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Welcome to the *Free Software Supporter*, the Free Software Foundation's (FSF) monthly news digest and action update -- being read by you and 231,349 other activists.
### The FSF can only continue to be the cornerstone of a more just digital society with your support
*From November 12*
Free software makes up the building blocks to so many things and is an important tool for building and sustaining a free society. You can use free software to build programs that work for you, combine things as you wish, and share these building blocks with others. In a free society and with technology being all over, everyone should have these essential freedoms. This is why the Free Software Foundation (FSF) has published and promoted free software licenses since 1985, sponsors the GNU System, and campaigns for free software adoption everywhere.
Powered by member dues and donations, the FSF can only continue to be a core pillar of software freedom with your support. Build a better world with us -- join the thousands of free software enthusiasts who support us financially with individual contributions averaging [USD $46.22][1].
The FSF can only continue to be the cornerstone of a more just digital society with the support of the community. [Share this message][2] using the hashtag #CornerstoneOfAFreeSociety on [social media networks][2].
* Enter the FSF Anniversary Logo Contest * Free software is vital for the public and state-run infrastructure of a free society * FSF Ethical Tech Giving Guide: Remember to give freedom * Call for volunteers: Help us with the GNU Press shop * Winter holidays are coming: Time for a free software tale * Keep warm with GNU winter swag * TAKE ACTION: Block the PERA and PREVAIL Act - A major step back for software freedom * Forty years of commitment to software freedom * Landlord screening tool will stop scoring low-income tenants after discrimination suit * Why is it so expensive to repair my devices? * Vim developer Bram Moolenaar posthumously receives the European SFS Award * November GNU Emacs news * Join the FSF and friends in updating the Free Software Directory * LibrePlanet featured resource: Group: Free Software in Government * November GNU Spotlight with Amin Bandali: Eleven new GNU releases! * FSF and other free software events * Thank GNUs! * GNU copyright contributions * Translations of the *Free Software Supporter* * Take action with the FSF!
View this issue online here:
Encourage your friends to subscribe and help us build an audience by adding our subscriber widget to your website.
* Subscribe: * Widget:
Miss an issue? You can catch up on back issues at .
Want to read this newsletter translated into another language? Scroll to the end to read the *Supporter* in French and Spanish.
***
### Enter the FSF Anniversary Logo Contest
*From November 5*
For our fortieth anniversary, we would like to source the anniversary logo design directly from a free software supporter. Everyone is welcome to submit a design (or even multiple designs), no matter your previous experience in design, as long as it adheres to the requirements. The winning design will be chosen by the community and ultimately immortalized in the history of the FSF. It will be displayed on the FSF homepage, printed on all of the celebration printed materials, and possibly even stamped on some merchandise. To enter a design(s) into the contest, please review the requirements and suggestions below before submitting your design by **January 1, 2025**.
*
### Free software is vital for the public and state-run infrastructure of a free society
*From November 27*
No government should rip freedom from the hands of its people, forcing them to give up their freedom to run, study, modify, and share software. When it comes to government infrastructure, citizens often have no options: they have to use it. Therefore, government infrastructure should always respect its user's freedom! Read about negative and positive examples of a government beholden to proprietary software and of efforts to implement free software in governments.
* * *
### FSF Ethical Tech Giving Guide: Remember to give freedom
*From November 26*
All year long, but especially during the last two months of the year, ads and media that celebrate the use of freedom-violating software are fed to us by greedy corporations. No matter which holiday(s), if any, you celebrate, the spirit of cherishing our loved ones is very strong right now. Unfortunately, so is the messaging that many of us encounter on a daily basis that you have to buy the newest tech gifts (most of which are not freedom-respecting) if you want to show your friends and family that you love them. If you want to participate in ethical tech gift-giving, we're here to help.
* *
### Call for volunteers: Help us with the GNU Press shop
*From November 25*
People around the world are eagerly waiting to receive their GNU Press shop orders, and we need a little help sending everything out. Would you be willing to donate some of your time to supporting the FSF's work while chatting and enjoying snacks with other free software supporters? This will be the first time that we have organized a volunteering event since going remote at the end of August 2024, and we miss seeing your lovely faces! If you are in the Boston area in December and have a spare hour or two, reach out to to let us know when you can drop by.
*
### Winter holidays are coming: Time for a free software tale
*From November 19*
The ShoeTool fairy tale is about Wendell the Elf, a shoemaker who thought he bought a machine to help him make shoes, only to find out that the machine proprietor heavily restricts what kind of shoes Wendell may make with the machine he just bought. These kinds of restrictions that are found on most if not all proprietary software limit real-world user freedom, creativity, and opportunity, not just fictional shoemaking. Watch the fairy tale of Wendell the Elf and the ShoeTool to remind yourself why you shouldn't let your tools tell you how to use them and share this holiday fairy tale with your loved ones.
* *
### Keep warm with GNU winter swag
*From November 14*
The FSF shop is open! Winter is nearly here and what better way to ring in winter than with some new free software gear? We have a lot of fun merchandise up for grabs for every taste and every budget. Purchases from the GNU Press shop are not only fun to receive in the mail, but they're also great for upgrading skills and sharing software freedom far and wide. Peruse our extensive selection and order yourself or some loved ones a little treat to brighten up those chilly days! To have a good chance of receiving your order by December 24, be sure to place your order before December 15 (if you have a US mailing address) or December 5 (if you have an international mailing address).
*
### TAKE ACTION: Block the PERA and PREVAIL Act - A major step back for software freedom
*From November 13*
The US Senate will vote on two bills that, if passed, will entrench software patents even further in the United States. The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA) seeks to "clear the legal landscape" surrounding patents, but will effectively make obtaining software patents even easier than before. Meanwhile, the Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership (PREVAIL) Act, would severely limit how the public can challenge wrongly granted patents at the patent office. We cannot afford to let this bill pass without a fight. Software freedom is at risk, and we need your voice now more than ever. Both the vote on the PERA Act and the PREVAIL Act have been delayed, so there is now a little more time to take action and prevent them from moving forward. Call your Senators before it's too late!
