Comment by StudentStuff

Microsoft did try to hijack LinuxFest Northwest a few years ago, taking over half the event space, sponsoring the event and providing the afterparties (which were tightly controlled, compared to prior/following years where any LFNW attendee could just show up).

Multiple people I know stopped attending LFNW that year, and will not return. Hopefully other conferences like SeaGL don't fall for the Microsoft embrace scam, as it injured LFNW pretty badly.