We are a cooperative and most of our software is cooperatively-developed software. By this, we mean that it respects our basic values and principles:

1. open and voluntary membership;
2. democratic member control;
3. member economic participation;
4. autonomy and independence;
5. education, training and information;
6. cooperation among cooperatives; and
7. concern for community.

Usually, this means that it is Free Software which means that its users have:

• freedom to use it;
• freedom to study it;
• freedom to share it; and
• freedom to adapt it.

Software that doesn't give you these freedoms is a social problem. For a full explanation of why, listen to an excerpt from Copyright vs. Community by Richard M. Stallman, 12 Sep 2007 (1.4Mb, Ogg Vorbis format - read a transcript)

This is sometimes called Free and Open Source Software, Free/Libre and Open Source Software or even just FOSS or OSS.

Some groups use much longer and more complicated definitions or guidelines, but they should mean the same thing: freedom to use, study, share and adapt.

The freedom to be in control of your own computing power is essential to give autonomy and independence, to build communities and to develop a sustainable information infrastructure. It's also very helpful in enabling democratic control, cooperation and education.

Read our news for ideas about how you can help or buy software and services from us.

Free Software, noun:

Free Software Foundation Europe define Free Software in more detail, with slightly different words and in more languages, but we mean essentially the same thing.