* *
### Forty years of commitment to software freedom
*From November 5*
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) turns forty on October 4, 2025 and we will end our thirties on a high note! Since our founding in 1985, we laid out many stepping stones on the road to software freedom, and we're eager to continue building the road ahead. We will celebrate our fortieth in the spirit of bringing the international free software community together, discussing what we can do next to make the world freer, and celebrating how far we've come. We're aiming for a libre planet! Sounds familiar? Instead of hosting one LibrePlanet conference in 2025, we're planning a jam-packed anniversary year, filled with several new and exciting activities. We hope you'll join us for the festivities!
*
### Landlord screening tool will stop scoring low-income tenants after discrimination suit
*From November 20 by Emma Roth*
Until recently, SafeRent, an application used by landlords for evaluating prospective tenants, was compiling scores that were not transparent to either landlords or prospective tenants, even reportedly using information not related to rental history. For many people seeking housing, especially renters, there is often very little choice or accessible workarounds to using proprietary software to apply for housing. Not only does the widespread use of these kinds of programs infringe upon user freedom, it may even be used to discriminate against prospective tenants, such as what may have been happening with SafeRent scores. No matter what role you fill in the housing industry, we strongly encourage you to advocate for the use of free software in housing practices whenever possible.
* *
### Why is it so expensive to repair my devices?
*From November 14 by Christian Romero*
When your device breaks, whether by an accident or because it has been well-used, it is often expensive and frustrating to attempt to repair it. Costly and tiresome repair processes are not the default, but a purposeful choice by the proprietor to take your freedom and money. You should be able and allowed to change and repair your device and software as needed, instead of being forced to buy expensive parts packages and/or rely on the manufacturer to repair it. Unfortunately, the inability to repair a device or understand how it works is just one of many ways that our user freedoms are infringed upon, as you can learn more about in the Electronic Frontier Foundation's new Digital Rights Bytes series.
* *
### Vim developer Bram Moolenaar posthumously receives the European SFS Award
*From November 8 by the Free Software Foundation Europe*
Earlier this month, the Free Software Foundation Europe and Linux User Group Bolzano-Bozen posthumously awarded Bram Moolenaar, developer of the VIM text editor, with the European SFS Award at SFSCon 2024. While Moolenaar is best known for his work developing VIM, a screen-based text editor released in 1991 used by developers worldwide, he is also recognized for his efforts to promote free software education. Notably, he participated in many technical projects, wrote a programming language, advocated for free software in his work place, and more. Read more about Bram Moolenaar's extensive impact on free software development and education.
*
### November GNU Emacs news
*From December 2 by Sacha Chua*
In these issues: command alternatives, toggling relative line number, and more!
### Join the FSF and friends in updating the Free Software Directory
Tens of thousands of people visit directory.fsf.org each month to discover free software. Each entry in the Directory contains a wealth of useful information, from basic category and descriptions to version control, IRC channels, documentation, and licensing. The Free Software Directory has been a great resource to software users over the past decade, but it needs your help staying up-to-date with new and exciting free software projects.
To help, join our weekly IRC meetings on Fridays. Meetings take place in the #fsf channel on Libera.Chat, and usually include a handful of regulars as well as newcomers. Libera.Chat is accessible from any IRC client -- Everyone's welcome!
The next meeting is Friday, December 6 from 12:00 to 15:00 EST (17:00 to 20:00 UTC). Details here:
*
### LibrePlanet featured resource: Group: Free Software in Government
Every month on [the LibrePlanet wiki](https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Main_Page), we highlight one resource that is interesting and useful -- often one that could use your help.
For this month, we are highlighting Group: Free Software in Government, which provides information about government efforts to adopt, debate, and even simply discuss free software. It is also a place to share appeal letters or text aimed at persuading government officials and/or representatives, as well as any other information or links to other mailing lists and groups involved in promoting free software in government. You are invited to adopt, spread and improve this important resource.
*
Do you have a suggestion for next month's featured resource? Let us know at .
### November GNU Spotlight with Amin Bandali: Eleven new GNU releases!
Eleven new GNU releases in the last month (as of November 29, 2024):
For announcements of most new GNU releases, subscribe to the info-gnu mailing list: .
To download: nearly all GNU software is available most reliably from . Optionally, you may find faster download speeds at a mirror located geographically closer to you by choosing from the list of mirrors published at , or you may use to be automatically redirected to a (hopefully) nearby and up-to-date mirror.
A number of GNU packages, as well as the GNU operating system as a whole, are looking for maintainers and other assistance. Please see if you'd like to help. The general page on how to help GNU is at .
If you have a working or partly working program that you'd like to offer to the GNU project as a GNU package, see .
As always, please feel free to write to me, , with any GNUish questions or suggestions for future installments.
### FSF and other free software events
* December 7-8, 2024, online, [EmacsConf](https://emacsconf.org/) * December 7-8, 2024, Swiss satellite - Lucerne, Switzerland, [EmacsConf](https://200ok.ch/posts/2024-09-16_announcing_emacsconf__official_swiss_satellite.html) * December 20, 2024, online, International Day Against DRM (IDAD) * February 1-2, 2025, Brussels, Belgium, [FOSDEM](https://fosdem.org/2025/) * February 4-5, 2025, London, UK, [State of Open Con](https://stateofopencon.com/) * March 6-9, 2025, Pasadena, CA, [Scale](https://www.socallinuxexpo.org/scale/22x)
### Thank GNUs!
We appreciate everyone who donates to the Free Software Foundation, and we'd like to give special recognition to the folks who have donated $500 or more in the last month.
*
This month, a big Thank GNU to:
* Alessandro Vesely * BenRifkah Bergsten-Buret * Chris Handy * Christina Howell * Christopher Rorvick * Cody Rygg * David Lecompte * Dee and Corwin Brust * Dock Williams * Eric & Sara Richelson * J.Fossy Weinzinger * Joey Vrba * Michael Gran * Michael Lewis * Pablo González Otero * Peter House * Trevor Spiteri
You can add your name to this list by donating at .
