IfsoPromo/AboutIfso

About Ifso

One thing that we should be doing to help explain the meaning of Free Software to people we talk to is end all communications with an "About IFSO".

Here's a suggestion. It says all I think we'd want to say, but it doesn't read as well or as interesting as it could. After my draft, I've pasted the "About Us" blurbs used by FSFE and FFII for reference.

About Irish Free Software Organisation (IFSO)

IFSO was founded in January 2004 with the aims of promoting and protecting software which comes with the freedom to study it, modify it and redistribute it: Free Software. Notable examples of Free Software include the GNU/Linux operating system, the OpenOffice.org office suite and the Firefox web browser. IFSO seeks the wider use of Free Software, and a wider understanding of the benefits that software freedom brings through independence, transparency and the ability to collaborate with others. IFSO would also like to see businesses which write, deploy or support Free Software being encouraged. IFSO works to ensure that new legislation does not restrict the writing of Free Software so that Free Software can continue to flourish.

Some similar blurbs from other orgs

For reference, here are similar blurbs from other related organisations. When we're satisfied with the state of the IFSO blurb take these away, OK?

About the Free Software Foundation Europe:

The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is a charitable non-governmental organisation dedicated to all aspects of Free Software in Europe. Access to software determines who may participate in a digital society. Therefore the Freedoms to use, copy, modify and redistribute software - as described in the Free Software definition- allow equal participation in the information age. Creating awareness for these issues, securing Free Software politically and legally, and giving people Freedom by supporting development of Free Software are central issues of the FSFE. The FSFE was founded in 2001 as the European sister organisation of the Free Software Foundation in the United States.

About FFII:

The Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure (FFII) is a non-profit association registered in Munich, which is dedicated to the spread of data processing literacy. FFII supports the development of public information goods based on copyright, free competition, open standards. More than 300 members, 700 companies and 50,000 supporters have entrusted the FFII to act as their voice in public policy questions in the area of exclusion rights (intellectual property) in data processing.

Or the alternative FFII blurb:

FFII campaigns to promote competition and innovation in the field of software development. They seek a positive environment for the development of information goods, based on copyright, free competition, and open standards.

More than 700 companies and 60,000 registered supporters have entrusted the FFII to act as their public voice in the area of exclusion rights (intellectual property) in data processing; and the FFII/Eurolinux petition against software patents now has over 330,000 signatories.

About IFSO

This is an older blurb that I'll leave here until it's been mined.

IFSO was founed in January 2004 to protect and promote software which comes with permission to run, study, modify, and redistribute it -- Free Software. IFSO would like to see more widespread use of Free Software, such as the GNU/Linux operating system, the Mozilla Firefox web browser, and the OpenOffice.org office suite. We would also like to see the encouragement of businesses based on the development, implementation, and support of Free Software. So that Free Software can continue to flourish, IFSO works to prevent new legislation from restricting the writing of Free Software. The Software Patents directive is the largest such proposed restriction, but copyright and other laws also need watching.

Comments

This is the later text pulled over from AboutIfsoBlurb. There should only be one page for this blurb. -- GlennStrong 2005-06-23 21:46:34