No live-patch signing for Google until they pay - CIQ does no more goodwill engineering work ahead of a contract

September 25, 2026 at 8:20 PMstrategyhigh

Situation

Google (Tissa) is budgeting now, may try to fold live-patch signing into the 6.18 kernel amendment term sheet, and is trying to avoid paying CIQ for 2026. Peter told Kelly Hall to make clear, kindly, that CIQ does no signing until Google pays.

Reasoning

Prior goodwill work done ahead of a contract did not work out - the conversation started in February and the original SOW said contract before production. Payment first is the only leverage that holds when Google wants production in January, and it forces the money conversation into the current budget cycle rather than after the work is delivered.

Additional Context

Nathan floated stopping 6.18 kernel shipments; Peter set the rule more softly than that. Kelly delivers the message to Tissa.

Observed Evidence

Direct quote in response to Kelly asking how to handle Google trying to slide signing into the term sheet and not pay for 2026.

Matching Patterns

30%
Decide on the Precedent, Not the Case(anymore - standing posture, not a single case)
35%
Promise Only What Is Inside CIQ Control(customer commitment conditions)

Confidence Breakdown

33/35
Evidence
16/30
Pattern
19/20
Source
7/15
Corroboration

Reasoning Depth Analysis

Org Signal:Account management is told CIQ no longer extends credit on engineering work to Google.
Who Affected:Kelly (delivers the message), Nathan (does not stand up signing ahead of payment), Google GDC timeline.
Precedent:Likely extends to other large customers: no pre-contract engineering on goodwill.
Consequences:Real, not emphasis - changes what Kelly sends Tissa next.
Timing:Google is budgeting in the next couple of weeks and wants production in January.

Source

reflection

AI Confidence

80%

Related Context

🎥
Internal: GDC Live Patch / Pricing (9/24)

fathom

You can very kindly make clear we are not doing signing until they pay us. I am not doing goodwill work anymore. It did not work out so well last time.

Outcome

No outcome recorded yet.

Decision ID: 17844cd6-2db1-4721-be4f-80097fca2687