[SFS] OT? Hardware FSF certified in 2015 to Respect Your Freedom
David L. Willson
DLWillson@TheGeek.NU
Thu, 7 Jan 2016 15:05:39 -0700 (MST)
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--=20
David L. Willson=20
Teacher, Engineer, Evangelist=20
RHCE+Satellite CCAH Network+ A+ Linux+ LPIC-1 Ubuntu_CP SUSE_CLA=20
Mobile 720-333-LANS(5267)=20
http://sofree.us=20
This is a good time for a r3VOLution.=20
----- Original Message -----
>=20
>=20
> Free Software Foundation
>=20
>=20
> Dear David and Heather Willson,
> The world of computer hardware products is in many respects a dark
> and dismal place when it comes to computer user freedom: graphics
> processors, network controllers, and even the low-level boot systems
> of most computers use proprietary software. However, we know that
> this situation is not due to a lack of demand from users for
> hardware that respects them. People want this, but in the absence of
> options, have just resigned themselves to accepting mistreatment.
> RYF certification mark spotlight
> To prove naysayers wrong and to motivate production of real options
> for users, we created the Respects Your Freedom (RYF) hardware
> certification program. This certification is a guiding light
> companies can follow in order to demonstrate their commitment to
> respect your freedom, your privacy, and your right to control your
> devices.
> When a company believes they have achieved our RYF certification
> criteria , they send us samples of the product for testing. If it
> passes muster, we enter into a contract with them that documents
> their commitment and allows them use of the certification mark for
> that product. We heavily promote all certified products and maintain
> a listing at www.fsf.org/ryf . RYF Certification
> A person shouldn't need to fully understand all of the matters of
> liberty and privacy wrapped up in today's technology =E2=80=94 they
> shouldn't need to have the expertise and knowledge needed to
> evaluate licenses, or to make sense of the many legal and
> technological restrictions that can encumber their hardware,
> threaten their privacy, or deny them control over their device and
> data. Instead, if a person trusts the Free Software Foundation (FSF)
> and trusts our commitments to doing this work well, they can seek
> out products bearing the RYF mark and know that this research has
> been done for them.
> In our short-term vision, every product category should have
> certified options readily available both in stores and online. By
> informing the public, inspiring sellers, and building demand for
> such devices, we'll get to our long-term vision, which is to have
> all devices sold respect your freedom.
> The RYF certification program is one of the most important parts of
> the FSF's work =E2=80=94 and one of the most promising and successful par=
ts.
> Since announcing our first RYF-certified product in October 2012
> (the LulzBot AO-100 3D printer), we have certified a total of
> eighteen different hardware devices sold by five different
> companies. In 2015 alone we awarded RYF certification to six new
> devices:
> * 3 laptops: Libreboot X200 and T400 from Minifree, and the Taurinus
> X200 from Libiquity.
> * 2 3D-printers: The LulzBot TAZ 5 and the LulzBot Mini by Aleph
> Objects.
> * 1 wireless router: The Free Software Wireless-N Mini Router
> (TPE-R1100) sold by ThinkPenguin.
> The effects of the certification program go well beyond just the
> number of products certified. In several instances, certification
> has been an important factor in the creation of new small
> businesses: Some of those companies have achieved RYF certification
> on their products, while others are still working toward this goal.
> Other companies have told us that RYF certification is an integral
> part of their marketing strategy and part of the core philosophy and
> mission of the company.
> Most certified hardware sellers have not only met our certification
> criteria, but have gone above and beyond, such as by committing a
> portion of their sales toward funding the development of free
> software programs or by releasing the complete hardware design
> documents for their devices under free licenses.
> In 2016 and beyond, we hope to not only sustain our RYF certification
> program, but to grow it. You can be part of this growth. It will
> benefit you directly, by giving you real hardware options that
> respect your freedom.
> Guiding hardware sellers all the way to achieving RYF certification
> on a product can be a very time-intensive process for our staff,
> including helping prospective sellers through the initial research
> and development stages, and going through cycles of reviews and
> fixes with sellers who have submitted hardware for testing.
