It should be noted that this “manifesto” (is that Latin for press release) uses more space trying to define cloud computing (interesting given so many supporters do not, as you point out, have a major presence there) and highlighting its problems than it actually does in articulating the “principles of an open cloud.” This looks more like a strategy to damn today’s cloud computing providers through faint praise.

But based on their “principles of an open cloud,” I’d love to hear some details from the supporters of this proposal on why the current crop of cloud computing solutions is not open relative to the traditional solutions on offer by these very same vendors. Or perhaps they’re all expecting a level of openness in the cloud they are unwilling to manifest in their own on-premise, EULA-sold solutions.

Heck, what’s the point of an Open Cloud Manifesto anyway? Shouldn’t there just be a Open Software Manifesto that manifests itself regardless of deployment model?

I think we’ve all been around long enough to recognize a marketing ploy when we see one. And this is one of them!