TL;DR
SparkFun announced it will no longer transact with Adafruit Industries, citing actions that violated SparkFun's publicly posted Code of Conduct. The company pointed to offensive communications and the inappropriate involvement of a customer, and said it has communicated its decision directly to Adafruit.
What happened
SparkFun posted an official response saying it has cut transactional ties with Adafruit Industries after identifying conduct it says breaches its publicly available Code of Conduct. The notice cites two specific categories of concern: the sending and forwarding of offensive, antagonistic and derogatory messages and material to current employees, former employees and customers; and the improper involvement of a SparkFun customer in a private matter. SparkFun said the choice followed careful consideration and that it informed Adafruit through an official communication. The company also noted it remains committed to its broader reseller network and pointed readers to a distributor map. SparkFun expressed a brief well-wish to Adafruit while declining to provide additional detail in the public statement.
Why it matters
- Companies often rely on reseller and distributor relationships that can shift quickly when conduct concerns arise.
- Allegations of hostile communications aimed at employees and customers can affect supplier trust and business dealings.
- Public enforcement of internal conduct policies signals how firms may apply non-legal remedies to partner behavior.
- Customers and resellers may need to reassess sourcing and support relationships following such public splits.
Key facts
- SparkFun announced it will no longer transact with Adafruit Industries.
- The decision was attributed to violations of SparkFun's publicly posted Code of Conduct.
- SparkFun listed sending and forwarding offensive, antagonistic and derogatory emails and material to employees, former employees and customers as one reason.
- SparkFun also cited the inappropriate involvement of a SparkFun customer in a private matter.
- SparkFun said the decision was made after thoughtful consideration and that it sent official communication to Adafruit.
- The company declined to overshare additional details in its public statement.
- SparkFun said it continues to support its reseller network for SparkFun-original products, Teensy and other products.
- A distributor map was referenced as a resource for customers and partners.
- SparkFun offered a brief wish for Adafruit's future endeavors.
What to watch next
- Any public response or clarification from Adafruit (not confirmed in the source).
- Updates from SparkFun containing more detail or changes to distribution policy (not confirmed in the source).
- Potential effects on reseller availability and customer sourcing in the short term (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Code of Conduct: A set of rules and expectations that governs acceptable behavior by individuals and organizations in professional contexts.
- Reseller: A business that purchases products from a manufacturer or distributor and sells them to end customers or other businesses.
- Distributor map: A published resource that shows authorized distributors and resellers for a company's products, often used to guide purchasing and support.
- Teensy: A brand name commonly used for compact microcontroller development boards; here referenced as a product category SparkFun lists among those it supports through resellers.
Reader FAQ
Why did SparkFun cut ties with Adafruit?
SparkFun said Adafruit engaged in activities that violated its Code of Conduct, including sending offensive communications and inappropriately involving a customer.
Did SparkFun provide the text of its communication to Adafruit?
The company said it sent an official communication to Adafruit but did not publish its contents publicly in the statement.
Will SparkFun stop selling products?
SparkFun stated it continues to support its reseller network for SparkFun-original products, Teensy and other products; further impacts were not detailed.
Is there any legal action mentioned?
Not confirmed in the source.
HOME OFFICIAL RESPONSE Official Response Due to recent activities that are in direct violation of our Code of Conduct, which is publicly available on our website, SparkFun has determined that it…
Sources
- SparkFun Officially Dropping AdaFruit due to CoC Violation
- SparkFun
- Adafruit: Arduino's Rules Are 'Incompatible With Open …
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