Promising Communities & Companies

Each and every day, free software reaches more devices and is used in more interesting contexts. While we haven't evaluated these products specifically in our RYF program, we're including mentions of certain communities who are going in the right direction when it comes to freedom, but who aren't fully there yet. They're already making waves, but need the help of developers or technical users in crossing the freedom "finish line" to full acceptability.

• MNT's line of Reform laptops is promising from a free software perspective. If the nonfree code used to initalize the RAM were to be replaced by the community, we have reason to believe the mainline Reform would be fully compatible with your freedom.
• Vikings sells a variety of devices that respect you as a user, not just the D8. Many of these devices are RYF-certified, and others, like the Talos II, are freedom-friendly. Vikings will offer perform installations of free boot firmware (BIOS) on compatible models.
• PINE64 is a company and user community making a variety of laptops, smartwatches, e-book readers, and more. The freedom status of these devices vary, but the project has made positive progress in a short time, piquing the interest of many in the free software community. As progress has stagnated on certain boards, please research carefully.
• Purism's devices ship with the PureOS distribution of the GNU/Linux operating system, one of the distributions we endorse through our FSDG program.

If you know of a project or company we've missed who are earnestly working to free their devices, but who need a little help in doing so, please let us know!

Caveats

• None of the devices in this section are fully compatible with free software, but the companies behind them are making a good faith effort. Even if you're not a developer, you can write them to let them know you support their work in moving towards freedom.
• We cannot and do not guarantee that devices uncertified by our RYF program are fully compatible with free software. For the final authority on these matters, and for maximum freedom, choose an RYF-certified device.
• Research the device you're buying. It may be intended for free software developers or hobbyists who are more tolerant of bugs, and who want to help the project advance.
• These devices might be easier to find than some of our recommendations for refurbished products, but shipping them to your location might still be a challenge.

DRM-free E-books

There are plenty of places to get your literature fix without the shackles of Digital Restrictions Management (DRM). We're highlighting some publishers and shops you should patronize below!

• Leanpub is an author-driven e-book Web site encouraging people to "publish early, publish often."
• Libreture provides a catalog of DRM-free e-book publishers, and a storage solution for all of your digital books and comics.
• Standard Ebooks makes high quality, gratis editions of public domain works of literature using the latest technology compatible with the EPUB specification.
• Nantucket E-Books is a DRM-free publisher and writing platform that also makes a strong commitment to software freedom. They have been profiled in the FSF's Free Software Bulletin.
• No Starch Press offers "the finest in geek entertainment," with educational books on a variety of programming topics. They're also the publisher of Ada & Zangemann, an introduction to free software concepts for children of all ages, written by Free Software Foundation Europe's president, Matthias Kirschner.
• Looking to buy paper books? Check out the GNU Press Shop for your technical manuals and documentation needs.

Stay away from: Amazon

• Amazon is one of the most notorious DRM offenders. They use this Orwellian control over their devices and services to spy on users and keep them trapped in their walled garden.
• Be aware that Amazon isn't the only peddler of e-book DRM. Disturbingly, it's enthusiastically supported by most of the big publishing houses.
• Read more about the dangers of DRM through our Defective by Design campaign.

DRM-free Music

Despite the efforts of companies like Spotify, we can still dance to music in the free world. Thanks to the artists, producers, record labels, and shops highlighted on on our Guide to DRM-free Living, the rights-respecting options are nearly endless. Check out music from great labels and artists, including:

• All of the music on Bandcamp is DRM-free and comes in a variety of formats, including patent-free ones like FLAC and Ogg Vorbis.
• Dischord Records, a classic punk label providing music since 1980. DRM-free, too!
• Folkways, providing digital downloads of the world's best folk and children's music, courtesy of the Smithsonian Institute.
• HDTracks is an online music shop offering thousands of DRM-free downloads for you to play at home.
• Mutopia provides hundreds of attractive, free "as in freedom" sheet music downloads. Music isn't just recorded, you know!

Stay away from: Spotify, Apple Music, and all other major streaming services

• Spotify is only one of many offenders when it comes to putting DRM in music: all major streaming services do this, with the support of big record labels.
• In addition to streaming music encumbered by DRM, people who want to use Spotify are required to install additional proprietary software. Even Spotify's client for GNU/Linux relies on proprietary software.

• Apple Music is no better, and places heavy restrictions on the music streamed through the platform.

DRM-free video

Over the past few years, many people have unfortunately become more dependent on streaming media. But it's important to remember how streaming services can deprive you of important rights. Dis-services like Disney+ and Netflix mandate the use of a hardware-level backdoor called Widevine, giving them permanent access into deep components of your machine. Don't be swayed by them -- even if your access is gratis and "ad-supported."

Widevine prohibits these services from running on many older devices, leaving families who can't afford a new computer or a new television out in the cold.

Try these video services and sites instead:

• Visit the Moving Internet Archive for free (as in freedom) classic films and art projects.
• The Blender Open Movies project has a collection of computer-animated films that were made entirely with Blender, an enormously popular free software tool.
• Lest we forget, your local library may have music and videos for you to rent. They need your support now more than ever.

• Visit the Guide to DRM-free Living for more suggestions on how to stay a film lover and keep your freedom at the same time.

Stay away from: Netflix

• Netflix is continuing its disturbing trend of making onerous DRM the norm for streaming media. That's why they're a target for the Defective by Design campaign.

• They're also leveraging their place in the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) to advocate for tighter restrictions on users, and drove the effort to embed DRM into the fabric of the Web.