The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is a nonprofit with a worldwide mission to promote computer user freedom.
Forty years of GNU and the free software movement
BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA -- September, 18, 2023 -- On September 27, the Free Software Foundation (FSF) celebrates the 40th anniversary of the GNU operating system and the launch of the free software movement. Free software advocates, tinkerers, and hackers all over the world will celebrate this event, which was a turning point in the history of computing. Forty years later, GNU and free software are even more relevant. While software has become deeply ingrained into everyday life, the vast majority of users do not have full control over it.
Free software means that the users have the freedom to run, edit, contribute to, and share the software. Thus, free software is a matter of liberty, not price. We have been defending the rights of all software users for the past 35 years. Help sustain us for many more; become an associate member today.
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Our initiatives
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Defective by Design is a grassroots campaign to eliminate Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) in media and devices.
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Read the Email Self-Defense Guide to get started with email encryption, a skill necessary to combat bulk surveillance.
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The End Software Patents initiative fights to abolish software patents around the world.
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Join us in calling for a Web that respects our freedom by being compatible with free software and stand up against nonfree JavaScript.
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The Free Software Directory is a collaborative catalog of computer programs and apps that are fully free.
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The GNU operating system is a continuously evolving, complete operating system made entirely of free software.
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LibrePlanet is our global network of free software activism, including events like our annual conference, and online collaboration spaces.
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The Licensing and Compliance Lab is the preeminent resource for public education on licensing best practices and enforcing the GPL.
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The "Respects Your Freedom" program certifies retailers who sell hardware in a manner that respects the rights of their users.
"This community that we have, that we're building, that does so much, has to grow. We can't compete with Apple, we can't compete with Google, directly, in the field of resources. What we can eventually do is head count and heart count. We can compete on the ground of ideology because ours is better."
-- Edward Snowden, NSA whisteblower, speaking at LibrePlanet 2016.
Take Action
Bulletin
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Freedom and privacy on the web: Our interview with the JShelter team
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Trademarks, volunteering, and code-generating LLM
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Ground zero: Navigating in freedom
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Making of: How to create a hybrid conference
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Free software at the core of the right to repair
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