Software Freedom and the GNU Generation

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In this talk, I introduce the issues of software freedom, copyleft, and the history and future of the Free Software Movement to an audience that is generally familiar with computer software. (The talk is geared toward computer users, but developers will not be bored.) I discuss in detail the most popular copyleft license, the GNU General Public License (GPL), and introduce its advantages for users, programmers, and businesses.

In contrast to the talks given by the Free Software supporters who founded the community (such as Richard Stallman), this talk comes from the perspective of someone who came of age in the Free Software Movement after the early work was complete. Thus, this talk addresses the "GNU generation"---those of us who learned of Free Software only after GNU/Linux systems were beginning to become popular.

In particular, I address the stark contrast of two existing worlds in the software industry: the developers of proprietary software and the developers of Free Software. As someone who has lived in both of these worlds, I speak with some authority about the terrible challenges and drawbacks faced in the proprietary software realm, and how the free software community has overcome them by giving the same freedom to all users, whether they program often, occasionally, or not at all. I explain how one specific copyleft software license, the GNU GPL, has worked to ensure freedom while creating a thriving user, developer and business community.

Finally, I discuss the great challenges that we, the Free Software Movement, face in the years ahead. Too often, people assume that since the job of writing a core operating system is done (namely, GNU/Linux and emerging GNU/HURD systems) that there is nothing left for the Free Software Movement to do. I dispel this misconception by giving real-world examples where we face challenges today. I also identify dangerous trends that indicate challenges that we may face in the future.

This talk takes approximately two hours, which always leaves at least 25 minutes for a question and answer session.

Trip planning:

Below is the typical information that I send when I plan to give a speech. There is a long version and an short summary at the end.

Travel Expenses

For me to visit, I will at least need your organization to pay the airfare/train fare for my travel to and from your location, and to find a place for me to stay. Normally, the staff at the FSF books my travel (as they may need to coordinate my visit there with the rest of my hectic travel schedule). They are very skilled at finding cheap prices, and do such scheduling often, so they should be able to find a good fare. If you know of a particular good place to find fares for the given route, please do let us know.

If your funding requirements make it terribly difficult for you to be invoiced by and reimburse the FSF, I am happy to accommodate you and have you book the travel. However, it will require detailed coordination to work things out properly.

Accommodations

I am happy to stay in a hotel, if you have funding and that's what you want me to do.

However, I typically stay as a guest at the home of a volunteer from the local users' group or from the university that invited me. I am happy to do this to save costs; there is no sense in paying for a hotel room if there is a volunteer willing to let me stay.

These are my requirements of a host:

* a non-smoking household

* absolutely no cockroaches, insect infestations, mice or other vermin. (I am phobic of insects (particularly cockroaches) and rodents, so this is very important.)

* typical pets are not a problem, as long as the room I'll be sleeping in isn't one the pets go into very much and there is a door to keep them out at night.

Scheduling the Speech

My typical speech, "Software Freedom and the GNU Generation", takes about two hours, which leaves some time for a question and answer session. I have by now given you an abstract of the speech in a sepearate file.

I am willing to give the speech as many times as is useful, but please keep in mind that this will be more or less the same speech each time. If attendees to the speeches overlap, please make it clear to them that's the speech is the same (so they won't feel cheated ;). Of course, the question and answer section at the end of the speech is usually an interesting discussion that is usually quite different each time.

For each speech, please send the exact details of the location, start time, finish time, date and place. We like to advertise the speeches on our website and email lists.

Scheduling Other Related Events

I am happy to spend time with students, user group members, or others that would like to meet and discuss issues about software freedom. For example, many times, I attend an "Ethics of Computing" (or similar) class to have a group discussion, or meet with developers who have particular questions about Free Software licensing.

I ask, though, that such things be scheduled *after* my main talk(s). Often, my main talk covers many of the points that people want to ask about, so it saves time for everyone.

I am willing to do such events before my talk when scheduling demands it, though. I just ask that you make a good effort to schedule them after my main talk.

It is very good for me if smaller meetings (10 people or less) happen over a meal.

I enjoy doing GNU Privacy Guard key exchange. Please let your group members/other students know about this if they are interested in GPG.

GNU Press Meetings

I would appreciate if you would set up meetings with the faculty of the computer science department so that I can talk to them about FSF's computer science textbooks. The FSF runs a publishing business as a fundraiser for our software freedom advocacy activities, and since we aren't a major publisher, we need to work hard to get the word out about our books.

You can help our fund-raising efforts in this regard by asking the faculty in your computer science department if they would be willing to meet with me about our textbooks.

Also, please note that this is informal session, and I am also happy to take any questions from the faculty on other topics when/if I meet with them. I obviously am not a salesperson, so a typical "meeting with an academic publisher".

Meals

I very much enjoy going out to meals with people interested in software freedom. Typically, after each speech, a large group goes out together to eat. I am happy to do this.

Please note, however, that I am a strict vegetarian, and I often prefer vegan food (vegans don't eat eggs and milk products, vegetarians usually do). I am open to all sorts of food, but I do have that requirement. If you have trouble finding a vegetarian restaurant, please note that Indian and Thai restaurants almost always have vegetarian options.

