Ideally, we would have preferred to avoid this post. However, the articles and comments published in response to Collabora’s and Michael Meeks’ biased posts compel us to provide this background information on the events that led to the current situation.

https://blog.documentfoundation.org/blog/2026/04/05/lets-put-an-end-to-the-speculation/

@libreoffice

Let's put an end to the speculation - TDF Community Blog

Ideally, we would have preferred to avoid this post. However, the articles and comments published in response to Collabora’s and Michael Meeks’ biased posts compel us to provide this background information on the events that led to the current situation. Unfortunately, we have to start from the very beginning, but we’ll try to keep it brief. The launch of the LibreOffice project and The Document Foundation was handled with great enthusiasm by the founding group. They were driven by a noble goal, but also by a bit of healthy recklessness. After all, it was impossible to imagine what would happen after September 28, 2010, the date of the announcement. At the time, nobody could imagine that the companies that had supported OpenOffice.org until then would create a project to kill LibreOffice. Also, if the project were to be successful, it would require resources greater than those available, and above all, a deep management experience. Fortunately, the project grew quite rapidly. However, the founders’ different backgrounds and opinions were at the same time the reason for some bold decisions – many of which right – as well as a few mistakes, which are the root cause of some of the current

TDF Community Blog

@libreoffice

An established organization does not get bogged down in "setting the record straight" activities, it aims higher.

Instead, the org focuses on what it can control: the narrative it owns, one that is only recognized through actions, not words.

The organization doesn't:
-Waste time writing white papers defending itself; it takes a hard look and doubles down on improvement.
-Worry about its ideas being stolen; it builds community and trust by offering what others do not.

@libreoffice

The org also doesn't:

-Let those who feel wounded, unheard, or misunderstood near its PR; it cleans up blog posts and forums, removing any hint of techbro behaviors, and enlists a communicator who understands what is required to help the interested-but-overwhelmed on the path of resistance against the bigger threat to technological sovereignty.