Free Software Foundation fighting since 1985 for basic essential software for computer user. free software is a matter of user's freedom to Run, Copy, Distribute , Study change and improve the software free software user's have the four essential freedom.1.The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
2.The freedom to study how the program works, and change it to make it do what you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
3.The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
4.The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements (and modified versions in general) to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
A program is a free software if user have all of these freedoms. the free software movement was started in 1983 by computer scientist Richard M. Stallman. when he launched project called GNU, which stands for " GNU is not for UNIX" to provide replacement of UNIX operating system- replacement that would respect the freedoms of those using it . in year 1985 , Stallman started the free software foundation, a Non-Profit organisation with the mission of advocating and educating on behalf of computer users around the world.
Today there are many variant or distributor of the GNU operating system using the Kernal LInux. Free Software Foundation recommended those GNU/Linux distribution that are 100% free software . The Free Software Foundation sponsor the GNU project the ongoing effort to provide a complete operating system licensed as free software. FSF also fund and promote important free software development and provide development system for GNU software maintainers, including full e-mail and shell service and mailing list. ThE FSF hods copyright on a large proportion of the GNU operating system and other free software .Every year FSF collect thousand of Copyright assignments from individual software developers and corporation working on free software.
Licensing and compliance Lab.
The Free Software Foundation publishes the GNU General Public License ( GNU GPL) , the worlds most popular free software license, ad the only license written with the express purpose of promoting and preserving software freedom.
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