### GNU copyright contributions
Assigning your copyright to the Free Software Foundation helps us defend the GNU GPL and keep software free. The following individuals have assigned their copyright to the FSF (and allowed public appreciation) in the past month:
* Justin Fields (GNU Emacs) * Divya Ranjan Pattanaik (GNU Emacs) * John Devin (GNU gawk) * Yao Zi (GCC) * Collin Funk (GNU findutils)
Want to see your name on this list? Contribute to GNU and assign your copyright to the FSF.
*
### Translations of the *Free Software Supporter*
El *Free Software Supporter* está disponible en español. Para ver la versión en español haz click aquí:
**Para cambiar las preferencias de usuario y recibir los próximos números del *Supporter* en español, haz click aquí:**
Le *Free Software Supporter* est disponible en français. Pour voir la version française cliquez ici:
**Pour modifier vos préférences et recevoir les prochaines publications du *Supporter* en français, cliquez ici:**
### Take action with the FSF!
Contributions from thousands of individual associate members enable the FSF's work. You can contribute by joining at . If you're already a member, you can help refer new members (and earn some rewards) by adding a line with your member number to your email signature like:
> I'm an FSF member -- Help us support software freedom! >
The FSF is always looking for [volunteers](https://www.fsf.org/volunteer). From rabble-rousing to hacking, from issue coordination to envelope stuffing -- there's something here for everybody to do. Also, head over to our [campaigns section](https://www.fsf.org/campaigns) and [take action on software patents](https://endsoftwarepatents.org/), [Digital Restrictions Management](https://www.defectivebydesign.org/), [free software](https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:Freedom_Ladder) adoption, [OpenDocument](https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/opendocument/download), and more.
**Do you read and write Portuguese and English?** The FSF is looking for translators for the *Free Software Supporter*. Please send an email to with your interest and a list of your experience and qualifications.
-- Interested in helping us expand our reach?
* Follow us on Mastodon at and PeerTube at , showing your support for federated social networks. * Get active on the LibrePlanet wiki: * Share on your blog or [social network](https://www.fsf.org/share) that you support us, and why you do so. * Subscribe to our RSS feeds: * Join us as an associate member: ; and display your membership button () on your website.
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You can unsubscribe from this mailing list by visiting
Welcome to the Free Software Supporter, the Free Software Foundation's (FSF) monthly news digest and action update -- being read by you and 231,349 other activists.
Donate USD $140 or more, and receive these unique postcards as a thank you.
The FSF can only continue to be the cornerstone of a more just digital society with your support
From November 12
Free software makes up the building blocks to so many things and is an important tool for building and sustaining a free society. You can use free software to build programs that work for you, combine things as you wish, and share these building blocks with others. In a free society and with technology being all over, everyone should have these essential freedoms. This is why the Free Software Foundation (FSF) has published and promoted free software licenses since 1985, sponsors the GNU System, and campaigns for free software adoption everywhere.
Powered by member dues and donations, the FSF can only continue to be a core pillar of software freedom with your support. Build a better world with us -- join the thousands of free software enthusiasts who support us financially with individual contributions averaging USD $46.22.
The FSF can only continue to be the cornerstone of a more just digital society with the support of the community. Share this message using the hashtag #CornerstoneOfAFreeSociety on social media networks.
Want to read this newsletter translated into another language? Scroll to the end to read the Supporter in French and Spanish.
Enter the FSF Anniversary Logo Contest
From November 5
For our fortieth anniversary, we would like to source the anniversary logo design directly from a free software supporter. Everyone is welcome to submit a design (or even multiple designs), no matter your previous experience in design, as long as it adheres to the requirements. The winning design will be chosen by the community and ultimately immortalized in the history of the FSF. It will be displayed on the FSF homepage, printed on all of the celebration printed materials, and possibly even stamped on some merchandise. To enter a design(s) into the contest, please review the requirements and suggestions below before submitting your design by January 1, 2025.
Free software is vital for the public and state-run infrastructure of a free society
From November 27
No government should rip freedom from the hands of its people, forcing them to give up their freedom to run, study, modify, and share software. When it comes to government infrastructure, citizens often have no options: they have to use it. Therefore, government infrastructure should always respect its user's freedom! Read about negative and positive examples of a government beholden to proprietary software and of efforts to implement free software in governments.
FSF Ethical Tech Giving Guide: Remember to give freedom
From November 26
All year long, but especially during the last two months of the year, ads and media that celebrate the use of freedom-violating software are fed to us by greedy corporations. No matter which holiday(s), if any, you celebrate, the spirit of cherishing our loved ones is very strong right now. Unfortunately, so is the messaging that many of us encounter on a daily basis that you have to buy the newest tech gifts (most of which are not freedom-respecting) if you want to show your friends and family that you love them. If you want to participate in ethical tech gift-giving, we're here to help.
Call for volunteers: Help us with the GNU Press shop
From November 25
People around the world are eagerly waiting to receive their GNU Press shop orders, and we need a little help sending everything out. Would you be willing to donate some of your time to supporting the FSF's work while chatting and enjoying snacks with other free software supporters? This will be the first time that we have organized a volunteering event since going remote at the end of August 2024, and we miss seeing your lovely faces! If you are in the Boston area in December and have a spare hour or two, reach out to resources@fsf.org to let us know when you can drop by.
Winter holidays are coming: Time for a free software tale
From November 19
The ShoeTool fairy tale is about Wendell the Elf, a shoemaker who thought he bought a machine to help him make shoes, only to find out that the machine proprietor heavily restricts what kind of shoes Wendell may make with the machine he just bought. These kinds of restrictions that are found on most if not all proprietary software limit real-world user freedom, creativity, and opportunity, not just fictional shoemaking. Watch the fairy tale of Wendell the Elf and the ShoeTool to remind yourself why you shouldn't let your tools tell you how to use them and share this holiday fairy tale with your loved ones.
