lead by example — with transparency and casting a wide net to avoid just hiring within our circles.</p>
<p>We also updated our website — hopefully, you'll find it easier to
use and that it better conveys our mission and work. Our chat platform moved
to <a href="/blog/2021/jun/21/chat-options/">XMPP</a>. Bridging to IRC and
Matrix is supported, so you are welcome to join with whatever client you like
(unlike other “Loose” options). Throughout the seemingly-endless video
chatting during the pandemic, we have been one of only two FOSS organizations
who insist on using FOSS video chat platforms like Big Blue Button. We are
committed to using free software for communication and demonstrating that
organizations of all sizes can make the same commitment.</p>
</div>
<h3 id="WritingAndSpeaking">Writing and Speaking</h3>
<div data-read-more="Find out about our writing and speaking engagements…">
<p>Software Freedom Conservancy team members published important writings
this year to both share essential historical context and modern
interpretations. Denver Gingerich wrote about
the <a href="/blog/2021/mar/25/install-gplv2/">installation requirement for
the GPLv2</a>. Bradley M. Kuhn documented the historical record in his
related piece
about <a href="/blog/2021/jul/23/tivoization-and-the-gpl-right-to-install/">“Tivoization”
and Your Right to Install Under Copyleft</a>. Bradley also explained
how <cite><a href="/blog/2021/jun/30/who-should-own-foss-copyrights/">It
Matters Who Owns Your Copylefted Copyrights</a></cite> — which
garnered a lot of great community conversations. In another vein, Sage
Sharp of Outreachy wrote a tremendous piece
titled <cite><a href="/blog/2021/apr/20/how-to-apologize/">So you want to
apologize… Now what?</a></cite> &mdash: which has helped explain the
entire life cycle apologizing for your own behavior. We can all learn from
this piece about how to act more humanely in our shared spaces of
production.</p>
<p>This was another long year of online conferences. While the traveling was
easier (by not doing it), we miss the face to face relationship building
that we've come to expect from our big
conference gatherings. We can't wait to get back to a sense of normalcy and
at least have a little less latency between us.</p>
<p>Karen, our executive director, gave two keynotes this year, one at the <a href="/news/2021/mar/23/karen-lailec-2021/">Leuven AI Law & Ethics Conference</a> and another at <a href="https://conf.linuxappsummit.org/event/3/contributions/71/">Linux App Summit</a>. Karen also spoke with Marina Zhurakhinskaya at <cite>All Things Open</cite> about the 10+ year history of Outreachy. Karen was also an invited speaker at <a href="https://heales.org/2021/05/28/conference-big-data-a-i-and-healthy-longevity-how-to-progress-faster-and-better-for-all-scientists-thursday-september-9-2021/">Big Data, A.I. and Healthy Longevity: How to progress faster and better for all scientists</a>.</p>
<p>Karen and Bradley were also co-organizers (with others) of the Legal &
Policy Devroom at FOSDEM, where they also moderated panels and spoke. Sage
Sharp spoke at the <a href="https://chanzuckerberg.com/eoss/">Chan
Zuckerberg Essential Open Source</a> event. Daniel Pono Takamori gave a talk about <cite><a href="http://pdxlinux.org/2021-07-01-FreeSoftware-LegacyOfCommunication.pdf">How Free Software Continues the Legacy of Open Communication</a></cite> to the Portland Linux/ Unix Group.</p>
Policy Devroom at FOSDEM, where they also moderated panels and spoke.
Daniel Pono Takamori gave a talk
about <cite><a href="http://pdxlinux.org/2021-07-01-FreeSoftware-LegacyOfCommunication.pdf">How
Free Software Continues the Legacy of Open Communication</a></cite> to the
Portland Linux/ Unix Group.</p>
<p>We were also a sponsor of the
fantastic <a href="https://seagl.org/">SeaGL</a> event. A community focused
conference that does an incredible job giving opportunities to first-time
speakers (suitable for community members of all walks of life). They hosted
their conference on the Matrix platform, which further proved it's possible
to run a virtual conference with free software.</p>
</div>
<h3 id="HelpUs">Help us Continue this Work</h3>
<p>We are beyond thankful for the ability to continue our work — which
only continues due to <strong>your financial contributions</strong>. We
recognize that not everyone has the same financial leeway to donate as they
have in the past. But please consider giving what you can so that our
organization can continue to advocate and support the rights of all
software users. We work hard and efficiently, and accomplish so much with
our small staff. We hope — through our hard work, creativity, and
passionate dedication — that we've demonstrated over the years how
Software Freedom Conservancy continues to be the beacon of change for
software freedom that the world needs. <a href="/donate/">Please consider
donating now!</a></p>
<div style="overflow: auto">
<div class="picture-small right">
<img src="/img/scaled-LLW-2015-Conservancy-Supporters-by-Carlo-Piana-CC-0.jpg" alt="Zack, Karen, John and Jim pose, mostly wearing the vintage t-shirt!" />
<p>Vintage-shirt-wearing Sustainers pose with Karen! <br/>From left: Stefano “Zack” Zacchiroli, Karen M. Sandler, John Sullivan, and Jim Wright</p>
</div>
<div data-read-more="A note on t-shirts…">
<p>We're all sick of hearing about supply chains, global shortages, and
deliveries being delayed. But we must tell you up-front that since we have
a small staff we try to batch our t-shirt orders, and given the realities
of the pandemic, we are often a few months behind on t-shirt deliveries.
Those owed t-shirts from early 2021 renewals should receive them by years'
end. Meanwhile, we're working on a new t-shirt design for this year; check
back here for an announcement later in the fundraising season! All
renewals during this fundraising season will receive the new shirt! We so
appreciate everyone's patience! </p>
</div>
<h3 id="VintageT">Vintage T-Shirt Promotion</h3>
<div data-read-more="Would you like a last chance to receive a vintage Conservancy t-shirt? Find out how…">
<p>If you're a Sustainer, you've already received or will soon receive a