October 4, 1985
Richard Stallman founds FSF
Richard Stallman founded the Free SoftwareSoftware users can run, study, modify, and share — emphasizes user freedom, not just zero price. Foundation on October 4, 1985 — the nonprofit behind GNU and the GPLGNU General Public License — a widely used open-source license that requires derivatives to stay open..
What it was for
The FSF funded GNU tool development and defended copyleftA license approach requiring derivative works to remain open — the GPL is the classic example. licenses — anchoring the free softwareSoftware users can run, study, modify, and share — emphasizes user freedom, not just zero price. movement legally and institutionally beyond Stallman's manifesto.
People
- Richard Stallman — founder
Companies
- Free Software Foundation
Why it's here
The FSF gave the free softwareSoftware users can run, study, modify, and share — emphasizes user freedom, not just zero price. movement durable organizational backing.
Why it mattered
It sustained GNU development and GPLGNU General Public License — a widely used open-source license that requires derivatives to stay open. enforcement for decades.
What it solved
Individual activists could not maintain large free softwareSoftware users can run, study, modify, and share — emphasizes user freedom, not just zero price. projects alone.
Media
ImageRichard StallmanPatafisik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Related
- Richard Stallman publishes the GNU ManifestoMarch 1985
- GPL version 1 publishedFebruary 1989