Post Syndicated from Unknown original https://lcamtuf.blogspot.com/2016/02/say-hello-to-afl-analyze.html

The nice thing about the control flow instrumentation used by American Fuzzy Lop is that it allows you to do much more than just, well, fuzzing stuff. For example, the suite has long shipped with a standalone tool called afl-tmin, capable of automatically shrinking test cases while still making sure that they exercise the same functionality in the targeted binary (or that they trigger the same crash). Another similar tool, afl-cmin, employed a similar trick to eliminate redundant files in any large testing corpora.

The latest release of AFL features another nifty new addition along these lines: afl-analyze. The tool takes an input file, sequentially flips bytes in this data stream, and then observes the behavior of the targeted binary after every flip. From this information, it can infer several things:

• Classify some content as no-op blocks that do not elicit any changes to control flow (say, comments, pixel data, etc).
• Checksums, magic values, and other short, atomically compared tokens where any bit flip causes the same change to program execution.
• Longer blobs exhibiting this property – almost certainly corresponding to checksummed or encrypted data.
• “Pure” data sections, where analyzer-injected changes consistently elicit differing changes to control flow.

This gives us some remarkable and quick insights into the syntax of the file and the behavior of the underlying parser. It may sound too good to be true, but actually seems to work in practice. For a quick demo, let’s see what afl-analyze has to say about running cut -d ‘ ‘ -f1 on a text file:

We see that cut really only cares about spaces and newlines. Interestingly, it also appears that the tool always tokenizes the entire line, even if it’s just asked to return the first token. Neat, right?

Of course, the value of afl-analyze is greater for incomprehensible binary formats than for simple text utilities; perhaps even more so when dealing with black-box parsers (which can be analyzed thanks to the runtime QEMU instrumentation supported in AFL). To try out the tool’s ability to deal with binaries, let’s check out libpng:

This looks pretty damn good: we have two four-byte signatures, followed by chunk length, four-byte chunk name, chunk length, some image metadata, and then a comment section. Neat, right? All in a matter of seconds: no configuration needed and no knobs to turn.

Of course, the tool shipped just moments ago and is still very much experimental; expect some kinks. Field testing and feedback welcome!

Post Syndicated from Oglaf! -- Comics. Often dirty. original https://www.oglaf.com/perhaps/

Post Syndicated from The Codeless Code original http://thecodelesscode.com/case/222

After the nun Satou had corrected her code,
she returned to Java master Banzen and asked that he
review it.

“So,” said Banzen, squinting at the latest revision.
“You now obtain your ‘hash of the pages contents’
by taking the byte-array that holds those contents
and sending it into Arrays.hashCode().”

“Will that not work?” asked Satou nervously.

“It will function adequately in this circumstance,” said
Banzen. “However, if your ‘hash of the page contents’ is meant
to be a digest, then you should use a utility that
calculates a digest.”

“But if my code functions adequately, and makes use of what
I have on hand, then what is the advantage of such a
change?” asked Satou.

The master glared. “Stand in that corner, with your elbows
at your sides and your thumbs up,” said Banzen.
“And remain quiet until you are enlightened!”

Satou glumly stood in the corner as she was told. The
master typed something into his phone, then sat back in his
chair and fell silent as well.

Seconds later, a temple guard who had been standing watch
for hours in the snow burst into Banzen’s offices, his knife
at the ready and his spectacles fogged from the sudden
change in temperature.

“Forgive my summons, old friend!” said the master “There is
no emergency. Please, make yourself comfortable and I will
explain.”

The guard removed his fur cloak and draped it on Satou’s head.
When he heard her muffled cry he jumped backwards with a start,
knife raised.

“That is not your usual coat stand!” exclaimed the guard.

“No,” said Banzen, “But it functions adequately,
and makes use of what I had on hand.”

Post Syndicated from Oglaf! -- Comics. Often dirty. original https://www.oglaf.com/perjury/

Post Syndicated from Bradley M. Kuhn original http://ebb.org/bkuhn/blog/2016/01/25/fsf-conservancy.html

[ This blog was crossposted
on Software Freedom Conservancy’s website. ]

I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege, for the last 20 years, to be
either a volunteer or employee of the two most important organizations
for the advance of software freedom and users’ rights to copy, share,
modify and redistribute software. In 1996, I began volunteering for the
Free Software Foundation (FSF) and worked as its Executive Director from
2001–2005. I continued as a volunteer for the FSF since then, and
now serve as a volunteer on FSF’s Board of Directors. I was also one
of the first volunteers for Software Freedom Conservancy when we founded it
in 2006, and I was the primary person doing the work of the organization as
a volunteer from 2006–2010. I’ve enjoyed having a day job as a
Conservancy employee since 2011.

These two organizations have been the center of my life’s work. Between
them, I typically spend 50–80 hours every single week doing a mix of
paid and volunteer work. Both my hobby and my career
are advancing software freedom.

I choose to give my time and work to these organizations because they
provide the infrastructure that make my work possible. The Free Software
community has shown that the work of many individuals, who care deeply
about a cause but cooperate together toward a common goal, has an impact
greater than any individuals can ever have
working separately. The same is often true for cooperating organizations:
charities, like Conservancy and the FSF, that work together with each other
amplify their impact beyond the expected.

Both Conservancy and the FSF pursue specific and differing approaches and
methods to the advancement of software freedom. The FSF is an advocacy
organization that raises awareness about key issues that impact the future
of users’ freedoms and rights, and finds volunteers and pays staff to
advocate about these issues. Conservancy is a fiscal sponsor, which means
one of our key activities is operational work, meeting the logistical and
organizational needs of volunteers so they can focus on the production of
great Free Software and Free Documentation. Meanwhile, both Conservancy
and FSF dedicated themselves to sponsoring software projects: the FSF
through the GNU project, and Conservancy
through its member
projects. And, most importantly, both charities stand up for the
rights of users by enforcing and defending copyleft licenses such as the
GNU GPL.

Conservancy and the FSF show in concrete terms that two charities can work
together to increase their impact. Last year, our organizations
collaborated on many projects, such as
the proposed
FCC rule changes for wireless devices, jointly handled
a GPL
enforcement action against Canonical, Ltd.,
published the
principles of community-oriented GPL enforcement, and continued our
collaboration on copyleft.org. We’re
already discussing lots of ways that the two organizations can work
together in 2016!

I’m proud to give so much of my time and energy to both these excellent
organizations. But, I also give my money as well: I was the first person
in history to become an Associate Member
of the FSF (back in November 2002), and have gladly paid my monthly
dues since then. Today, I also signed up as an
annual Supporter of
Conservancy, because I’m want to ensure that Conservancy’s meets its
current pledge match — the next 215 Supporters who sign up before
January 31st will double their donation via the match.

For just US$20 each month, you make sure the excellent work of both these
organizations can continue. This is quite a deal: if you are employed,
University-educated professional living in the industrialized world,
US$20 is probably the same amount you’d easily spend on a meals at
restaurants or other luxuries. Isn’t it even a better luxury to know that
these two organizations can have employ a years’ worth of effort of
standing up for your software freedom in 2016? You can make the real
difference by making your charitable contribution to these two
organizations today:

• Conservancy’s Supporter program
• FSF’s Associate Membership program

Please don’t wait: both fundraising deadlines are just
six days away!