(If the only vegatarian places you can find are not vegan, that's ok. I am not strictly a vegan, it's just something I prefer all things being equal.)

Publicity for the Speech

I'll rely on you to do local publicity. In addition to your normal announcement procedures, I suggest you email an announcement to any local "Linux" or Unix user groups and to campus ACM gruops, and to campus social justice organizations (Amnesty International, ACLU, Green Party, etc.). I suggest putting up flyers at public libraries, on your campus and on nearby college campuses. If possible, please give press releases about the event to local newspapers and especially to your campus newsletters/newspapers. Please try to get the event listed in any local computer-related publications and websites, and your campus' events website.

When you put up flyers on campus, please be sure to post heavily in the computer science and various engineering departments, as well as political science departments, peace and conflict studies departments, and the law school (if you have these departments).

In doing publicity, please be aware of two important issues. First, note that I and the FSF represent the Free Software Movement, but not the Open Source Movement. So, please don't use the term "Open Source" to publicize my speeches. I am going to speak some about the differences between the two groups, but you can find a preview at http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-for-freedom.html.

Second, I request that on materials related to my talk, you use the term "GNU/Linux" if you happen to refer to the operating system that is often called "Linux". I'll explain the importance of this GNU/Linux issue in my speech as well. You can find a preview at http://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html and http://www.gnu.org/gnu/why-gnu-linux.html.

If it is useful to you, I have a prepared press release that you can use for your local and campus newspapers and press offices. Please let me know if you'd like a copy.

Occasionally, reporters ask for advance copies of my speech so that they can prepare articles. I can immediately give you a one-page summary of the speech if its needed, and with a week or two notice, I can give a full draft text (my speeches change over time, so I don't have a draft text regularly prepared for public consumption, but I can prepare it as needed). In general, before the talk, I only give such summary and/or draft texts to reporters ahead of time; it usually leads to drastically decreased attendance if summaries or draft texts are circulated ahead of time, since it basically says everything I'll talk about. ;)

Sales

The FSF does sell merchandise to raise funds. When possible, I like to have such merchandise sold at the events. If this is possible, please let me know, and I will send you more details on how we'll handle that.

Give-Away Materials

Even if it is not possible to conduct a sale during the event(s), I do bring some give-away materials, such as brochures, literature, and stickers. It usually works best if there is a table at the entrance to the speech venue where such materials can be distributed.

It is helpful if you send me an estimated attendance and general composition of the crowd (computer science students, general student body, faculty, user group members, etc.) so that I can bring the right amounts of the appropriate literature.

Internet Connectivity

I need a way of connecting my laptop to the Internet for at least about 45 minutes each day. I can use Ethernet or 802.11 networks, and a modem connection if you have a local ISP account that I can use temporarily.

Request for Honorarium

There is no need to pay any more beyond my travel costs to have me speak for you. Giving these speeches is part of my job for the FSF, and I am thus compensated for my time.

However, I would like to request that you look into the possibility of paying an honorarium directly to the FSF. Such funding helps the FSF continue the work of preserving, protecting and promoting Free Software.

At a university, there are typically programs for funding for outside speakers. Please check with your Student Activities Office or computer science department to see what is available.

Contact Information

Please give me the names and phone numbers of one or two people that I can reach if something goes wrong. For example, if I am unable to connect up with someone from your organization when I arrive, or if there are other unforeseen events. I prefer to have at least one mobile phone number if that is possible. (My mobile number is +1-617-792-5846, which works almost everywhere in the world. Please feel free to give the number who anyone who needs to meet up with me while I'm there.)

Summary

Here's a list of what's I need from you to plan the event:

* Amount you can afford for travel expenses.

* What you'd like to do with regard to accommodations, either in a hotel or staying with a volunteer. Also, let me know how many days I can stay (often airfare is cheaper if I stay more days).

* Exact address and phone number of where I will be staying.

* The airport/train station I should arrive at, and what I should do upon arriving at the airport/train station (e.g., meet someone, take a cab, etc.).

* Whether or not your organization is able to pay an honorarium, and the amount of the honorarium.

* Billing address for FSF's reimbursement for travel expenses (and if applicable, the honorarium), and what additional information must come along with the reimbursement request. (Or, if you want to pay for travel directly, information on how to coordinate that)

* Contact information of one or two people (mobile numbers if possible).

* The date of each speech, when it starts, ends, and precisely where it will take place.

* What other events besides the speeches you'd like me to do.

* A rough estimate of how many people will attend each event, and what types of people you expect.

* Whether or not it will be possible to sell FSF merchandise at the event(s).

* A table set up at the speech venues where literature can be distributed (or, if it is permitted, where FSF merchandise can be sold).

* Meetings set up with computer science faculty to discuss FSF's book line, if the faculty are willing. (It's an informal session, and I am also happy to take any questions from the faculty on other topics during that period.)

* How I will connect my laptop to the Internet for at least 45 minutes each day (Ethernet, 802.11, modem).

* Please do local publicity for the events, but be sure to say "GNU/Linux" if you refer to the operating system, and note that I represent the Free Software Movement, not the Open Source Movement.

Let me know if you need a copy of our prepared press release, or a copy of my speech summary.