[PLUG-TALK] [FSF] LulzBot A0-100 3D printer now FSF-certified to respect your freedom (fwd)

Wed Oct 10 13:26:49 UTC 2012

   For those who are interested in 3D printers.

Rich

---------- Forwarded message ----------
BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA -- Tuesday, October 9th, 2012 -- The Free
Software Foundation (FSF) today awarded its first *Respects Your Freedom*
(RYF) certification to the *LulzBot AO-100 3D Printer* sold by Aleph
Objects, Inc. The RYF certification mark means that the product meets the
FSF's standards in regard to users' freedom, control over the product, and
privacy. The LulzBot model AO-100 3D printer can be purchased from
www.lulzbot.com.

> Aleph Objects, Inc. is honored to have the first hardware product with the
> FSF's Respects Your Freedom certification mark, and we're proud to sell a
> 3D printer that delivers freedom to each and every user. Aleph Objects,
> Inc. was founded with the idea that people should be free to use, learn
> from, and improve the machines they use, and to share their improvements
> and innovations with collaborative communities. The spirit and philosophy
> of the free software movement is embodied in our LulzBot 3D printer. All
> of our printers ship with hardware designs, software, and documentation
> all under free licenses. You get it all -- source code, design documents,
> and specifications -- everything needed to control, tinker, fix, and
> improve upon every aspect of the printer.
>
>   -- Jeff Moe, Founder of Aleph Objects, Inc.

The FSF began work on a hardware certification program in October 2010 by
publishing an initial set of criteria for certification, and subsequently
inviting community members to help refine them. To be certified, a hardware
product must meet several standards that ensure it runs free software,
allows users to modify that software, supports free data formats, and is
usable with free tools.

> The desire to own a computer or device and have full control over it, to
> know that you are not being spied on or tracked, to run any software you
> wish without asking permission, and to share with friends without worrying
> about Digital Restrictions Management (DRM)[1] -- these are the desires of
> millions of people who care about the future of technology and our
> society. Unfortunately, hardware manufacturers have until now relied on
> close cooperation with proprietary software companies that demanded
> control over their users. As citizens and their customers, we need to
> promote our desires for a new class of hardware -- hardware that anyone
> can support because it respects your freedom.
>
>  -- Hardware we all want: FSF announces criteria for hardware
>     endorsement program[2]

Conversations between the FSF and Aleph Objects, Inc., solidified the
certification process and Respects Your Freedom mark design. Future
certified products will display the same mark on their packaging and in
associated marketing materials; the FSF will also promote certified products
on its Web site at <http://www.fsf.org/ryf>.

"Over the past 27 years the FSF has earned a reputation of being a strong
advocate for computer user freedom, and we continually work to earn and keep
the public's trust," states Joshua Gay, FSF licensing & compliance manager.
"Because so many people have placed their trust in the FSF, a product
displaying the Respects Your Freedom certification mark will be immediately
recognized as a product that a user can trust when it comes to software
freedom."

FOOTNOTES
[1]: <http://www.defectivebydesign.org>
[2]: <http://www.fsf.org/news/endorsement-criteria>

IMAGES
* Respects Your Freedom certification mark
   <http://static.fsf.org/nosvn/ryf/RYF.png>
* LulzBot(tm) Logo
   <https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/ryf/Lulzbot_LogoTM_RGB_Large.jpg>
* AO-100 printer
   <http://static.fsf.org/nosvn/ryf/ao-100.jpg>

* A0-100 printer with FSF logo
   <http://static.fsf.org/nosvn/ryf/3d-printer.jpg>

## About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to
promoting computer users' right to use, study, copy, modify, and
redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and
use of free (as in freedom) software -- particularly the GNU operating
system and its GNU/Linux variants -- and free documentation for free
software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and
political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites,
located at fsf.org and gnu.org, are an important source of information
about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF's work can be made at
<http://donate.fsf.org>. Its headquarters are in Boston, MA, USA.

## Aleph Objects, Inc.

Aleph Objects, Inc. is a Loveland, Colorado, USA based company
committed to free software and libre hardware. They are the makers of
the LulzBot(tm) line of 3D printers and components available at their
online store www.lulzbot.com.

## Media Contacts

Joshua Gay
Licensing & Compliance Manager
Free Software Foundation
PHONE: +1 (617) 542 5942 x20
EMAIL: <licensing at fsf.org>

Jeff Moe
Aleph Objects, Inc.
EMAIL: <moe at alephobjects.com>
PHONE: +1 (970) 377 1111 x622

  ###

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