Post Syndicated from Bradley M. Kuhn original http://ebb.org/bkuhn/blog/2016/01/25/fsf-conservancy.html

[ This blog was crossposted
on Software Freedom Conservancy’s website. ]

I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege, for the last 20 years, to be
either a volunteer or employee of the two most important organizations
for the advance of software freedom and users’ rights to copy, share,
modify and redistribute software. In 1996, I began volunteering for the
Free Software Foundation (FSF) and worked as its Executive Director from
2001–2005. I continued as a volunteer for the FSF since then, and
now serve as a volunteer on FSF’s Board of Directors. I was also one
of the first volunteers for Software Freedom Conservancy when we founded it
in 2006, and I was the primary person doing the work of the organization as
a volunteer from 2006–2010. I’ve enjoyed having a day job as a
Conservancy employee since 2011.

These two organizations have been the center of my life’s work. Between
them, I typically spend 50–80 hours every single week doing a mix of
paid and volunteer work. Both my hobby and my career
are advancing software freedom.

I choose to give my time and work to these organizations because they
provide the infrastructure that make my work possible. The Free Software
community has shown that the work of many individuals, who care deeply
about a cause but cooperate together toward a common goal, has an impact
greater than any individuals can ever have
working separately. The same is often true for cooperating organizations:
charities, like Conservancy and the FSF, that work together with each other
amplify their impact beyond the expected.

Both Conservancy and the FSF pursue specific and differing approaches and
methods to the advancement of software freedom. The FSF is an advocacy
organization that raises awareness about key issues that impact the future
of users’ freedoms and rights, and finds volunteers and pays staff to
advocate about these issues. Conservancy is a fiscal sponsor, which means
one of our key activities is operational work, meeting the logistical and
organizational needs of volunteers so they can focus on the production of
great Free Software and Free Documentation. Meanwhile, both Conservancy
and FSF dedicated themselves to sponsoring software projects: the FSF
through the GNU project, and Conservancy
through its member
projects. And, most importantly, both charities stand up for the
rights of users by enforcing and defending copyleft licenses such as the
GNU GPL.

Conservancy and the FSF show in concrete terms that two charities can work
together to increase their impact. Last year, our organizations
collaborated on many projects, such as
the proposed
FCC rule changes for wireless devices, jointly handled
a GPL
enforcement action against Canonical, Ltd.,
published the
principles of community-oriented GPL enforcement, and continued our
collaboration on copyleft.org. We’re
already discussing lots of ways that the two organizations can work
together in 2016!

I’m proud to give so much of my time and energy to both these excellent
organizations. But, I also give my money as well: I was the first person
in history to become an Associate Member
of the FSF (back in November 2002), and have gladly paid my monthly
dues since then. Today, I also signed up as an
annual Supporter of
Conservancy, because I’m want to ensure that Conservancy’s meets its
current pledge match — the next 215 Supporters who sign up before
January 31st will double their donation via the match.

For just US$20 each month, you make sure the excellent work of both these
organizations can continue. This is quite a deal: if you are employed,
University-educated professional living in the industrialized world,
US$20 is probably the same amount you’d easily spend on a meals at
restaurants or other luxuries. Isn’t it even a better luxury to know that
these two organizations can have employ a years’ worth of effort of
standing up for your software freedom in 2016? You can make the real
difference by making your charitable contribution to these two
organizations today:

• Conservancy’s Supporter program
• FSF’s Associate Membership program

Please don’t wait: both fundraising deadlines are just
six days away!

Post Syndicated from Bradley M. Kuhn original http://ebb.org/bkuhn/blog/2016/01/25/fsf-conservancy.html

[ This blog was crossposted
on Software Freedom Conservancy’s website. ]

I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege, for the last 20 years, to be
either a volunteer or employee of the two most important organizations
for the advance of software freedom and users’ rights to copy, share,
modify and redistribute software. In 1996, I began volunteering for the
Free Software Foundation (FSF) and worked as its Executive Director from
2001–2005. I continued as a volunteer for the FSF since then, and
now serve as a volunteer on FSF’s Board of Directors. I was also one
of the first volunteers for Software Freedom Conservancy when we founded it
in 2006, and I was the primary person doing the work of the organization as
a volunteer from 2006–2010. I’ve enjoyed having a day job as a
Conservancy employee since 2011.

These two organizations have been the center of my life’s work. Between
them, I typically spend 50–80 hours every single week doing a mix of
paid and volunteer work. Both my hobby and my career
are advancing software freedom.

I choose to give my time and work to these organizations because they
provide the infrastructure that make my work possible. The Free Software
community has shown that the work of many individuals, who care deeply
about a cause but cooperate together toward a common goal, has an impact
greater than any individuals can ever have
working separately. The same is often true for cooperating organizations:
charities, like Conservancy and the FSF, that work together with each other
amplify their impact beyond the expected.

Both Conservancy and the FSF pursue specific and differing approaches and
methods to the advancement of software freedom. The FSF is an advocacy
organization that raises awareness about key issues that impact the future
of users’ freedoms and rights, and finds volunteers and pays staff to
advocate about these issues. Conservancy is a fiscal sponsor, which means
one of our key activities is operational work, meeting the logistical and
organizational needs of volunteers so they can focus on the production of
great Free Software and Free Documentation. Meanwhile, both Conservancy
and FSF dedicated themselves to sponsoring software projects: the FSF
through the GNU project, and Conservancy
through its member
projects. And, most importantly, both charities stand up for the
rights of users by enforcing and defending copyleft licenses such as the
GNU GPL.

Conservancy and the FSF show in concrete terms that two charities can work
together to increase their impact. Last year, our organizations
collaborated on many projects, such as
the proposed
FCC rule changes for wireless devices, jointly handled
a GPL
enforcement action against Canonical, Ltd.,
published the
principles of community-oriented GPL enforcement, and continued our
collaboration on copyleft.org. We’re
already discussing lots of ways that the two organizations can work
together in 2016!

I’m proud to give so much of my time and energy to both these excellent
organizations. But, I also give my money as well: I was the first person
in history to become an Associate Member
of the FSF (back in November 2002), and have gladly paid my monthly
dues since then. Today, I also signed up as an
annual Supporter of
Conservancy, because I’m want to ensure that Conservancy’s meets its
current pledge match — the next 215 Supporters who sign up before
January 31st will double their donation via the match.

For just US$20 each month, you make sure the excellent work of both these
organizations can continue. This is quite a deal: if you are employed,
University-educated professional living in the industrialized world,
US$20 is probably the same amount you’d easily spend on a meals at
restaurants or other luxuries. Isn’t it even a better luxury to know that
these two organizations can have employ a years’ worth of effort of
standing up for your software freedom in 2016? You can make the real
difference by making your charitable contribution to these two
organizations today:

• Conservancy’s Supporter program
• FSF’s Associate Membership program

Please don’t wait: both fundraising deadlines are just
six days away!

Post Syndicated from Bradley M. Kuhn original http://ebb.org/bkuhn/blog/2016/01/25/fsf-conservancy.html

[ This blog was crossposted
on Software Freedom Conservancy’s website. ]

I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege, for the last 20 years, to be
either a volunteer or employee of the two most important organizations
for the advance of software freedom and users’ rights to copy, share,
modify and redistribute software. In 1996, I began volunteering for the
Free Software Foundation (FSF) and worked as its Executive Director from
2001–2005. I continued as a volunteer for the FSF since then, and
now serve as a volunteer on FSF’s Board of Directors. I was also one
of the first volunteers for Software Freedom Conservancy when we founded it
in 2006, and I was the primary person doing the work of the organization as
a volunteer from 2006–2010. I’ve enjoyed having a day job as a
Conservancy employee since 2011.

