Ubuntu, Wikimedia jump ship to the Libera Chat IRC network after Freenode channel confiscations

Updated One of the bigger beasts of the Linux world, Ubuntu, has abruptly jumped ship to Libera Chat from the Freenode IRC network after what the Ubuntu Community Council described as a "hostile takeover" of its namespaces.

For Ubuntu, the move had been on the cards following a mass resignation of volunteer staff at Freenode, a veteran Internet Relay Chat (IRC) service, following what has been described as a hostile takeover. The suddenness of the shift, however, came as a surprise.

A departure note from José Antonio Rey, an Ubuntu Community Council member, at the time noted the change in ownership of the service. Rey also said: "Whether Ubuntu decides to stay on freenode or move to libera would be a decision of the Ubuntu IRC Council."

Anyone wondering which way the Ubuntu IRC Council would jump soon had their answer as a resolution aimed at transitioning to Libera.chat "for the IRC home of Ubuntu and the namespaces" turned up on Ubuntu's mailing list.

A terse note from Melissa Draper arrived in the list last night complaining that channels announcing the move to Libera.Chat "were confiscated by the new freenode management."

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