The FSF shop is open! Winter is nearly here and what better way to ring in winter than with some new free software gear? We have a lot of fun merchandise up for grabs for every taste and every budget. Purchases from the GNU Press shop are not only fun to receive in the mail, but they're also great for upgrading skills and sharing software freedom far and wide. Peruse our extensive selection and order yourself or some loved ones a little treat to brighten up those chilly days! To have a good chance of receiving your order by December 24, be sure to place your order before December 15 (if you have a US mailing address) or December 5 (if you have an international mailing address).
TAKE ACTION: Block the PERA and PREVAIL Act - A major step back for software freedom
From November 13
The US Senate will vote on two bills that, if passed, will entrench software patents even further in the United States. The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA) seeks to "clear the legal landscape" surrounding patents, but will effectively make obtaining software patents even easier than before. Meanwhile, the Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership (PREVAIL) Act, would severely limit how the public can challenge wrongly granted patents at the patent office. We cannot afford to let this bill pass without a fight. Software freedom is at risk, and we need your voice now more than ever. Both the vote on the PERA Act and the PREVAIL Act have been delayed, so there is now a little more time to take action and prevent them from moving forward. Call your Senators before it's too late!
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) turns forty on October 4, 2025 and we will end our thirties on a high note! Since our founding in 1985, we laid out many stepping stones on the road to software freedom, and we're eager to continue building the road ahead. We will celebrate our fortieth in the spirit of bringing the international free software community together, discussing what we can do next to make the world freer, and celebrating how far we've come. We're aiming for a libre planet! Sounds familiar? Instead of hosting one LibrePlanet conference in 2025, we're planning a jam-packed anniversary year, filled with several new and exciting activities. We hope you'll join us for the
Landlord screening tool will stop scoring low-income tenants after discrimination suit
From November 20 by Emma Roth
Until recently, SafeRent, an application used by landlords for evaluating prospective tenants, was compiling scores that were not transparent to either landlords or prospective tenants, even reportedly using information not related to rental history. For many people seeking housing, especially renters, there is often very little choice or accessible workarounds to using proprietary software to apply for housing. Not only does the widespread use of these kinds of programs infringe upon user freedom, it may even be used to discriminate against prospective tenants, such as what may have been happening with SafeRent scores. No matter what role you fill in the housing industry, we strongly encourage you to advocate for the use of free software in housing practices whenever possible.
When your device breaks, whether by an accident or because it has been well-used, it is often expensive and frustrating to attempt to repair it. Costly and tiresome repair processes are not the default, but a purposeful choice by the proprietor to take your freedom and money. You should be able and allowed to change and repair your device and software as needed, instead of being forced to buy expensive parts packages and/or rely on the manufacturer to repair it. Unfortunately, the inability to repair a device or understand how it works is just one of many ways that our user freedoms are infringed upon, as you can learn more about in the Electronic Frontier Foundation's new Digital Rights Bytes series.
Vim developer Bram Moolenaar posthumously receives the European SFS Award
From November 8 by the Free Software Foundation Europe
Earlier this month, the Free Software Foundation Europe and Linux User Group Bolzano-Bozen posthumously awarded Bram Moolenaar, developer of the VIM text editor, with the European SFS Award at SFSCon 2024. While Moolenaar is best known for his work developing VIM, a screen-based text editor released in 1991 used by developers worldwide, he is also recognized for his efforts to promote free software education. Notably, he participated in many technical projects, wrote a programming language, advocated for free software in his work place, and more. Read more about Bram Moolenaar's extensive impact on free software development and education.
Join the FSF and friends in updating the Free Software Directory
Tens of thousands of people visit directory.fsf.org each month to discover free software. Each entry in the Directory contains a wealth of useful information, from basic category and descriptions to version control, IRC channels, documentation, and licensing. The Free Software Directory has been a great resource to software users over the past decade, but it needs your help staying up-to-date with new and exciting free software projects.
To help, join our weekly IRC meetings on Fridays. Meetings take place in the #fsf channel on Libera.Chat, and usually include a handful of regulars as well as newcomers. Libera.Chat is accessible from any IRC client -- Everyone's welcome!
LibrePlanet featured resource: Group: Free Software in Government
Every month on the LibrePlanet wiki, we highlight one resource that is interesting and useful -- often one that could use your help.
For this month, we are highlighting Group: Free Software in Government, which provides information about government efforts to adopt, debate, and even simply discuss free software. It is also a place to share appeal letters or text aimed at persuading government officials and/or representatives, as well as any other information or links to other mailing lists and groups involved in promoting free software in government. You are invited to adopt, spread and improve this important resource.
To download: nearly all GNU software is available most reliably from https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/. Optionally, you may find faster download speeds at a mirror located geographically closer to you by choosing from the list of mirrors published at https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html, or you may use https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/ to be automatically redirected to a (hopefully) nearby and up-to-date mirror.
We appreciate everyone who donates to the Free Software Foundation, and we'd like to give special recognition to the folks who have donated $500 or more in the last month.
Assigning your copyright to the Free Software Foundation helps us defend the GNU GPL and keep software free. The following individuals have assigned their copyright to the FSF (and allowed public appreciation) in the past month:
Justin Fields (GNU Emacs)
Divya Ranjan Pattanaik (GNU Emacs)
John Devin (GNU gawk)
Yao Zi (GCC)
Collin Funk (GNU findutils)
Want to see your name on this list? Contribute to GNU and assign your copyright to the FSF.
Contributions from thousands of individual associate members enable the FSF's work. You can contribute by joining at https://my.fsf.org/join. If you're already a member, you can help refer new members (and earn some rewards) by adding a line with your member number to your email signature like:
Do you read and write Portuguese and English? The FSF is looking for translators for the Free Software Supporter. Please send an email to campaigns@fsf.org with your interest and a list of your experience and qualifications.