> It is membership dues and donations that make this important work
> possible. You have been an FSF member in the past, and we want you
> back. Please consider renewing today . Your membership under
> "sofreeus" ended on February 2nd, 2015. If we've made an error,
> please let us know at membership@fsf.org .
> Other ways you can help are to:
> * Shine a light on RYF certified products by sharing them with your
> friends and on social media by using the hashtag #ryf.
> * Steer hardware sellers toward our certification criteria .
> Happy hacking,
> Joshua Gay
> Licensing & Compliance Manager
> Read online:
> https://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/hardware-we-certified-in-2015-to-resp=
ect-your-freedom
>=20
> Follow us on GNU social | Subscribe to our blogs via RSS | Join us as
> an associate member
> Sent from the Free Software Foundation,
> 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor
> Boston , Massachusetts 02110-1335
> UNITED STATES
> Unsubscribe from this mailing list.
> Stop all email from the Free Software Foundation, including Defective
> by Design, and the Free Software Supporter newsletter.
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div style=3D'font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: =
12pt; color: #000000'><br><br><div><span name=3D"x"></span>--<br>David L. W=
illson<br>Teacher, Engineer, Evangelist<br>RHCE+Satellite CCAH Network+ A+ =
Linux+ LPIC-1 Ubuntu_CP SUSE_CLA<br>Mobile 720-333-LANS(5267)<br>http://sof=
ree.us<br><br>This is a good time for a r3VOLution.<span name=3D"x"></span>=
<br></div><br><hr id=3D"zwchr"><blockquote style=3D"border-left:2px solid #=
1010FF;margin-left:5px;padding-left:5px;color:#000;font-weight:normal;font-=
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=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p></p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p>Dear David and Heather Willson,</p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p>The world of computer hardware produ=
cts is in many respects a dark and dismal place when it comes to computer u=
ser freedom: graphics processors, network controllers, and even the low-lev=
el boot systems of most computers use proprietary software. However, we kno=
w that this situation is not due to a lack of demand from users for hardwar=
e that respects them. People want this, but in the absence of options, have=
just resigned themselves to accepting mistreatment.</p>
<img alt=3D"RYF certification mark spotlight" style=3D"float: none; width: =
600px; margin: 0 auto;" src=3D"https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/ryf/ryf-spotlig=
ht-600x150.jpg">
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p>To prove naysayers wrong and to moti=
vate production of real options for users, we created the <a href=3D"https:=
//www.fsf.org/ryf" target=3D"_blank">Respects Your Freedom</a> (RYF) hardwa=
re certification program. This certification is a guiding light companies c=
an follow in order to demonstrate their commitment to respect your freedom,=
your privacy, and your right to control your devices.</p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p>When a company believes they have ac=
hieved our <a href=3D"https://www.fsf.org/resources/hw/endorsement/criteria=
" target=3D"_blank">RYF certification criteria</a>, they send us samples of=
the product for testing. If it passes muster, we enter into a contract wit=
h them that documents their commitment and allows them use of the certifica=
tion mark for that product. We heavily promote all certified products and m=
aintain a listing at <a href=3D"https://www.fsf.org/ryf" target=3D"_blank">=
www.fsf.org/ryf</a>.</p>
<img alt=3D"RYF Certification" style=3D"float: right; width: 250px; margin:=
10px 0px 10px 10px;" src=3D"https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/ryf/RYF-200px.png=
">
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p>A person shouldn't need to fully und=
erstand all of the matters of liberty and privacy wrapped up in today's tec=
hnology =E2=80=94 they shouldn't need to have the expertise and knowledge n=
eeded to evaluate licenses, or to make sense of the many legal and technolo=
gical restrictions that can encumber their hardware, threaten their privacy=
, or deny them control over their device and data. Instead, if a person tru=
sts the Free Software Foundation (FSF) and trusts our commitments to doing =
this work well, they can seek out products bearing the RYF mark and know th=
at this research has been done for them.</p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p>In our short-term vision, every prod=
uct category should have certified options readily available both in stores=
and online. By informing the public, inspiring sellers, and building deman=
d for such devices, we'll get to our long-term vision, which is to have <em=
>all</em> devices sold respect your freedom.</p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p>The RYF certification program is one=
of the most important parts of the FSF's work =E2=80=94 and one of the mos=
t promising and successful parts. Since announcing our first RYF-certified =
