Free Software Foundation

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Free Software Foundation (FSF) is a non-profit organization founded in October 1985 by Richard Stallman with the goal of supporting the free software movement, which promotes the universal freedom to study, distribute, create, and modify computer software. The foundation is best known for sponsoring the development of the GNU Project, an ambitious effort to create a Unix-like operating system composed entirely of free software.

History

The FSF was established to help overcome the legal and financial challenges faced by the free software movement. It aimed to foster the development and use of free software, particularly the GNU Project, which was initiated by Stallman in 1983. Over the years, the FSF has played a critical role in the development of legal frameworks, such as the GNU General Public License (GPL), which ensures that software remains free and accessible to all.

Mission and Philosophy

The core mission of the FSF is to promote computer user freedom and to defend the rights of all free software users. The FSF advocates for the four essential freedoms of free software:

• The freedom to run the program as you wish, for any purpose (freedom 0).
• The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
• The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
• The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others (freedom 3). By doing this, you can give the whole community a chance to benefit from your changes. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

These freedoms are designed to ensure that the software is truly free for all its users, allowing them to control their computing and share with others.

Key Initiatives

The FSF has initiated several projects and campaigns to support its mission:

• GNU Project: The most well-known FSF initiative, aiming to develop a completely free Unix-like operating system.
• GNU General Public License (GPL): A widely used free software license that ensures the freedoms to use, study, share, and modify the software.
• Free Software Directory: A comprehensive catalog of free software that respects user freedom.
• Campaigns against Digital Rights Management (DRM), software patents, and other legal and technical mechanisms that restrict the freedoms of computer users.

Governance and Structure

The FSF is governed by a board of directors, which includes leaders from various sectors of the technology and free software communities. The foundation operates through donations, memberships, and grants to fund its activities. It also organizes conferences, workshops, and seminars to promote free software and its ideals.

Impact and Criticism

The FSF has had a significant impact on the software industry, promoting the development and use of free software. Its licenses, particularly the GPL, have become standard for free software projects. However, the FSF has also faced criticism, including debates over its stance on software licensing, its governance, and the behavior of some of its leaders.

See Also

• Open Source Initiative
• Electronic Frontier Foundation
• Software Freedom Law Center