These two organizations have been the center of my life’s work. Between
them, I typically spend 50–80 hours every single week doing a mix of
paid and volunteer work. Both my hobby and my career
are advancing software freedom.

I choose to give my time and work to these organizations because they
provide the infrastructure that make my work possible. The Free Software
community has shown that the work of many individuals, who care deeply
about a cause but cooperate together toward a common goal, has an impact
greater than any individuals can ever have
working separately. The same is often true for cooperating organizations:
charities, like Conservancy and the FSF, that work together with each other
amplify their impact beyond the expected.

Both Conservancy and the FSF pursue specific and differing approaches and
methods to the advancement of software freedom. The FSF is an advocacy
organization that raises awareness about key issues that impact the future
of users’ freedoms and rights, and finds volunteers and pays staff to
advocate about these issues. Conservancy is a fiscal sponsor, which means
one of our key activities is operational work, meeting the logistical and
organizational needs of volunteers so they can focus on the production of
great Free Software and Free Documentation. Meanwhile, both Conservancy
and FSF dedicated themselves to sponsoring software projects: the FSF
through the GNU project, and Conservancy
through its member
projects. And, most importantly, both charities stand up for the
rights of users by enforcing and defending copyleft licenses such as the
GNU GPL.

Conservancy and the FSF show in concrete terms that two charities can work
together to increase their impact. Last year, our organizations
collaborated on many projects, such as
the proposed
FCC rule changes for wireless devices, jointly handled
a GPL
enforcement action against Canonical, Ltd.,
published the
principles of community-oriented GPL enforcement, and continued our
collaboration on copyleft.org. We’re
already discussing lots of ways that the two organizations can work
together in 2016!

I’m proud to give so much of my time and energy to both these excellent
organizations. But, I also give my money as well: I was the first person
in history to become an Associate Member
of the FSF (back in November 2002), and have gladly paid my monthly
dues since then. Today, I also signed up as an
annual Supporter of
Conservancy, because I’m want to ensure that Conservancy’s meets its
current pledge match — the next 215 Supporters who sign up before
January 31st will double their donation via the match.

For just US$20 each month, you make sure the excellent work of both these
organizations can continue. This is quite a deal: if you are employed,
University-educated professional living in the industrialized world,
US$20 is probably the same amount you’d easily spend on a meals at
restaurants or other luxuries. Isn’t it even a better luxury to know that
these two organizations can have employ a years’ worth of effort of
standing up for your software freedom in 2016? You can make the real
difference by making your charitable contribution to these two
organizations today:

• Conservancy’s Supporter program
• FSF’s Associate Membership program

Please don’t wait: both fundraising deadlines are just
six days away!

Post Syndicated from Bradley M. Kuhn original http://ebb.org/bkuhn/blog/2016/01/25/fsf-conservancy.html

[ This blog was crossposted
on Software Freedom Conservancy’s website. ]

I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege, for the last 20 years, to be
either a volunteer or employee of the two most important organizations
for the advance of software freedom and users’ rights to copy, share,
modify and redistribute software. In 1996, I began volunteering for the
Free Software Foundation (FSF) and worked as its Executive Director from
2001–2005. I continued as a volunteer for the FSF since then, and
now serve as a volunteer on FSF’s Board of Directors. I was also one
of the first volunteers for Software Freedom Conservancy when we founded it
in 2006, and I was the primary person doing the work of the organization as
a volunteer from 2006–2010. I’ve enjoyed having a day job as a
Conservancy employee since 2011.

These two organizations have been the center of my life’s work. Between
them, I typically spend 50–80 hours every single week doing a mix of
paid and volunteer work. Both my hobby and my career
are advancing software freedom.

I choose to give my time and work to these organizations because they
provide the infrastructure that make my work possible. The Free Software
community has shown that the work of many individuals, who care deeply
about a cause but cooperate together toward a common goal, has an impact
greater than any individuals can ever have
working separately. The same is often true for cooperating organizations:
charities, like Conservancy and the FSF, that work together with each other
amplify their impact beyond the expected.

Both Conservancy and the FSF pursue specific and differing approaches and
methods to the advancement of software freedom. The FSF is an advocacy
organization that raises awareness about key issues that impact the future
of users’ freedoms and rights, and finds volunteers and pays staff to
advocate about these issues. Conservancy is a fiscal sponsor, which means
one of our key activities is operational work, meeting the logistical and
organizational needs of volunteers so they can focus on the production of
great Free Software and Free Documentation. Meanwhile, both Conservancy
and FSF dedicated themselves to sponsoring software projects: the FSF
through the GNU project, and Conservancy
through its member
projects. And, most importantly, both charities stand up for the
rights of users by enforcing and defending copyleft licenses such as the
GNU GPL.

Conservancy and the FSF show in concrete terms that two charities can work
together to increase their impact. Last year, our organizations
collaborated on many projects, such as
the proposed
FCC rule changes for wireless devices, jointly handled
a GPL
enforcement action against Canonical, Ltd.,
published the
principles of community-oriented GPL enforcement, and continued our
collaboration on copyleft.org. We’re
already discussing lots of ways that the two organizations can work
together in 2016!

I’m proud to give so much of my time and energy to both these excellent
organizations. But, I also give my money as well: I was the first person
in history to become an Associate Member
of the FSF (back in November 2002), and have gladly paid my monthly
dues since then. Today, I also signed up as an
annual Supporter of
Conservancy, because I’m want to ensure that Conservancy’s meets its
current pledge match — the next 215 Supporters who sign up before
January 31st will double their donation via the match.

For just US$20 each month, you make sure the excellent work of both these
organizations can continue. This is quite a deal: if you are employed,
University-educated professional living in the industrialized world,
US$20 is probably the same amount you’d easily spend on a meals at
restaurants or other luxuries. Isn’t it even a better luxury to know that
these two organizations can have employ a years’ worth of effort of
standing up for your software freedom in 2016? You can make the real
difference by making your charitable contribution to these two
organizations today:

• Conservancy’s Supporter program
• FSF’s Associate Membership program

Please don’t wait: both fundraising deadlines are just
six days away!

Post Syndicated from Bradley M. Kuhn original http://ebb.org/bkuhn/blog/2016/01/25/fsf-conservancy.html

[ This blog was crossposted
on Software Freedom Conservancy’s website. ]

I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege, for the last 20 years, to be
either a volunteer or employee of the two most important organizations
for the advance of software freedom and users’ rights to copy, share,
modify and redistribute software. In 1996, I began volunteering for the
Free Software Foundation (FSF) and worked as its Executive Director from
2001–2005. I continued as a volunteer for the FSF since then, and
now serve as a volunteer on FSF’s Board of Directors. I was also one
of the first volunteers for Software Freedom Conservancy when we founded it
in 2006, and I was the primary person doing the work of the organization as
a volunteer from 2006–2010. I’ve enjoyed having a day job as a
Conservancy employee since 2011.

These two organizations have been the center of my life’s work. Between
them, I typically spend 50–80 hours every single week doing a mix of
paid and volunteer work. Both my hobby and my career
are advancing software freedom.

