FSF News
GNU releases ethical evaluations of code-hosting services
BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA -- Monday, April 25th, 2016 -- Today the Free Software Foundation (FSF) and the GNU Project announced evaluations of several major repository-hosting services according to the standards of the GNU Ethical Criteria for Code Repositories. Released in 2015, these criteria grade code-hosting services for their commitment to user privacy and freedom. At the time of publication, Savannah and GitLab have met or surpassed the baseline standards of the criteria.
FSF Job Opportunity: Operations Assistant
DEADLINE PASSED. No longer accepting applications. The Free Software Foundation (FSF), a Massachusetts 501(c)(3) charity with a worldwide mission to protect freedoms critical to the computer-using public, seeks a motivated and organized Boston-based individual to be its full-time Operations Assistant.
Interpreting, enforcing and changing the GNU GPL, as applied to combining Linux and ZFS
BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA -- Monday, April 11, 2016 -- The Free Software Foundation (FSF) today announced the publication of "Interpreting, enforcing and changing the GNU GPL, as applied to combining Linux and ZFS," by its founder and president, Richard M. Stallman.
Anti-DRM activists go to W3C meeting to protest Digital Restrictions Management in Web standards
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA -- Tuesday, March 22, 2016 -- On Sunday the Free Software Foundation (FSF) led a protest at the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) against an attempt by Netflix, Hollywood and other technology and media companies to weave Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) into the HTML standard that undergirds the Web. With about 75 protesting outside an ongoing W3C event, it was the largest protest ever at the standards body.
Library Freedom Project and Werner Koch are 2015 Free Software Awards winners
BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA -- Saturday, March 19, 2016 -- The Free Software Foundation (FSF) today announced the winners of the 2015 Free Software Awards at a ceremony held during the LibrePlanet 2016 conference at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). FSF president Richard M. Stallman presented the two awards: the Award for the Advancement of Free Software and the Award for Projects of Social Benefit.
LibrePlanet free software conference coming to MIT in one week, March 19-20
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, USA -- Friday, March 11th, 2016 -- In just one week, the Free Software Foundation (FSF) and MIT's Student Information Processing Board (SIPB) are once again teaming up to bring the LibrePlanet free software conference to Cambridge, March 19-20, 2016, at the Stata Center at MIT. LibrePlanet is an annual conference for people who care about their digital freedoms, bringing together software developers, policy experts, activists, and computer users to learn skills, share accomplishments, and tackle challenges facing the free software movement.
ThinkPenguin VPN mini-router now FSF-certified to respect your freedom
BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA -- Thursday, March 10, 2016 -- The Free Software Foundation (FSF) today announces that it has awarded Respects Your Freedom (RYF) certification to the Free Software Wireless-N Mini Router (TPE-R1100) as sold by ThinkPenguin, Inc. The RYF certification mark means that the product meets the FSF's standards in regard to users' freedom, control over the product, and privacy.
Free Software Foundation submits comment to Copyright Office with over 1200 co-signers calling for end to DMCA anti-circumvention provisions
BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA -- Tuesday, March 8th, 2016 -- On March 3rd, 2016, the Free Software Foundation (FSF) submitted a comment along with over 1200 co-signers to the U.S. Copyright Office in response to its *Section 1201 Study: Notice and Request for Public Comment* in regards to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act's (DMCA) anti-circumvention provisions. These comments were submitted in person by FSF campaigns manager Zak Rogoff, as the Copyright Office refused to offer a means of electronic submission that did not require the use of proprietary JavaScript.
Edward Snowden will kick off LibrePlanet 2016 in Cambridge, Massachusetts
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, USA -- Tuesday, January 26th, 2016 -- The Free Software Foundation (FSF) today announced that the opening keynote for LibrePlanet 2016: Fork the System, will be a conversation with National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Edward Snowden and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Technologist Daniel Kahn Gillmor.
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2015 was the Free Software Foundation's (FSF) thirtieth year defending and advancing computer users' rights. The free software community has sustained the Foundation throughout these decades and been deeply involved in our work.