product in October 2012 (the LulzBot AO-100 3D printer), we have certified =
a total of eighteen different hardware devices sold by five different compa=
nies. In 2015 alone we awarded RYF certification to six new devices:</p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<ul>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<li>3 laptops: Libreboot X200 and T4=
00 from Minifree, and the Taurinus X200 from Libiquity.</li>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<li>2 3D-printers: The LulzBot TAZ 5=
and the LulzBot Mini by Aleph Objects.</li>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<li>1 wireless router: The Free Soft=
ware Wireless-N Mini Router (TPE-R1100) sold by ThinkPenguin.</li>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</ul>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p>The effects of the certification pro=
gram go well beyond just the number of products certified. In several insta=
nces, certification has been an important factor in the creation of new sma=
ll businesses: Some of those companies have achieved RYF certification on t=
heir products, while others are still working toward this goal. Other compa=
nies have told us that RYF certification is an integral part of their marke=
ting strategy and part of the core philosophy and mission of the company.</=
p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p>Most certified hardware sellers have=
not only met our certification criteria, but have gone above and beyond, s=
uch as by committing a portion of their sales toward funding the developmen=
t of free software programs or by releasing the complete hardware design do=
cuments for their devices under free licenses.</p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p>In 2016 and beyond, we hope to not o=
nly sustain our RYF certification program, but to grow it. You can be part =
of this growth. It will benefit you directly, by giving you real hardware o=
ptions that respect your freedom.</p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p>Guiding hardware sellers all the way=
to achieving RYF certification on a product can be a very time-intensive p=
rocess for our staff, including helping prospective sellers through the ini=
tial research and development stages, and going through cycles of reviews a=
nd fixes with sellers who have submitted hardware for testing.</p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p><strong>It is membership dues and do=
nations that make this important work possible. You have been an FSF member=
in the past, and we want you back. Please consider <a href=3D"https://my.f=
sf.org/renew/?pk_campaign=3D2015-appeal&pk_kwd=3Dryf" target=3D"_blank"=
>renewing today</a>.</strong> Your membership under "sofreeus" ended on Feb=
ruary 2nd, 2015. If we've made an error, please let us know at <a href=3D"m=
ailto:membership@fsf.org" target=3D"_blank">membership@fsf.org</a>.</p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p>Other ways you can help are to:</p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<ul>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<li>Shine a light on <a href=3D"http=
s://www.fsf.org/ryf" target=3D"_blank">RYF certified products</a> by sharin=
g them with your friends and on social media by using the hashtag #ryf.</li=
>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<li>Steer hardware sellers toward ou=
r <a href=3D"https://www.fsf.org/resources/hw/endorsement/criteria" target=
=3D"_blank">certification criteria</a>.</li>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</ul>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p>Happy hacking,</p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p>Joshua Gay<br>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09Licensing & Compliance Manager</p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p><em>Read online: <a href=3D"https://=
www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/hardware-we-certified-in-2015-to-respect-your-f=
reedom" target=3D"_blank">https://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/hardware-we-c=
ertified-in-2015-to-respect-your-freedom</a></em></p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</td>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</tr>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</tbody>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</table>
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e:13px;padding-top:30px;padding-bottom:30px;" valign=3D"top">
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p style=3D"font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-s=
erif;font-size:15px;color:#333333;line-height:1.5em;margin-top:1em;margin-b=
ottom:0;-webkit-text-size-adjust:none;-ms-text-size-adjust:none;"><a href=
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rline;" target=3D"_blank">Follow us on GNU social</a> | <a href=3D"https://=
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=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p style=3D"font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-s=
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