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Welcome
Welcome to the GNU Project and the Free Software Foundation (FSF) web server, www.gnu.org and www.fsf.org.
The GNU Project was launched in 1984 to develop a complete Unix-like operating system which is free software: the GNU system. (GNU is a recursive acronym for ``GNU's Not Unix''; it is pronounced "guh-NEW".) Variants of the GNU operating system, which use the kernel Linux, are now widely used; though these systems are often referred to as ``Linux'', they are more accurately called GNU/Linux systems.
The FSF, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting computer users' right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as in freedom) software, particularly the GNU operating system and free documentation. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues of freedom in the use of software.

GNUs Flashes

Richard Stallman gave a speech at NYU, which in part countered Mundie's attack on Free Software. You can see the press release, listen to an audio recording, and read a transcript.
Read the new GPL FAQ.
Curious about our response to the Microsoft statements of 3 May 2001? You can read our press release, and a joint statement signed by Richard Stallman. Also, on our philosophy page, we have a number of published essays ([1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]) that address related topics.
For other news, see What's new in and about the GNU Project.

More Information

The Free Software Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charity in the USA, and donations are tax-deductible. Donations help us to preserve, protect and promote free software, and to develop GNU.

The philosophy and history of the GNU project is featured in Richard M. Stallman's article The GNU Project and in several other texts in our philosophy section.

The FSF also supports the freedoms of speech, press, and association on the Internet, the right to use encryption software for private communication, and the right to write software unimpeded by private monopolies.

Contact Information

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Updated: $Date: 2001/06/01 23:20:52 $ $Author: bkuhn $