*Please consider adding to your address book, which will ensure that our messages reach you and not your spam box.*
*Read and share online: *
Welcome to the *Free Software Supporter*, the Free Software Foundation's (FSF) monthly news digest and action update -- being read by you and 231,349 other activists.
### The FSF can only continue to be the cornerstone of a more just digital society with your support
*From November 12*
Free software makes up the building blocks to so many things and is an important tool for building and sustaining a free society. You can use free software to build programs that work for you, combine things as you wish, and share these building blocks with others. In a free society and with technology being all over, everyone should have these essential freedoms. This is why the Free Software Foundation (FSF) has published and promoted free software licenses since 1985, sponsors the GNU System, and campaigns for free software adoption everywhere.
Powered by member dues and donations, the FSF can only continue to be a core pillar of software freedom with your support. Build a better world with us -- join the thousands of free software enthusiasts who support us financially with individual contributions averaging [USD $46.22][1].
The FSF can only continue to be the cornerstone of a more just digital society with the support of the community. [Share this message][2] using the hashtag #CornerstoneOfAFreeSociety on [social media networks][2].
* Enter the FSF Anniversary Logo Contest * Free software is vital for the public and state-run infrastructure of a free society * FSF Ethical Tech Giving Guide: Remember to give freedom * Call for volunteers: Help us with the GNU Press shop * Winter holidays are coming: Time for a free software tale * Keep warm with GNU winter swag * TAKE ACTION: Block the PERA and PREVAIL Act - A major step back for software freedom * Forty years of commitment to software freedom * Landlord screening tool will stop scoring low-income tenants after discrimination suit * Why is it so expensive to repair my devices? * Vim developer Bram Moolenaar posthumously receives the European SFS Award * November GNU Emacs news * Join the FSF and friends in updating the Free Software Directory * LibrePlanet featured resource: Group: Free Software in Government * November GNU Spotlight with Amin Bandali: Eleven new GNU releases! * FSF and other free software events * Thank GNUs! * GNU copyright contributions * Translations of the *Free Software Supporter* * Take action with the FSF!
View this issue online here:
Encourage your friends to subscribe and help us build an audience by adding our subscriber widget to your website.
* Subscribe: * Widget:
Miss an issue? You can catch up on back issues at .
Want to read this newsletter translated into another language? Scroll to the end to read the *Supporter* in French and Spanish.
***
### Enter the FSF Anniversary Logo Contest
*From November 5*
For our fortieth anniversary, we would like to source the anniversary logo design directly from a free software supporter. Everyone is welcome to submit a design (or even multiple designs), no matter your previous experience in design, as long as it adheres to the requirements. The winning design will be chosen by the community and ultimately immortalized in the history of the FSF. It will be displayed on the FSF homepage, printed on all of the celebration printed materials, and possibly even stamped on some merchandise. To enter a design(s) into the contest, please review the requirements and suggestions below before submitting your design by **January 1, 2025**.
*
### Free software is vital for the public and state-run infrastructure of a free society
*From November 27*
No government should rip freedom from the hands of its people, forcing them to give up their freedom to run, study, modify, and share software. When it comes to government infrastructure, citizens often have no options: they have to use it. Therefore, government infrastructure should always respect its user's freedom! Read about negative and positive examples of a government beholden to proprietary software and of efforts to implement free software in governments.
* * *
### FSF Ethical Tech Giving Guide: Remember to give freedom
*From November 26*
All year long, but especially during the last two months of the year, ads and media that celebrate the use of freedom-violating software are fed to us by greedy corporations. No matter which holiday(s), if any, you celebrate, the spirit of cherishing our loved ones is very strong right now. Unfortunately, so is the messaging that many of us encounter on a daily basis that you have to buy the newest tech gifts (most of which are not freedom-respecting) if you want to show your friends and family that you love them. If you want to participate in ethical tech gift-giving, we're here to help.
* *
### Call for volunteers: Help us with the GNU Press shop
*From November 25*
People around the world are eagerly waiting to receive their GNU Press shop orders, and we need a little help sending everything out. Would you be willing to donate some of your time to supporting the FSF's work while chatting and enjoying snacks with other free software supporters? This will be the first time that we have organized a volunteering event since going remote at the end of August 2024, and we miss seeing your lovely faces! If you are in the Boston area in December and have a spare hour or two, reach out to to let us know when you can drop by.
*
### Winter holidays are coming: Time for a free software tale
*From November 19*
The ShoeTool fairy tale is about Wendell the Elf, a shoemaker who thought he bought a machine to help him make shoes, only to find out that the machine proprietor heavily restricts what kind of shoes Wendell may make with the machine he just bought. These kinds of restrictions that are found on most if not all proprietary software limit real-world user freedom, creativity, and opportunity, not just fictional shoemaking. Watch the fairy tale of Wendell the Elf and the ShoeTool to remind yourself why you shouldn't let your tools tell you how to use them and share this holiday fairy tale with your loved ones.
* *
### Keep warm with GNU winter swag
*From November 14*
The FSF shop is open! Winter is nearly here and what better way to ring in winter than with some new free software gear? We have a lot of fun merchandise up for grabs for every taste and every budget. Purchases from the GNU Press shop are not only fun to receive in the mail, but they're also great for upgrading skills and sharing software freedom far and wide. Peruse our extensive selection and order yourself or some loved ones a little treat to brighten up those chilly days! To have a good chance of receiving your order by December 24, be sure to place your order before December 15 (if you have a US mailing address) or December 5 (if you have an international mailing address).
*
### TAKE ACTION: Block the PERA and PREVAIL Act - A major step back for software freedom
*From November 13*
The US Senate will vote on two bills that, if passed, will entrench software patents even further in the United States. The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA) seeks to "clear the legal landscape" surrounding patents, but will effectively make obtaining software patents even easier than before. Meanwhile, the Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership (PREVAIL) Act, would severely limit how the public can challenge wrongly granted patents at the patent office. We cannot afford to let this bill pass without a fight. Software freedom is at risk, and we need your voice now more than ever. Both the vote on the PERA Act and the PREVAIL Act have been delayed, so there is now a little more time to take action and prevent them from moving forward. Call your Senators before it's too late!
