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Current work of FSF The GNU ProjectThe original purpose of the FSF was to promote the ideals of free software. The organization developed the GNU operating system as an example of this. GNU LicensesThe GNU General Public License (GPL) is the most widely used license for Free Software projects. The current version (version 2) was released in 1991 but FSF is working on version 3. FSF have also published the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL), and the GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL). GNU License EnforcementFSF has the resources and the will to enforce the GPL and other GNU licenses, but only for software for which it owns the copyrights; GPL'd software owned by others must be defended by its owners, since the FSF has no legal standing to enforce the GPL for them. FSF handles around 50 GPL violations per year and tries to bring the other party into compliance without involving the courts. Guardian of copyrightsFSF holds the copyrights to most GNU software and some non-GNU Free Software. They require copyright assignment papers from each contributor to GNU packages so that they can defend the software in court if a dispute arises, and so that if there is a need to change the license of a work, it can be done without having to contact all contributors that have ever worked on the software. GNU PressThe FSF's publishing department, responsible for "publishing affordable books on computer science using freely distributable licenses." The Free Software DirectoryThis is a listing of software packages which have been verified as free software. Each package entry contains 47 pieces of information such as the project's homepage, developers, programming language, etc. The goals are to provide a search engine for free software, and to provide a cross-reference for users to check if a package has been verified as being free software. FSF has received a small amount of funding from UNESCO for this project. It is hoped that the directory can be translated into many languages in the future. Maintaining the Free Software DefinitionFSF maintain many of the documents that define the Free Software movement. Legal EducationFSF hold seminars about legal aspects of using the GPL, and offers a consultancy service for lawyers. Project HostingFSF hosts software development projects on their Savannah website. CampaignsFSF sponsors a number of campaigns against what it perceives as dangers to software freedom, including software patents, Digital Restrictions Management, and user interface copyright. Defective by Design is an FSF-initiated campaign against DRM. Annual awards"Award for the Advancement of Free Software" and "Free Software Award for Projects of Social Benefit" Membership On November 25, 2002 the FSF launched the FSF Associate Membership program for individuals. In March 2005 they had over 3400 associate members. On March 5 2003 they launched a Corporate Patron program for commercial entities. As of April 2004, they have 45 corporate patrons. Current Board of Directors Founding Board of Directors Former members of the Board of Directors Staff and employees Some of staff, both current and past, are neither paid employees nor paid contractors. That is, they are unpaid volunteers. Current staff and employees At any given time, there are usually around a dozen employees. Most, but not all, work at the FSF headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. Former staff and employees In alphabetical order: Former contractors Former employee of the Zimmer Foundation assigned to the FSF Sister organizations In 2001, Free Software Foundation Europe was founded in Germany to act as a "hub" for the Free Software organisations of Europe. In 2003, Free Software Foundation India was founded in Kerala. In 2005, it was announced that work is in progress to set up a Free Software Foundation Latin America. Recognition | |||||||||
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