Linux maverick Perens leaves HP

Bruce Perens, the open source maverick at Hewlett Packard (HP), has left the company which he apparently pushed too far.

Although he maintains that the split with HP was amicable, a report in the New York Times has suggested that his departure was marked as an "official termination".

Perens admitted to the newspaper that his "Microsoft-baiting" was in part to blame.

After 18 months at HP, Perens said that, although he advised the company on its Linux and open source strategies, his main task was "to challenge HP's management".

But Perens became more outspoken against Microsoft following the HP/Compaq merger.

At LinuxWorld last month he was one of the leaders of a mass march on San Francisco City Hall to deliver proposed US legislation known as the Digital Software Security Act to "protect the future and the future disposition of public domain, free and open software".

A note on his personal website reads: "I am no longer with HP. If your company would like to use my expertise in forming an open source policy and processes, or operating a relationship with the open source developer community, please contact me."