* *
### Forty years of commitment to software freedom
*From November 5*
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) turns forty on October 4, 2025 and we will end our thirties on a high note! Since our founding in 1985, we laid out many stepping stones on the road to software freedom, and we're eager to continue building the road ahead. We will celebrate our fortieth in the spirit of bringing the international free software community together, discussing what we can do next to make the world freer, and celebrating how far we've come. We're aiming for a libre planet! Sounds familiar? Instead of hosting one LibrePlanet conference in 2025, we're planning a jam-packed anniversary year, filled with several new and exciting activities. We hope you'll join us for the festivities!
*
### Landlord screening tool will stop scoring low-income tenants after discrimination suit
*From November 20 by Emma Roth*
Until recently, SafeRent, an application used by landlords for evaluating prospective tenants, was compiling scores that were not transparent to either landlords or prospective tenants, even reportedly using information not related to rental history. For many people seeking housing, especially renters, there is often very little choice or accessible workarounds to using proprietary software to apply for housing. Not only does the widespread use of these kinds of programs infringe upon user freedom, it may even be used to discriminate against prospective tenants, such as what may have been happening with SafeRent scores. No matter what role you fill in the housing industry, we strongly encourage you to advocate for the use of free software in housing practices whenever possible.
* *
### Why is it so expensive to repair my devices?
*From November 14 by Christian Romero*
When your device breaks, whether by an accident or because it has been well-used, it is often expensive and frustrating to attempt to repair it. Costly and tiresome repair processes are not the default, but a purposeful choice by the proprietor to take your freedom and money. You should be able and allowed to change and repair your device and software as needed, instead of being forced to buy expensive parts packages and/or rely on the manufacturer to repair it. Unfortunately, the inability to repair a device or understand how it works is just one of many ways that our user freedoms are infringed upon, as you can learn more about in the Electronic Frontier Foundation's new Digital Rights Bytes series.
* *
### Vim developer Bram Moolenaar posthumously receives the European SFS Award
*From November 8 by the Free Software Foundation Europe*
Earlier this month, the Free Software Foundation Europe and Linux User Group Bolzano-Bozen posthumously awarded Bram Moolenaar, developer of the VIM text editor, with the European SFS Award at SFSCon 2024. While Moolenaar is best known for his work developing VIM, a screen-based text editor released in 1991 used by developers worldwide, he is also recognized for his efforts to promote free software education. Notably, he participated in many technical projects, wrote a programming language, advocated for free software in his work place, and more. Read more about Bram Moolenaar's extensive impact on free software development and education.
*
### November GNU Emacs news
*From December 2 by Sacha Chua*
In these issues: command alternatives, toggling relative line number, and more!
### Join the FSF and friends in updating the Free Software Directory
Tens of thousands of people visit directory.fsf.org each month to discover free software. Each entry in the Directory contains a wealth of useful information, from basic category and descriptions to version control, IRC channels, documentation, and licensing. The Free Software Directory has been a great resource to software users over the past decade, but it needs your help staying up-to-date with new and exciting free software projects.
To help, join our weekly IRC meetings on Fridays. Meetings take place in the #fsf channel on Libera.Chat, and usually include a handful of regulars as well as newcomers. Libera.Chat is accessible from any IRC client -- Everyone's welcome!
The next meeting is Friday, December 6 from 12:00 to 15:00 EST (17:00 to 20:00 UTC). Details here:
*
### LibrePlanet featured resource: Group: Free Software in Government
Every month on [the LibrePlanet wiki](https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Main_Page), we highlight one resource that is interesting and useful -- often one that could use your help.
For this month, we are highlighting Group: Free Software in Government, which provides information about government efforts to adopt, debate, and even simply discuss free software. It is also a place to share appeal letters or text aimed at persuading government officials and/or representatives, as well as any other information or links to other mailing lists and groups involved in promoting free software in government. You are invited to adopt, spread and improve this important resource.
*
Do you have a suggestion for next month's featured resource? Let us know at .
### November GNU Spotlight with Amin Bandali: Eleven new GNU releases!
Eleven new GNU releases in the last month (as of November 29, 2024):
For announcements of most new GNU releases, subscribe to the info-gnu mailing list: .
To download: nearly all GNU software is available most reliably from . Optionally, you may find faster download speeds at a mirror located geographically closer to you by choosing from the list of mirrors published at , or you may use to be automatically redirected to a (hopefully) nearby and up-to-date mirror.
A number of GNU packages, as well as the GNU operating system as a whole, are looking for maintainers and other assistance. Please see if you'd like to help. The general page on how to help GNU is at .
If you have a working or partly working program that you'd like to offer to the GNU project as a GNU package, see .
As always, please feel free to write to me, , with any GNUish questions or suggestions for future installments.
### FSF and other free software events
* December 7-8, 2024, online, [EmacsConf](https://emacsconf.org/) * December 7-8, 2024, Swiss satellite - Lucerne, Switzerland, [EmacsConf](https://200ok.ch/posts/2024-09-16_announcing_emacsconf__official_swiss_satellite.html) * December 20, 2024, online, International Day Against DRM (IDAD) * February 1-2, 2025, Brussels, Belgium, [FOSDEM](https://fosdem.org/2025/) * February 4-5, 2025, London, UK, [State of Open Con](https://stateofopencon.com/) * March 6-9, 2025, Pasadena, CA, [Scale](https://www.socallinuxexpo.org/scale/22x)
### Thank GNUs!
We appreciate everyone who donates to the Free Software Foundation, and we'd like to give special recognition to the folks who have donated $500 or more in the last month.
*
This month, a big Thank GNU to:
* Alessandro Vesely * BenRifkah Bergsten-Buret * Chris Handy * Christina Howell * Christopher Rorvick * Cody Rygg * David Lecompte * Dee and Corwin Brust * Dock Williams * Eric & Sara Richelson * J.Fossy Weinzinger * Joey Vrba * Michael Gran * Michael Lewis * Pablo González Otero * Peter House * Trevor Spiteri
You can add your name to this list by donating at .
