The dispute began after the foundation introduced its updated mandate in February. The document outlined organizational principles covering censorship resistance, open-source development, privacy, and security.
However, employees objected to a section called the "Source Seppuku License." The wording referred to ritual suicide as part of a pledge concerning Ethereum's principles.
The complaint states that 79 employees voted to remove the passage. Aue subsequently clarified that the language was "not meant to be taken literally."
On March 25, Fulton and Van Epps organized a letter signed by 53 employees. The signatories supported the mandate's broader direction but opposed requiring staff to endorse it to retain employment.
The lawsuit also cites a recorded May 1 conversation involving Buterin. According to Fulton, Buterin discussed "what kind of dynamics you want to reward inside of the EF."
Fulton alleges Buterin supported the directive and accepted the subsequent dismissals. However, the complaint does not establish that he personally ordered her termination.
