Free Software Foundation
The Free Software Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting computer user freedom and defending the rights of all software users through advocacy, development of the GNU operating system, and various campaigns against digital restrictions.
Mission and Vision
The Free Software Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting computer user freedom on a global scale. Focused on defending the rights of all software users, the foundation promotes the development and use of free software. The foundation's primary mission includes advocating for freedoms such as the ability to run, study, and modify software without restrictions.
GNU Operating System and Sponsorship
The Free Software Foundation is a prominent sponsor of the GNU Project. This project aims to develop and provide a complete operating system licensed as free software. The foundation maintains a significant portion of the GNU operating system and other free software projects, securing them against proprietary efforts. The organization also publishes the GNU General Public License (GNU GPL), the most widely used free software license globally.
Campaigns and Advocacy
The Free Software Foundation actively campaigns against threats to computer user freedom, including Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) and software patents. The foundation is committed to promoting policies that favor user rights and software freedoms. Through its advocacy efforts, it strives to educate and mobilize individuals and organizations in support of free software.
Respects Your Freedom Certification
The Free Software Foundation operates the 'Respects Your Freedom' (RYF) certification program, designed to recognize retailers selling hardware that respects user rights. This certification ensures that the hardware adheres to strict standards of free software compatibility and user freedom, making it easier for consumers to find and support ethically produced technology.
Free Software Directory
The foundation manages the Free Software Directory, a comprehensive and collaborative catalog of computer programs that are entirely free. This directory serves as a valuable resource for users seeking software that respects their freedom by allowing them to run, modify, and share programs without limitation. It encompasses a wide range of applications, making free software more accessible to the public.