### GNU copyright contributions
Assigning your copyright to the Free Software Foundation helps us defend the GNU GPL and keep software free. The following individuals have assigned their copyright to the FSF (and allowed public appreciation) in the past month:
* Justin Fields (GNU Emacs) * Divya Ranjan Pattanaik (GNU Emacs) * John Devin (GNU gawk) * Yao Zi (GCC) * Collin Funk (GNU findutils)
Want to see your name on this list? Contribute to GNU and assign your copyright to the FSF.
*
### Translations of the *Free Software Supporter*
El *Free Software Supporter* está disponible en español. Para ver la versión en español haz click aquí:
**Para cambiar las preferencias de usuario y recibir los próximos números del *Supporter* en español, haz click aquí:**
Le *Free Software Supporter* est disponible en français. Pour voir la version française cliquez ici:
**Pour modifier vos préférences et recevoir les prochaines publications du *Supporter* en français, cliquez ici:**
### Take action with the FSF!
Contributions from thousands of individual associate members enable the FSF's work. You can contribute by joining at . If you're already a member, you can help refer new members (and earn some rewards) by adding a line with your member number to your email signature like:
> I'm an FSF member -- Help us support software freedom! >
The FSF is always looking for [volunteers](https://www.fsf.org/volunteer). From rabble-rousing to hacking, from issue coordination to envelope stuffing -- there's something here for everybody to do. Also, head over to our [campaigns section](https://www.fsf.org/campaigns) and [take action on software patents](https://endsoftwarepatents.org/), [Digital Restrictions Management](https://www.defectivebydesign.org/), [free software](https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:Freedom_Ladder) adoption, [OpenDocument](https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/opendocument/download), and more.
**Do you read and write Portuguese and English?** The FSF is looking for translators for the *Free Software Supporter*. Please send an email to with your interest and a list of your experience and qualifications.
-- Interested in helping us expand our reach?
* Follow us on Mastodon at and PeerTube at , showing your support for federated social networks. * Get active on the LibrePlanet wiki: * Share on your blog or [social network](https://www.fsf.org/share) that you support us, and why you do so. * Subscribe to our RSS feeds: * Join us as an associate member: ; and display your membership button () on your website.
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You can unsubscribe from this mailing list by visiting
Welcome to the Free Software Supporter, the Free Software Foundation's (FSF) monthly news digest and action update -- being read by you and 231,349 other activists.
Donate USD $140 or more, and receive these unique postcards as a thank you.
The FSF can only continue to be the cornerstone of a more just digital society with your support
From November 12
Free software makes up the building blocks to so many things and is an important tool for building and sustaining a free society. You can use free software to build programs that work for you, combine things as you wish, and share these building blocks with others. In a free society and with technology being all over, everyone should have these essential freedoms. This is why the Free Software Foundation (FSF) has published and promoted free software licenses since 1985, sponsors the GNU System, and campaigns for free software adoption everywhere.
Powered by member dues and donations, the FSF can only continue to be a core pillar of software freedom with your support. Build a better world with us -- join the thousands of free software enthusiasts who support us financially with individual contributions averaging USD $46.22.
The FSF can only continue to be the cornerstone of a more just digital society with the support of the community. Share this message using the hashtag #CornerstoneOfAFreeSociety on social media networks.
Want to read this newsletter translated into another language? Scroll to the end to read the Supporter in French and Spanish.
Enter the FSF Anniversary Logo Contest
From November 5
For our fortieth anniversary, we would like to source the anniversary logo design directly from a free software supporter. Everyone is welcome to submit a design (or even multiple designs), no matter your previous experience in design, as long as it adheres to the requirements. The winning design will be chosen by the community and ultimately immortalized in the history of the FSF. It will be displayed on the FSF homepage, printed on all of the celebration printed materials, and possibly even stamped on some merchandise. To enter a design(s) into the contest, please review the requirements and suggestions below before submitting your design by January 1, 2025.
Free software is vital for the public and state-run infrastructure of a free society
From November 27
No government should rip freedom from the hands of its people, forcing them to give up their freedom to run, study, modify, and share software. When it comes to government infrastructure, citizens often have no options: they have to use it. Therefore, government infrastructure should always respect its user's freedom! Read about negative and positive examples of a government beholden to proprietary software and of efforts to implement free software in governments.
FSF Ethical Tech Giving Guide: Remember to give freedom
From November 26
All year long, but especially during the last two months of the year, ads and media that celebrate the use of freedom-violating software are fed to us by greedy corporations. No matter which holiday(s), if any, you celebrate, the spirit of cherishing our loved ones is very strong right now. Unfortunately, so is the messaging that many of us encounter on a daily basis that you have to buy the newest tech gifts (most of which are not freedom-respecting) if you want to show your friends and family that you love them. If you want to participate in ethical tech gift-giving, we're here to help.
Call for volunteers: Help us with the GNU Press shop
From November 25
People around the world are eagerly waiting to receive their GNU Press shop orders, and we need a little help sending everything out. Would you be willing to donate some of your time to supporting the FSF's work while chatting and enjoying snacks with other free software supporters? This will be the first time that we have organized a volunteering event since going remote at the end of August 2024, and we miss seeing your lovely faces! If you are in the Boston area in December and have a spare hour or two, reach out to resources@fsf.org to let us know when you can drop by.
Winter holidays are coming: Time for a free software tale
From November 19
The ShoeTool fairy tale is about Wendell the Elf, a shoemaker who thought he bought a machine to help him make shoes, only to find out that the machine proprietor heavily restricts what kind of shoes Wendell may make with the machine he just bought. These kinds of restrictions that are found on most if not all proprietary software limit real-world user freedom, creativity, and opportunity, not just fictional shoemaking. Watch the fairy tale of Wendell the Elf and the ShoeTool to remind yourself why you shouldn't let your tools tell you how to use them and share this holiday fairy tale with your loved ones.
