<p>We are so proud that we're funded by individuals and stay unbeholden to corporate interests and pressures. We stand up for developers, consumers and those who have been historically excluded. We work to make technology truly fair for all. </p>

<p>Thank you for helping making this work possible:</p>

<ul>

  <li>Standing up for consumer rights in <a href="/copyleft-compliance/">copyleft compliance</a></li>

  <li>Supporting <a href="https://outreachy.org">Outreachy</a> with its increasing number of interns</li>

  <li>Bringing <a href="/vizio">legal action against prolific license violators</a></li>

  <li>Hiring team members to get projects <a href="https://reproducible-builds.org/news/">like Reproducible Builds</a> to continue pushing the forefront of software reproducibility</li>

</ul>

<a class="expander" data-expand-link-text="(Expand All Sections)"></a>

<h3 id="YearInReview">Our Year in Review</h3>

<div data-read-more="Summary of our year&hellip;">

<p>This has been a big year for Software Freedom Conservancy in our tireless

efforts to promote ethical technology, increase diversity and inclusion in

FOSS, continuing to fight for your rights with <a

href="https://sfconservancy.org/copyleft-compliance/">copyleft compliance</a>,

and support our incredible <a href="https://sfconservancy.org/members/current/">member projects</a>.

Our staff engaged in many invited speaking opportunities, we grew our staff,

and we continue to build community around important issues like the software

Right to Repair movement. We hosted our first large conference, <a href="https://fossy.us">FOSSY</a>,

and while we finalize details for next year, we hope to see you there to join

us in community!</p>

<div class="picture-small right">  <img src="https://nextcloud.sfconservancy.org/apps/files_sharing/publicpreview/pnZYsi2CkjscLwc?file=/&fileId=24825&x=1366&y=768&a=true&etag=f4341a40f90786b0356201c21278ee23" alt="SFC lawyers posing outside at the courthouse“ " /></a>

<p>SFC lawyers after recent Vizio case- CC BY-SA 4.0</div>

<p>Our <a href="https://vizio.sfconservancy.org">lawsuit against Vizio</a>— the first

lawsuit of its kind to seek <b>third party beneficiary rights to the

complete, corresponding source code under the GPL</b> is progressing!

World-changing, public policy litigation requires resources and time, but

it's worth every penny so we can build a future where <b>every consumer</b> has

access to the source code they need to modify and repair their devices.  At a

<a href="https://sfconservancy.org/blog/2023/oct/12/how-i-watched-motion-summary-judgment-hearing/">recent hearing in the case</a>,

we presented

<a href="https://sfconservancy.org/news/2023/oct/12/transcript-msj-hearing/">our opposition to Vizio's Summary Judgement Motion</a>,

our lawyers

<a href="https://sfconservancy.org/docs/Transcript_Full_Vizios_MSJ_HearingDeptC-33.231005.pdf">presented the eloquent case</a>

that recipients of software under the GPL Agreements <b>can</b> enforce their

rights to the corresponding source code themselves, and that right should not

be preempted by copyright law. We are the only organization currently taking

legal action to protect the GPL Agreements in the USA; your support is

critical for us to continue these kinds of efforts.</p>

<p>As software based technology becomes more pervasive in our lives, it's vital

that we communicate the importance of software freedom to the wider population.

In that vein <a href="https://sfconservancy.org/news/2022/may/12/introduction/">we've created a video</a>

(narrated by our Executive Director Karen Sandler) that introduces

the ideas of software freedom, and specifically what Software Freedom

Conservancy does. We also did a lot of public writings about some of the

important issues this year. From <a href="https://sfconservancy.org/news/2023/feb/09/kuhn-neo4j-purethink-expert-report/">our perspective on the Neo4j suit</a>

to <a href="https://sfconservancy.org/news/2023/aug/15/exit-zoom/">highlighting problematic behavior from proprietary software companies</a> and calling for folks to Exit Zoom. We'd also like to

remind you that as a Sustainer, we will provide you with your own <a href="https://bbb.sfconservancy.org">BigBlueButton</a> account so that you can host your own video calls on a FOSS platform. Once

you have donated to us, you can fill our the new account signup and your

account will be approved.</p>

<div class="picture-small right">

  <a href="https://sfconservancy.org/videos/sfc-introduction_1080p.mp4"><img src="https://sfconservancy.org/videos/sfc-introduction-video_poster.jpg" alt="Thumbnail of video showing a tree and Software Freedom" /></a>

</div>

</div>

<h3 id="NewStaff">New staff!</h3>

<div data-read-more="Click more for on our new staff&hellip;">

<p>SFC hired two additional employees this year! General Counsel Rick Sanders

joins the team to help with our continued legal needs. Rick has over 20 years

experience as a intellectual-property litigator. His expertise has been

critical in helping our license compliance efforts and helping our organization

take on the increasing needs from projects and new initiatives. SFC's new

systems administrator is Paul Visscher. With over 20 years experience with

Linux and free software, Paul's belief in the power of free software to help

people engage with technology in non-exploitative ways fits in perfectly to

support our growing organizational needs and mission. Helping make sure we

can provide solid FOSS replacements to proprietary technologies for all of us.</p>

</div>

<h3 id="WritingAndSpeaking">Writing and Speaking</h3>

<div data-read-more="Find out about our writing and speaking engagements&hellip;">

<p>Our staff has been presenting and speaking about software freedom all year.

Our Executive Director Karen Sandler received an honorary doctorate from

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven for her incredible work in FOSS leadership, and

her advocacy and pursuit of software freedom and rights for all. 

In November she spoke at <a href="https://www.sfscon.it/talks/the-history-of-and-path-forward-for-copyleft-and-the-gpl/">SFSCON about "The History of, and Path forward for, Copyleft and the GPL"</a>.</p>

<div class="picture-small right">

<video class="small-right" controls="" poster="/videos/2023-02-02_Sandler-Karen_KU-Leuven_Honorary-Doctorate_still.png" id="doctorate_vid">

  <source src="/videos/2023-02-02_Sandler-Karen_KU-Leuven_Honorary-Doctorate.mp4">

  <track src="/docs/2023-02-02_Sandler-Karen_KU-Leuven_Honorary-Doctorate.en.txt" kind="subtitles" srclang="en" label="English" />

  <track src="/docs/2023-02-02_Sandler-Karen_KU-Leuven_Honorary-Doctorate.nl.txt" kind="subtitles" srclang="nl" label="Dutch (NL)" />