I choose to give my time and work to these organizations because they
provide the infrastructure that make my work possible. The Free Software
community has shown that the work of many individuals, who care deeply
about a cause but cooperate together toward a common goal, has an impact
greater than any individuals can ever have
working separately. The same is often true for cooperating organizations:
charities, like Conservancy and the FSF, that work together with each other
amplify their impact beyond the expected.

Both Conservancy and the FSF pursue specific and differing approaches and
methods to the advancement of software freedom. The FSF is an advocacy
organization that raises awareness about key issues that impact the future
of users’ freedoms and rights, and finds volunteers and pays staff to
advocate about these issues. Conservancy is a fiscal sponsor, which means
one of our key activities is operational work, meeting the logistical and
organizational needs of volunteers so they can focus on the production of
great Free Software and Free Documentation. Meanwhile, both Conservancy
and FSF dedicated themselves to sponsoring software projects: the FSF
through the GNU project, and Conservancy
through its member
projects. And, most importantly, both charities stand up for the
rights of users by enforcing and defending copyleft licenses such as the
GNU GPL.

Conservancy and the FSF show in concrete terms that two charities can work
together to increase their impact. Last year, our organizations
collaborated on many projects, such as
the proposed
FCC rule changes for wireless devices, jointly handled
a GPL
enforcement action against Canonical, Ltd.,
published the
principles of community-oriented GPL enforcement, and continued our
collaboration on copyleft.org. We’re
already discussing lots of ways that the two organizations can work
together in 2016!

I’m proud to give so much of my time and energy to both these excellent
organizations. But, I also give my money as well: I was the first person
in history to become an Associate Member
of the FSF (back in November 2002), and have gladly paid my monthly
dues since then. Today, I also signed up as an
annual Supporter of
Conservancy, because I’m want to ensure that Conservancy’s meets its
current pledge match — the next 215 Supporters who sign up before
January 31st will double their donation via the match.

For just US$20 each month, you make sure the excellent work of both these
organizations can continue. This is quite a deal: if you are employed,
University-educated professional living in the industrialized world,
US$20 is probably the same amount you’d easily spend on a meals at
restaurants or other luxuries. Isn’t it even a better luxury to know that
these two organizations can have employ a years’ worth of effort of
standing up for your software freedom in 2016? You can make the real
difference by making your charitable contribution to these two
organizations today:

• Conservancy’s Supporter program
• FSF’s Associate Membership program

Please don’t wait: both fundraising deadlines are just
six days away!

Post Syndicated from Bradley M. Kuhn original http://ebb.org/bkuhn/blog/2016/01/25/fsf-conservancy.html

[ This blog was crossposted
on Software Freedom Conservancy’s website. ]

I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege, for the last 20 years, to be
either a volunteer or employee of the two most important organizations
for the advance of software freedom and users’ rights to copy, share,
modify and redistribute software. In 1996, I began volunteering for the
Free Software Foundation (FSF) and worked as its Executive Director from
2001–2005. I continued as a volunteer for the FSF since then, and
now serve as a volunteer on FSF’s Board of Directors. I was also one
of the first volunteers for Software Freedom Conservancy when we founded it
in 2006, and I was the primary person doing the work of the organization as
a volunteer from 2006–2010. I’ve enjoyed having a day job as a
Conservancy employee since 2011.

These two organizations have been the center of my life’s work. Between
them, I typically spend 50–80 hours every single week doing a mix of
paid and volunteer work. Both my hobby and my career
are advancing software freedom.

I choose to give my time and work to these organizations because they
provide the infrastructure that make my work possible. The Free Software
community has shown that the work of many individuals, who care deeply
about a cause but cooperate together toward a common goal, has an impact
greater than any individuals can ever have
working separately. The same is often true for cooperating organizations:
charities, like Conservancy and the FSF, that work together with each other
amplify their impact beyond the expected.

Both Conservancy and the FSF pursue specific and differing approaches and
methods to the advancement of software freedom. The FSF is an advocacy
organization that raises awareness about key issues that impact the future
of users’ freedoms and rights, and finds volunteers and pays staff to
advocate about these issues. Conservancy is a fiscal sponsor, which means
one of our key activities is operational work, meeting the logistical and
organizational needs of volunteers so they can focus on the production of
great Free Software and Free Documentation. Meanwhile, both Conservancy
and FSF dedicated themselves to sponsoring software projects: the FSF
through the GNU project, and Conservancy
through its member
projects. And, most importantly, both charities stand up for the
rights of users by enforcing and defending copyleft licenses such as the
GNU GPL.

Conservancy and the FSF show in concrete terms that two charities can work
together to increase their impact. Last year, our organizations
collaborated on many projects, such as
the proposed
FCC rule changes for wireless devices, jointly handled
a GPL
enforcement action against Canonical, Ltd.,
published the
principles of community-oriented GPL enforcement, and continued our
collaboration on copyleft.org. We’re
already discussing lots of ways that the two organizations can work
together in 2016!

I’m proud to give so much of my time and energy to both these excellent
organizations. But, I also give my money as well: I was the first person
in history to become an Associate Member
of the FSF (back in November 2002), and have gladly paid my monthly
dues since then. Today, I also signed up as an
annual Supporter of
Conservancy, because I’m want to ensure that Conservancy’s meets its
current pledge match — the next 215 Supporters who sign up before
January 31st will double their donation via the match.

For just US$20 each month, you make sure the excellent work of both these
organizations can continue. This is quite a deal: if you are employed,
University-educated professional living in the industrialized world,
US$20 is probably the same amount you’d easily spend on a meals at
restaurants or other luxuries. Isn’t it even a better luxury to know that
these two organizations can have employ a years’ worth of effort of
standing up for your software freedom in 2016? You can make the real
difference by making your charitable contribution to these two
organizations today:

• Conservancy’s Supporter program
• FSF’s Associate Membership program

Please don’t wait: both fundraising deadlines are just
six days away!

Post Syndicated from Bradley M. Kuhn original http://ebb.org/bkuhn/blog/2016/01/25/fsf-conservancy.html

[ This blog was crossposted
on Software Freedom Conservancy’s website. ]

I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege, for the last 20 years, to be
either a volunteer or employee of the two most important organizations
for the advance of software freedom and users’ rights to copy, share,
modify and redistribute software. In 1996, I began volunteering for the
Free Software Foundation (FSF) and worked as its Executive Director from
2001–2005. I continued as a volunteer for the FSF since then, and
now serve as a volunteer on FSF’s Board of Directors. I was also one
of the first volunteers for Software Freedom Conservancy when we founded it
in 2006, and I was the primary person doing the work of the organization as
a volunteer from 2006–2010. I’ve enjoyed having a day job as a
Conservancy employee since 2011.

These two organizations have been the center of my life’s work. Between
them, I typically spend 50–80 hours every single week doing a mix of
paid and volunteer work. Both my hobby and my career
are advancing software freedom.

I choose to give my time and work to these organizations because they
provide the infrastructure that make my work possible. The Free Software
community has shown that the work of many individuals, who care deeply
about a cause but cooperate together toward a common goal, has an impact
greater than any individuals can ever have
working separately. The same is often true for cooperating organizations:
charities, like Conservancy and the FSF, that work together with each other
amplify their impact beyond the expected.