The FSF shop is open! Winter is nearly here and what better way to ring in winter than with some new free software gear? We have a lot of fun merchandise up for grabs for every taste and every budget. Purchases from the GNU Press shop are not only fun to receive in the mail, but they're also great for upgrading skills and sharing software freedom far and wide. Peruse our extensive selection and order yourself or some loved ones a little treat to brighten up those chilly days! To have a good chance of receiving your order by December 24, be sure to place your order before December 15 (if you have a US mailing address) or December 5 (if you have an international mailing address).
TAKE ACTION: Block the PERA and PREVAIL Act - A major step back for software freedom
From November 13
The US Senate will vote on two bills that, if passed, will entrench software patents even further in the United States. The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA) seeks to "clear the legal landscape" surrounding patents, but will effectively make obtaining software patents even easier than before. Meanwhile, the Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership (PREVAIL) Act, would severely limit how the public can challenge wrongly granted patents at the patent office. We cannot afford to let this bill pass without a fight. Software freedom is at risk, and we need your voice now more than ever. Both the vote on the PERA Act and the PREVAIL Act have been delayed, so there is now a little more time to take action and prevent them from moving forward. Call your Senators before it's too late!
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) turns forty on October 4, 2025 and we will end our thirties on a high note! Since our founding in 1985, we laid out many stepping stones on the road to software freedom, and we're eager to continue building the road ahead. We will celebrate our fortieth in the spirit of bringing the international free software community together, discussing what we can do next to make the world freer, and celebrating how far we've come. We're aiming for a libre planet! Sounds familiar? Instead of hosting one LibrePlanet conference in 2025, we're planning a jam-packed anniversary year, filled with several new and exciting activities. We hope you'll join us for the
Landlord screening tool will stop scoring low-income tenants after discrimination suit
From November 20 by Emma Roth
Until recently, SafeRent, an application used by landlords for evaluating prospective tenants, was compiling scores that were not transparent to either landlords or prospective tenants, even reportedly using information not related to rental history. For many people seeking housing, especially renters, there is often very little choice or accessible workarounds to using proprietary software to apply for housing. Not only does the widespread use of these kinds of programs infringe upon user freedom, it may even be used to discriminate against prospective tenants, such as what may have been happening with SafeRent scores. No matter what role you fill in the housing industry, we strongly encourage you to advocate for the use of free software in housing practices whenever possible.
When your device breaks, whether by an accident or because it has been well-used, it is often expensive and frustrating to attempt to repair it. Costly and tiresome repair processes are not the default, but a purposeful choice by the proprietor to take your freedom and money. You should be able and allowed to change and repair your device and software as needed, instead of being forced to buy expensive parts packages and/or rely on the manufacturer to repair it. Unfortunately, the inability to repair a device or understand how it works is just one of many ways that our user freedoms are infringed upon, as you can learn more about in the Electronic Frontier Foundation's new Digital Rights Bytes series.
Vim developer Bram Moolenaar posthumously receives the European SFS Award
From November 8 by the Free Software Foundation Europe
Earlier this month, the Free Software Foundation Europe and Linux User Group Bolzano-Bozen posthumously awarded Bram Moolenaar, developer of the VIM text editor, with the European SFS Award at SFSCon 2024. While Moolenaar is best known for his work developing VIM, a screen-based text editor released in 1991 used by developers worldwide, he is also recognized for his efforts to promote free software education. Notably, he participated in many technical projects, wrote a programming language, advocated for free software in his work place, and more. Read more about Bram Moolenaar's extensive impact on free software development and education.
Join the FSF and friends in updating the Free Software Directory
Tens of thousands of people visit directory.fsf.org each month to discover free software. Each entry in the Directory contains a wealth of useful information, from basic category and descriptions to version control, IRC channels, documentation, and licensing. The Free Software Directory has been a great resource to software users over the past decade, but it needs your help staying up-to-date with new and exciting free software projects.
To help, join our weekly IRC meetings on Fridays. Meetings take place in the #fsf channel on Libera.Chat, and usually include a handful of regulars as well as newcomers. Libera.Chat is accessible from any IRC client -- Everyone's welcome!
LibrePlanet featured resource: Group: Free Software in Government
Every month on the LibrePlanet wiki, we highlight one resource that is interesting and useful -- often one that could use your help.
For this month, we are highlighting Group: Free Software in Government, which provides information about government efforts to adopt, debate, and even simply discuss free software. It is also a place to share appeal letters or text aimed at persuading government officials and/or representatives, as well as any other information or links to other mailing lists and groups involved in promoting free software in government. You are invited to adopt, spread and improve this important resource.
To download: nearly all GNU software is available most reliably from https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/. Optionally, you may find faster download speeds at a mirror located geographically closer to you by choosing from the list of mirrors published at https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html, or you may use https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/ to be automatically redirected to a (hopefully) nearby and up-to-date mirror.
We appreciate everyone who donates to the Free Software Foundation, and we'd like to give special recognition to the folks who have donated $500 or more in the last month.
Assigning your copyright to the Free Software Foundation helps us defend the GNU GPL and keep software free. The following individuals have assigned their copyright to the FSF (and allowed public appreciation) in the past month:
Justin Fields (GNU Emacs)
Divya Ranjan Pattanaik (GNU Emacs)
John Devin (GNU gawk)
Yao Zi (GCC)
Collin Funk (GNU findutils)
Want to see your name on this list? Contribute to GNU and assign your copyright to the FSF.
Contributions from thousands of individual associate members enable the FSF's work. You can contribute by joining at https://my.fsf.org/join. If you're already a member, you can help refer new members (and earn some rewards) by adding a line with your member number to your email signature like:
Do you read and write Portuguese and English? The FSF is looking for translators for the Free Software Supporter. Please send an email to campaigns@fsf.org with your interest and a list of your experience and qualifications.
