Summary
- The Block reported that former Ethereum core developer Nixo filed a lawsuit against the Ethereum Foundation and co-founder Vitalik Buterin.
- Nixo alleged that the foundation's internal guidelines included a suicide pledge requiring employees to take their own lives if they violated obligations tied to source code, and that source code documents had to be made available free of charge at all times while the license could not be revised or removed.
- Nixo said he was fired after disclosing his cancer diagnosis and argued that the disputed wording remained in an official document outlining the foundation's long-term operating principles.
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The Ethereum Foundation and Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin are facing a lawsuit from a former core developer over claims that internal documents included a so-called "suicide pledge" and that he was fired after disclosing a cancer diagnosis.
The Block reported on Nov. 9 that former Ethereum core developer Nixo filed the lawsuit against the foundation and Buterin.
Nixo alleged that the foundation's internal guidelines included a pledge stating that anyone who violated obligations related to source code should take their own life. The pledge also required source code documents to be made available free of charge at all times and barred any revision or removal of parts of the license.
Nixo also claimed he was dismissed after revealing his cancer diagnosis.
The Ethereum Foundation had previously said the disputed wording was used in a cultural context and was not intended to call for any real-world action.
Nixo disputed that explanation, saying the phrase was included in an official document setting out the foundation's long-term operating principles. He added that employees had asked for it to be removed, but it remained in the final document.
JH Kim