Both Conservancy and the FSF pursue specific and differing approaches and
methods to the advancement of software freedom. The FSF is an advocacy
organization that raises awareness about key issues that impact the future
of users’ freedoms and rights, and finds volunteers and pays staff to
advocate about these issues. Conservancy is a fiscal sponsor, which means
one of our key activities is operational work, meeting the logistical and
organizational needs of volunteers so they can focus on the production of
great Free Software and Free Documentation. Meanwhile, both Conservancy
and FSF dedicated themselves to sponsoring software projects: the FSF
through the GNU project, and Conservancy
through its member
projects. And, most importantly, both charities stand up for the
rights of users by enforcing and defending copyleft licenses such as the
GNU GPL.

Conservancy and the FSF show in concrete terms that two charities can work
together to increase their impact. Last year, our organizations
collaborated on many projects, such as
the proposed
FCC rule changes for wireless devices, jointly handled
a GPL
enforcement action against Canonical, Ltd.,
published the
principles of community-oriented GPL enforcement, and continued our
collaboration on copyleft.org. We’re
already discussing lots of ways that the two organizations can work
together in 2016!

I’m proud to give so much of my time and energy to both these excellent
organizations. But, I also give my money as well: I was the first person
in history to become an Associate Member
of the FSF (back in November 2002), and have gladly paid my monthly
dues since then. Today, I also signed up as an
annual Supporter of
Conservancy, because I’m want to ensure that Conservancy’s meets its
current pledge match — the next 215 Supporters who sign up before
January 31st will double their donation via the match.

For just US$20 each month, you make sure the excellent work of both these
organizations can continue. This is quite a deal: if you are employed,
University-educated professional living in the industrialized world,
US$20 is probably the same amount you’d easily spend on a meals at
restaurants or other luxuries. Isn’t it even a better luxury to know that
these two organizations can have employ a years’ worth of effort of
standing up for your software freedom in 2016? You can make the real
difference by making your charitable contribution to these two
organizations today:

• Conservancy’s Supporter program
• FSF’s Associate Membership program

Please don’t wait: both fundraising deadlines are just
six days away!

Post Syndicated from Bradley M. Kuhn original http://ebb.org/bkuhn/blog/2016/01/25/fsf-conservancy.html

[ This blog was crossposted
on Software Freedom Conservancy’s website. ]

I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege, for the last 20 years, to be
either a volunteer or employee of the two most important organizations
for the advance of software freedom and users’ rights to copy, share,
modify and redistribute software. In 1996, I began volunteering for the
Free Software Foundation (FSF) and worked as its Executive Director from
2001–2005. I continued as a volunteer for the FSF since then, and
now serve as a volunteer on FSF’s Board of Directors. I was also one
of the first volunteers for Software Freedom Conservancy when we founded it
in 2006, and I was the primary person doing the work of the organization as
a volunteer from 2006–2010. I’ve enjoyed having a day job as a
Conservancy employee since 2011.

These two organizations have been the center of my life’s work. Between
them, I typically spend 50–80 hours every single week doing a mix of
paid and volunteer work. Both my hobby and my career
are advancing software freedom.

I choose to give my time and work to these organizations because they
provide the infrastructure that make my work possible. The Free Software
community has shown that the work of many individuals, who care deeply
about a cause but cooperate together toward a common goal, has an impact
greater than any individuals can ever have
working separately. The same is often true for cooperating organizations:
charities, like Conservancy and the FSF, that work together with each other
amplify their impact beyond the expected.

Both Conservancy and the FSF pursue specific and differing approaches and
methods to the advancement of software freedom. The FSF is an advocacy
organization that raises awareness about key issues that impact the future
of users’ freedoms and rights, and finds volunteers and pays staff to
advocate about these issues. Conservancy is a fiscal sponsor, which means
one of our key activities is operational work, meeting the logistical and
organizational needs of volunteers so they can focus on the production of
great Free Software and Free Documentation. Meanwhile, both Conservancy
and FSF dedicated themselves to sponsoring software projects: the FSF
through the GNU project, and Conservancy
through its member
projects. And, most importantly, both charities stand up for the
rights of users by enforcing and defending copyleft licenses such as the
GNU GPL.

Conservancy and the FSF show in concrete terms that two charities can work
together to increase their impact. Last year, our organizations
collaborated on many projects, such as
the proposed
FCC rule changes for wireless devices, jointly handled
a GPL
enforcement action against Canonical, Ltd.,
published the
principles of community-oriented GPL enforcement, and continued our
collaboration on copyleft.org. We’re
already discussing lots of ways that the two organizations can work
together in 2016!

I’m proud to give so much of my time and energy to both these excellent
organizations. But, I also give my money as well: I was the first person
in history to become an Associate Member
of the FSF (back in November 2002), and have gladly paid my monthly
dues since then. Today, I also signed up as an
annual Supporter of
Conservancy, because I’m want to ensure that Conservancy’s meets its
current pledge match — the next 215 Supporters who sign up before
January 31st will double their donation via the match.

For just US$20 each month, you make sure the excellent work of both these
organizations can continue. This is quite a deal: if you are employed,
University-educated professional living in the industrialized world,
US$20 is probably the same amount you’d easily spend on a meals at
restaurants or other luxuries. Isn’t it even a better luxury to know that
these two organizations can have employ a years’ worth of effort of
standing up for your software freedom in 2016? You can make the real
difference by making your charitable contribution to these two
organizations today:

• Conservancy’s Supporter program
• FSF’s Associate Membership program

Please don’t wait: both fundraising deadlines are just
six days away!

Post Syndicated from Bradley M. Kuhn original http://ebb.org/bkuhn/blog/2016/01/25/fsf-conservancy.html

[ This blog was crossposted
on Software Freedom Conservancy’s website. ]

I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege, for the last 20 years, to be
either a volunteer or employee of the two most important organizations
for the advance of software freedom and users’ rights to copy, share,
modify and redistribute software. In 1996, I began volunteering for the
Free Software Foundation (FSF) and worked as its Executive Director from
2001–2005. I continued as a volunteer for the FSF since then, and
now serve as a volunteer on FSF’s Board of Directors. I was also one
of the first volunteers for Software Freedom Conservancy when we founded it
in 2006, and I was the primary person doing the work of the organization as
a volunteer from 2006–2010. I’ve enjoyed having a day job as a
Conservancy employee since 2011.

These two organizations have been the center of my life’s work. Between
them, I typically spend 50–80 hours every single week doing a mix of
paid and volunteer work. Both my hobby and my career
are advancing software freedom.

I choose to give my time and work to these organizations because they
provide the infrastructure that make my work possible. The Free Software
community has shown that the work of many individuals, who care deeply
about a cause but cooperate together toward a common goal, has an impact
greater than any individuals can ever have
working separately. The same is often true for cooperating organizations:
charities, like Conservancy and the FSF, that work together with each other
amplify their impact beyond the expected.

Both Conservancy and the FSF pursue specific and differing approaches and
methods to the advancement of software freedom. The FSF is an advocacy
organization that raises awareness about key issues that impact the future
of users’ freedoms and rights, and finds volunteers and pays staff to
advocate about these issues. Conservancy is a fiscal sponsor, which means
one of our key activities is operational work, meeting the logistical and
organizational needs of volunteers so they can focus on the production of
great Free Software and Free Documentation. Meanwhile, both Conservancy
and FSF dedicated themselves to sponsoring software projects: the FSF
through the GNU project, and Conservancy
through its member
projects. And, most importantly, both charities stand up for the
rights of users by enforcing and defending copyleft licenses such as the
GNU GPL.

