6) status and received an initial denial[1], much to the surprise of all concerned since this was historically pretty easy to get. So there may be something to the author's thesis.
Comments
It is my understanding that 501(c)(3) status has always been difficult to get for open source software foundations. Organisations such as the Linux Foundation operate instead under 501(c)(6) (business trade association).
However, the OpenStack Foundation recently applied for 501(c)(6) status and received an initial denial[1], much to the surprise of all concerned since this was historically pretty easy to get. So there may be something to the author's thesis.
[1] http://blogs.gnome.org/markmc/2014/05/17/may-11-openstack-fo...