Boulder, Colorado — In a significant rift within the tech community, SparkFun Electronics has announced that it will cease its business relationship with Adafruit Industries, citing violations of its Code of Conduct during online interactions. This decision follows Adafruit’s complaints about ongoing harassment linked to SparkFun’s founder and a former employee.
SparkFun CEO Glenn Samala communicated the decision in a letter dated December 8, stating that the company will fulfill pending orders until January 15. After that date, any outstanding orders will be canceled. The controversy centers around the Teensy development boards, which Adafruit had sourced from SparkFun.
Phillip Torrone, Adafruit’s managing director, expressed frustration in a YCombinator forum, claiming that the decision was retaliation for raising concerns over harassment directed at Adafruit founder Limor Fried. Torrone, who is married to Fried, indicated that reporting these issues instead led to their company being cut off from a crucial product line.
Torrone stated that Adafruit is now pivoting towards creating an open-source alternative to the Teensy boards, potentially called “Freensy.” He accused SparkFun of undermining Adafruit’s operations, alleging that the company had interfered with its website, resulting in revenue loss during its early stages.
In a January 7 post, Torrone detailed a history of confrontations with SparkFun’s leadership, characterizing their inaction against harassment as a significant factor in the relationship’s deterioration. He recounted how SparkFun had ignored multiple documented instances of harassment that were exacerbated by company personnel.
Torrone further claimed that SparkFun had previously misappropriated source code without proper attribution, an issue that persisted despite attempts to address it. He noted the impracticality of auditing vast amounts of old material for licensing issues.
The ongoing dispute also includes allegations regarding unpaid royalties linked to trademark violations. Torrone expressed concerns about the future of this agreement, especially in light of recent tensions.
When approached for further clarification, Samala maintained that the decision was made after careful deliberation and wished Adafruit success in its future endeavors. SparkFun’s founder, Nate Seidle, declined to comment further on the allegations.
As the tech world watches closely, both companies appear to be charting their paths forward amid a backdrop of discord that reveals the complexities of collaboration in the tech industry. Adafruit’s push for open-source alternatives and efforts to address their concerns may resonate with a growing audience eager for ethical practices in technology.