Conservancy and the FSF show in concrete terms that two charities can work
together to increase their impact. Last year, our organizations
collaborated on many projects, such as
the proposed
FCC rule changes for wireless devices, jointly handled
a GPL
enforcement action against Canonical, Ltd.,
published the
principles of community-oriented GPL enforcement, and continued our
collaboration on copyleft.org. We’re
already discussing lots of ways that the two organizations can work
together in 2016!

I’m proud to give so much of my time and energy to both these excellent
organizations. But, I also give my money as well: I was the first person
in history to become an Associate Member
of the FSF (back in November 2002), and have gladly paid my monthly
dues since then. Today, I also signed up as an
annual Supporter of
Conservancy, because I’m want to ensure that Conservancy’s meets its
current pledge match — the next 215 Supporters who sign up before
January 31st will double their donation via the match.

For just US$20 each month, you make sure the excellent work of both these
organizations can continue. This is quite a deal: if you are employed,
University-educated professional living in the industrialized world,
US$20 is probably the same amount you’d easily spend on a meals at
restaurants or other luxuries. Isn’t it even a better luxury to know that
these two organizations can have employ a years’ worth of effort of
standing up for your software freedom in 2016? You can make the real
difference by making your charitable contribution to these two
organizations today:

• Conservancy’s Supporter program
• FSF’s Associate Membership program

Please don’t wait: both fundraising deadlines are just
six days away!

Post Syndicated from Bradley M. Kuhn original http://ebb.org/bkuhn/blog/2016/01/25/fsf-conservancy.html

[ This blog was crossposted
on Software Freedom Conservancy’s website. ]

I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege, for the last 20 years, to be
either a volunteer or employee of the two most important organizations
for the advance of software freedom and users’ rights to copy, share,
modify and redistribute software. In 1996, I began volunteering for the
Free Software Foundation (FSF) and worked as its Executive Director from
2001–2005. I continued as a volunteer for the FSF since then, and
now serve as a volunteer on FSF’s Board of Directors. I was also one
of the first volunteers for Software Freedom Conservancy when we founded it
in 2006, and I was the primary person doing the work of the organization as
a volunteer from 2006–2010. I’ve enjoyed having a day job as a
Conservancy employee since 2011.

These two organizations have been the center of my life’s work. Between
them, I typically spend 50–80 hours every single week doing a mix of
paid and volunteer work. Both my hobby and my career
are advancing software freedom.

I choose to give my time and work to these organizations because they
provide the infrastructure that make my work possible. The Free Software
community has shown that the work of many individuals, who care deeply
about a cause but cooperate together toward a common goal, has an impact
greater than any individuals can ever have
working separately. The same is often true for cooperating organizations:
charities, like Conservancy and the FSF, that work together with each other
amplify their impact beyond the expected.

Both Conservancy and the FSF pursue specific and differing approaches and
methods to the advancement of software freedom. The FSF is an advocacy
organization that raises awareness about key issues that impact the future
of users’ freedoms and rights, and finds volunteers and pays staff to
advocate about these issues. Conservancy is a fiscal sponsor, which means
one of our key activities is operational work, meeting the logistical and
organizational needs of volunteers so they can focus on the production of
great Free Software and Free Documentation. Meanwhile, both Conservancy
and FSF dedicated themselves to sponsoring software projects: the FSF
through the GNU project, and Conservancy
through its member
projects. And, most importantly, both charities stand up for the
rights of users by enforcing and defending copyleft licenses such as the
GNU GPL.

Conservancy and the FSF show in concrete terms that two charities can work
together to increase their impact. Last year, our organizations
collaborated on many projects, such as
the proposed
FCC rule changes for wireless devices, jointly handled
a GPL
enforcement action against Canonical, Ltd.,
published the
principles of community-oriented GPL enforcement, and continued our
collaboration on copyleft.org. We’re
already discussing lots of ways that the two organizations can work
together in 2016!

I’m proud to give so much of my time and energy to both these excellent
organizations. But, I also give my money as well: I was the first person
in history to become an Associate Member
of the FSF (back in November 2002), and have gladly paid my monthly
dues since then. Today, I also signed up as an
annual Supporter of
Conservancy, because I’m want to ensure that Conservancy’s meets its
current pledge match — the next 215 Supporters who sign up before
January 31st will double their donation via the match.

For just US$20 each month, you make sure the excellent work of both these
organizations can continue. This is quite a deal: if you are employed,
University-educated professional living in the industrialized world,
US$20 is probably the same amount you’d easily spend on a meals at
restaurants or other luxuries. Isn’t it even a better luxury to know that
these two organizations can have employ a years’ worth of effort of
standing up for your software freedom in 2016? You can make the real
difference by making your charitable contribution to these two
organizations today:

• Conservancy’s Supporter program
• FSF’s Associate Membership program

Please don’t wait: both fundraising deadlines are just
six days away!

Post Syndicated from Bradley M. Kuhn original http://ebb.org/bkuhn/blog/2016/01/25/fsf-conservancy.html

[ This blog was crossposted
on Software Freedom Conservancy’s website. ]

I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege, for the last 20 years, to be
either a volunteer or employee of the two most important organizations
for the advance of software freedom and users’ rights to copy, share,
modify and redistribute software. In 1996, I began volunteering for the
Free Software Foundation (FSF) and worked as its Executive Director from
2001–2005. I continued as a volunteer for the FSF since then, and
now serve as a volunteer on FSF’s Board of Directors. I was also one
of the first volunteers for Software Freedom Conservancy when we founded it
in 2006, and I was the primary person doing the work of the organization as
a volunteer from 2006–2010. I’ve enjoyed having a day job as a
Conservancy employee since 2011.

These two organizations have been the center of my life’s work. Between
them, I typically spend 50–80 hours every single week doing a mix of
paid and volunteer work. Both my hobby and my career
are advancing software freedom.

I choose to give my time and work to these organizations because they
provide the infrastructure that make my work possible. The Free Software
community has shown that the work of many individuals, who care deeply
about a cause but cooperate together toward a common goal, has an impact
greater than any individuals can ever have
working separately. The same is often true for cooperating organizations:
charities, like Conservancy and the FSF, that work together with each other
amplify their impact beyond the expected.

Both Conservancy and the FSF pursue specific and differing approaches and
methods to the advancement of software freedom. The FSF is an advocacy
organization that raises awareness about key issues that impact the future
of users’ freedoms and rights, and finds volunteers and pays staff to
advocate about these issues. Conservancy is a fiscal sponsor, which means
one of our key activities is operational work, meeting the logistical and
organizational needs of volunteers so they can focus on the production of
great Free Software and Free Documentation. Meanwhile, both Conservancy
and FSF dedicated themselves to sponsoring software projects: the FSF
through the GNU project, and Conservancy
through its member
projects. And, most importantly, both charities stand up for the
rights of users by enforcing and defending copyleft licenses such as the
GNU GPL.

Conservancy and the FSF show in concrete terms that two charities can work
together to increase their impact. Last year, our organizations
collaborated on many projects, such as
the proposed
FCC rule changes for wireless devices, jointly handled
a GPL
enforcement action against Canonical, Ltd.,
published the
principles of community-oriented GPL enforcement, and continued our
collaboration on copyleft.org. We’re
already discussing lots of ways that the two organizations can work
together in 2016!