Free Software Foundation submits comments to U.S. Department of Education encouraging free licensing for all grant-funded materials
BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA -- Friday, December, 18, 2015 -- The Free Software Foundation (FSF) today submitted a comment to the U.S. Department of Education in response to the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), Open Licensing Requirement for Direct Grant Programs. In addition, the FSF collected and sent comments from the free software community. These comments were filed via postal mail, as currently it is impossible to submit comments in digital form for NPRMs without downloading and running proprietary JavaScript.
Libreboot T400 laptop now FSF-certified to respect your freedom
BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA -- Friday, December 11, 2015 -- The Free Software Foundation (FSF) today awarded Respects Your Freedom (RYF) certification to the Libreboot T400 laptop as sold by Minifree. The RYF certification mark means that the product meets the FSF's standards in regard to users' freedom, control over the product, and privacy.
Library of Congress issues limited exemptions to DMCA anti-circumvention provisions but leaves users without full control over their own computing
On October 27th, 2015, the Library of Congress published its list of exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), denying many of the proposed exemptions and modifying or limiting others. Because of this, users of a wide variety of software and devices, such as ebook readers and video game consoles, still do not have the right to control their own computing. Even for the areas where the exemptions permit users some additional control, they do not permit sharing of methods for obtaining it, and last only three years.
GNU ethical criteria for code repositories emphasize privacy, freedom, and copyleft
BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA -- Friday, October 16th, 2015 -- Today the Free Software Foundation and the GNU Project announced the first version of criteria for evaluating services that host free software source code repositories for distribution and collaborative development. Developed with the leadership of Richard Stallman and GNU volunteers, the criteria provide a framework for code repositories to ensure that they respect their users in a manner consonant with the values of the free software movement, and for users to hold these crucial institutions accountable.
FSF, Conservancy publish principles for community-oriented GPL enforcement
BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA -- Thursday, October 1st, 2015 -- The Free Software Foundation (FSF) today announced publication of "The Principles of Community-Oriented GPL Enforcement," co-authored with the Software Freedom Conservancy. The document lays out the principles that both organizations follow when they receive reports that a company is violating copyleft terms like the GNU General Public License (GNU GPL).
Taurinus X200 laptop now FSF-certified to respect your freedom
BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA -- Monday, September 28, 2015 -- The Free Software Foundation (FSF) today awarded Respects Your Freedom (RYF) certification to the Taurinus X200 laptop sold by Libiquity LLC. The RYF certification mark means that the product meets the FSF's standards in regard to users' freedom, control over the product, and privacy.
Free Software Foundation seeks nominations for 18th annual Free Software Awards
BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA -- Thursday, September 10, 2015 -- The Free Software Foundation (FSF) and the GNU Project today call upon the free software community to submit nominations for the 18th annual Free Software Awards. The Free Software Awards include the Award for the Advancement of Free Software and the Award for Projects of Social Benefit. The awards are presented each year at the LibrePlanet free software conference, and at the same time nominations for the next year's awards open.
The FSF's statement on Windows 10
BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA -- Thursday, July 30, 2015 -- The Free Software Foundation urges everyone to reject Windows 10 and join us in the world of free software. Like all proprietary software, Windows 10 puts those that use it under the thumb of its owner. Free software like the GNU/Linux operating system treats users as equals and gives them control over their digital lives.
FSF invites the free software community to its 30th birthday party on October 3rd, 2015
BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA -- Friday, July 24, 2015 -- Today the Free Software Foundation (FSF) announced an open invitation to its thirtieth birthday party, to be held in Boston on the evening of Saturday, October 3rd. The party will feature an address by FSF founder and president Richard Stallman. It represents the culmination of an outstanding thirtieth anniversary year, including the biggest LibrePlanet conference ever and an article about GNU in the New Yorker.
Statement on Canonical's updated licensing terms for Ubuntu GNU/Linux
On July 15th, 2015, the Free Software Foundation's Licensing and Compliance Lab, along with the Software Freedom Conservancy, announces that, after two years of negotiations, Canonical, Ltd. has published an update to the licensing terms of Ubuntu GNU/Linux.