I’m proud to give so much of my time and energy to both these excellent
organizations. But, I also give my money as well: I was the first person
in history to become an Associate Member
of the FSF (back in November 2002), and have gladly paid my monthly
dues since then. Today, I also signed up as an
annual Supporter of
Conservancy, because I’m want to ensure that Conservancy’s meets its
current pledge match — the next 215 Supporters who sign up before
January 31st will double their donation via the match.

For just US$20 each month, you make sure the excellent work of both these
organizations can continue. This is quite a deal: if you are employed,
University-educated professional living in the industrialized world,
US$20 is probably the same amount you’d easily spend on a meals at
restaurants or other luxuries. Isn’t it even a better luxury to know that
these two organizations can have employ a years’ worth of effort of
standing up for your software freedom in 2016? You can make the real
difference by making your charitable contribution to these two
organizations today:

• Conservancy’s Supporter program
• FSF’s Associate Membership program

Please don’t wait: both fundraising deadlines are just
six days away!

Post Syndicated from Bradley M. Kuhn original http://ebb.org/bkuhn/blog/2016/01/25/fsf-conservancy.html

[ This blog was crossposted
on Software Freedom Conservancy’s website. ]

I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege, for the last 20 years, to be
either a volunteer or employee of the two most important organizations
for the advance of software freedom and users’ rights to copy, share,
modify and redistribute software. In 1996, I began volunteering for the
Free Software Foundation (FSF) and worked as its Executive Director from
2001–2005. I continued as a volunteer for the FSF since then, and
now serve as a volunteer on FSF’s Board of Directors. I was also one
of the first volunteers for Software Freedom Conservancy when we founded it
in 2006, and I was the primary person doing the work of the organization as
a volunteer from 2006–2010. I’ve enjoyed having a day job as a
Conservancy employee since 2011.

These two organizations have been the center of my life’s work. Between
them, I typically spend 50–80 hours every single week doing a mix of
paid and volunteer work. Both my hobby and my career
are advancing software freedom.

I choose to give my time and work to these organizations because they
provide the infrastructure that make my work possible. The Free Software
community has shown that the work of many individuals, who care deeply
about a cause but cooperate together toward a common goal, has an impact
greater than any individuals can ever have
working separately. The same is often true for cooperating organizations:
charities, like Conservancy and the FSF, that work together with each other
amplify their impact beyond the expected.

Both Conservancy and the FSF pursue specific and differing approaches and
methods to the advancement of software freedom. The FSF is an advocacy
organization that raises awareness about key issues that impact the future
of users’ freedoms and rights, and finds volunteers and pays staff to
advocate about these issues. Conservancy is a fiscal sponsor, which means
one of our key activities is operational work, meeting the logistical and
organizational needs of volunteers so they can focus on the production of
great Free Software and Free Documentation. Meanwhile, both Conservancy
and FSF dedicated themselves to sponsoring software projects: the FSF
through the GNU project, and Conservancy
through its member
projects. And, most importantly, both charities stand up for the
rights of users by enforcing and defending copyleft licenses such as the
GNU GPL.

Conservancy and the FSF show in concrete terms that two charities can work
together to increase their impact. Last year, our organizations
collaborated on many projects, such as
the proposed
FCC rule changes for wireless devices, jointly handled
a GPL
enforcement action against Canonical, Ltd.,
published the
principles of community-oriented GPL enforcement, and continued our
collaboration on copyleft.org. We’re
already discussing lots of ways that the two organizations can work
together in 2016!

I’m proud to give so much of my time and energy to both these excellent
organizations. But, I also give my money as well: I was the first person
in history to become an Associate Member
of the FSF (back in November 2002), and have gladly paid my monthly
dues since then. Today, I also signed up as an
annual Supporter of
Conservancy, because I’m want to ensure that Conservancy’s meets its
current pledge match — the next 215 Supporters who sign up before
January 31st will double their donation via the match.

For just US$20 each month, you make sure the excellent work of both these
organizations can continue. This is quite a deal: if you are employed,
University-educated professional living in the industrialized world,
US$20 is probably the same amount you’d easily spend on a meals at
restaurants or other luxuries. Isn’t it even a better luxury to know that
these two organizations can have employ a years’ worth of effort of
standing up for your software freedom in 2016? You can make the real
difference by making your charitable contribution to these two
organizations today:

• Conservancy’s Supporter program
• FSF’s Associate Membership program

Please don’t wait: both fundraising deadlines are just
six days away!

Post Syndicated from Bradley M. Kuhn original http://ebb.org/bkuhn/blog/2016/01/25/fsf-conservancy.html

[ This blog was crossposted
on Software Freedom Conservancy’s website. ]

I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege, for the last 20 years, to be
either a volunteer or employee of the two most important organizations
for the advance of software freedom and users’ rights to copy, share,
modify and redistribute software. In 1996, I began volunteering for the
Free Software Foundation (FSF) and worked as its Executive Director from
2001–2005. I continued as a volunteer for the FSF since then, and
now serve as a volunteer on FSF’s Board of Directors. I was also one
of the first volunteers for Software Freedom Conservancy when we founded it
in 2006, and I was the primary person doing the work of the organization as
a volunteer from 2006–2010. I’ve enjoyed having a day job as a
Conservancy employee since 2011.

These two organizations have been the center of my life’s work. Between
them, I typically spend 50–80 hours every single week doing a mix of
paid and volunteer work. Both my hobby and my career
are advancing software freedom.

I choose to give my time and work to these organizations because they
provide the infrastructure that make my work possible. The Free Software
community has shown that the work of many individuals, who care deeply
about a cause but cooperate together toward a common goal, has an impact
greater than any individuals can ever have
working separately. The same is often true for cooperating organizations:
charities, like Conservancy and the FSF, that work together with each other
amplify their impact beyond the expected.

Both Conservancy and the FSF pursue specific and differing approaches and
methods to the advancement of software freedom. The FSF is an advocacy
organization that raises awareness about key issues that impact the future
of users’ freedoms and rights, and finds volunteers and pays staff to
advocate about these issues. Conservancy is a fiscal sponsor, which means
one of our key activities is operational work, meeting the logistical and
organizational needs of volunteers so they can focus on the production of
great Free Software and Free Documentation. Meanwhile, both Conservancy
and FSF dedicated themselves to sponsoring software projects: the FSF
through the GNU project, and Conservancy
through its member
projects. And, most importantly, both charities stand up for the
rights of users by enforcing and defending copyleft licenses such as the
GNU GPL.

Conservancy and the FSF show in concrete terms that two charities can work
together to increase their impact. Last year, our organizations
collaborated on many projects, such as
the proposed
FCC rule changes for wireless devices, jointly handled
a GPL
enforcement action against Canonical, Ltd.,
published the
principles of community-oriented GPL enforcement, and continued our
collaboration on copyleft.org. We’re
already discussing lots of ways that the two organizations can work
together in 2016!

I’m proud to give so much of my time and energy to both these excellent
organizations. But, I also give my money as well: I was the first person
in history to become an Associate Member
of the FSF (back in November 2002), and have gladly paid my monthly
dues since then. Today, I also signed up as an
annual Supporter of
Conservancy, because I’m want to ensure that Conservancy’s meets its
current pledge match — the next 215 Supporters who sign up before
January 31st will double their donation via the match.

For just US$20 each month, you make sure the excellent work of both these
organizations can continue. This is quite a deal: if you are employed,
University-educated professional living in the industrialized world,
US$20 is probably the same amount you’d easily spend on a meals at
restaurants or other luxuries. Isn’t it even a better luxury to know that
these two organizations can have employ a years’ worth of effort of
standing up for your software freedom in 2016? You can make the real
difference by making your charitable contribution to these two
organizations today:

• Conservancy’s Supporter program
• FSF’s Associate Membership program

Please don’t wait: both fundraising deadlines are just
six days away!

Post Syndicated from Bradley M. Kuhn original http://ebb.org/bkuhn/blog/2016/01/25/fsf-conservancy.html

[ This blog was crossposted
on Software Freedom Conservancy’s website. ]

I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege, for the last 20 years, to be
either a volunteer or employee of the two most important organizations
for the advance of software freedom and users’ rights to copy, share,
modify and redistribute software. In 1996, I began volunteering for the
Free Software Foundation (FSF) and worked as its Executive Director from
2001–2005. I continued as a volunteer for the FSF since then, and
now serve as a volunteer on FSF’s Board of Directors. I was also one
of the first volunteers for Software Freedom Conservancy when we founded it
in 2006, and I was the primary person doing the work of the organization as
a volunteer from 2006–2010. I’ve enjoyed having a day job as a
Conservancy employee since 2011.

These two organizations have been the center of my life’s work. Between
them, I typically spend 50–80 hours every single week doing a mix of
paid and volunteer work. Both my hobby and my career
are advancing software freedom.

I choose to give my time and work to these organizations because they
provide the infrastructure that make my work possible. The Free Software
community has shown that the work of many individuals, who care deeply
about a cause but cooperate together toward a common goal, has an impact
greater than any individuals can ever have
working separately. The same is often true for cooperating organizations:
charities, like Conservancy and the FSF, that work together with each other
amplify their impact beyond the expected.

Both Conservancy and the FSF pursue specific and differing approaches and
methods to the advancement of software freedom. The FSF is an advocacy
organization that raises awareness about key issues that impact the future
of users’ freedoms and rights, and finds volunteers and pays staff to
advocate about these issues. Conservancy is a fiscal sponsor, which means
one of our key activities is operational work, meeting the logistical and
organizational needs of volunteers so they can focus on the production of
great Free Software and Free Documentation. Meanwhile, both Conservancy
and FSF dedicated themselves to sponsoring software projects: the FSF
through the GNU project, and Conservancy
through its member
projects. And, most importantly, both charities stand up for the
rights of users by enforcing and defending copyleft licenses such as the
GNU GPL.

Conservancy and the FSF show in concrete terms that two charities can work
together to increase their impact. Last year, our organizations
collaborated on many projects, such as
the proposed
FCC rule changes for wireless devices, jointly handled
a GPL
enforcement action against Canonical, Ltd.,
published the
principles of community-oriented GPL enforcement, and continued our
collaboration on copyleft.org. We’re
already discussing lots of ways that the two organizations can work
together in 2016!

I’m proud to give so much of my time and energy to both these excellent
organizations. But, I also give my money as well: I was the first person
in history to become an Associate Member
of the FSF (back in November 2002), and have gladly paid my monthly
dues since then. Today, I also signed up as an
annual Supporter of
Conservancy, because I’m want to ensure that Conservancy’s meets its
current pledge match — the next 215 Supporters who sign up before
January 31st will double their donation via the match.

For just US$20 each month, you make sure the excellent work of both these
organizations can continue. This is quite a deal: if you are employed,
University-educated professional living in the industrialized world,
US$20 is probably the same amount you’d easily spend on a meals at
restaurants or other luxuries. Isn’t it even a better luxury to know that
these two organizations can have employ a years’ worth of effort of
standing up for your software freedom in 2016? You can make the real
difference by making your charitable contribution to these two
organizations today:

• Conservancy’s Supporter program
• FSF’s Associate Membership program

Please don’t wait: both fundraising deadlines are just
six days away!

Post Syndicated from Bradley M. Kuhn original http://ebb.org/bkuhn/blog/2016/01/25/fsf-conservancy.html

[ This blog was crossposted
on Software Freedom Conservancy’s website. ]

I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege, for the last 20 years, to be
either a volunteer or employee of the two most important organizations
for the advance of software freedom and users’ rights to copy, share,
modify and redistribute software. In 1996, I began volunteering for the
Free Software Foundation (FSF) and worked as its Executive Director from
2001–2005. I continued as a volunteer for the FSF since then, and
now serve as a volunteer on FSF’s Board of Directors. I was also one
of the first volunteers for Software Freedom Conservancy when we founded it
in 2006, and I was the primary person doing the work of the organization as
a volunteer from 2006–2010. I’ve enjoyed having a day job as a
Conservancy employee since 2011.

These two organizations have been the center of my life’s work. Between
them, I typically spend 50–80 hours every single week doing a mix of
paid and volunteer work. Both my hobby and my career
are advancing software freedom.

I choose to give my time and work to these organizations because they
provide the infrastructure that make my work possible. The Free Software
community has shown that the work of many individuals, who care deeply
about a cause but cooperate together toward a common goal, has an impact
greater than any individuals can ever have
working separately. The same is often true for cooperating organizations:
charities, like Conservancy and the FSF, that work together with each other
amplify their impact beyond the expected.

Both Conservancy and the FSF pursue specific and differing approaches and
methods to the advancement of software freedom. The FSF is an advocacy
organization that raises awareness about key issues that impact the future
of users’ freedoms and rights, and finds volunteers and pays staff to
advocate about these issues. Conservancy is a fiscal sponsor, which means
one of our key activities is operational work, meeting the logistical and
organizational needs of volunteers so they can focus on the production of
great Free Software and Free Documentation. Meanwhile, both Conservancy
and FSF dedicated themselves to sponsoring software projects: the FSF
through the GNU project, and Conservancy
through its member
projects. And, most importantly, both charities stand up for the
rights of users by enforcing and defending copyleft licenses such as the
GNU GPL.

Conservancy and the FSF show in concrete terms that two charities can work
together to increase their impact. Last year, our organizations
collaborated on many projects, such as
the proposed
FCC rule changes for wireless devices, jointly handled
a GPL
enforcement action against Canonical, Ltd.,
published the
principles of community-oriented GPL enforcement, and continued our
collaboration on copyleft.org. We’re
already discussing lots of ways that the two organizations can work
together in 2016!

I’m proud to give so much of my time and energy to both these excellent
organizations. But, I also give my money as well: I was the first person
in history to become an Associate Member
of the FSF (back in November 2002), and have gladly paid my monthly
dues since then. Today, I also signed up as an
annual Supporter of
Conservancy, because I’m want to ensure that Conservancy’s meets its
current pledge match — the next 215 Supporters who sign up before
January 31st will double their donation via the match.

For just US$20 each month, you make sure the excellent work of both these
organizations can continue. This is quite a deal: if you are employed,
University-educated professional living in the industrialized world,
US$20 is probably the same amount you’d easily spend on a meals at
restaurants or other luxuries. Isn’t it even a better luxury to know that
these two organizations can have employ a years’ worth of effort of
standing up for your software freedom in 2016? You can make the real
difference by making your charitable contribution to these two
organizations today:

• Conservancy’s Supporter program
• FSF’s Associate Membership program

Please don’t wait: both fundraising deadlines are just
six days away!