Organizations, associations, coalitions, collectives, consortiums, foundations, networks, societies, and other groups that advocate for free and open-source software or hardware are the focus of resources listed in this category.
For the most part, these groups are incorporated as non-profits, not-for-profits, or charity organizations, although some of them may be for-profit companies that have chosen to take an active role in promoting or advocating for the free and open-source movement.
Some of the organizations listed in this category are involved in the free software movement, others the open-source movement, while many include both, or what is sometimes known as the free and open-source movement. Organizations involved in free and open-source hardware are included with those whose interests are in software.
For-profit companies whose chief interests involve earning a profit from open-source products will not be included here, although companies which have taken a significant role in advancing the movement may be listed, at the discretion of the directory editor.
Many of the organizations listed here have a worldwide or international presence, while others are national or even regional in scope. Local user groups probably won't be included here unless they take a larger role in the movement, such as sponsoring events that include a larger region.
Many of the organizations represented here have named that may suggest that a narrow focus on one particular piece of open-source software, or a specific industry. However, several organizations that were formed around a specific project, such as Linux, have since expanded their interests to include the wider open-source movement. Besides, Linux is huge in the open-source community, as so many other free and open-source projects are dependent upon the Linux operating system, or its derivatives.
Other project-specific organizations include those who fund or provide other support for particular free or open-source projects. These may include the Linux groups that were mentioned above, as well as the Apache Software Foundation, the Django Software Foundation, Drupal Association, FreeBSD Foundation, the GNOME Foundation, the Mozilla Foundation, and many others.
Others develop and issue the various licenses and certifications associated with the free or open-source movement.
Free and open-source organizations may be involved in advocacy for the movement in several ways, including legal aid. Others are umbrella organizations that host a variety of other projects or groups.
Many of these groups host regional, national, or international conferences annually or more often, as well as offering such services as funding, infrastructure, education, promotion, distribution, and online collaboration in various projects.
Whatever the contribution, organizations that serve a significant role in either the free software movement, the open-source movement, the free and open-source movement, or a similar organized endeavor, are the focus of topics in this category..
Recommended Resources
Its membership made up of a decentralized open-source community of developers, the ASF is a non-profit corporation based in the United States. The ASF distributes software under the Apache License that is free and open-source software, including the Apache HTTP Server and sponsors several ApacheCon conferences each year, which highlight is projects and related technology. An overview of the organization, its membership, governance, and projects are featured.
https://www.apache.org/
Apereo is a global network of educational institutions supporting open-source software products. Its memberships are featured, and active software projects are highlighted with links to a page containing download links, documentation, development notes, and support options. The organizational structure is defined, including commercial affiliates, its inception and funding resources, a calendar of events, and regional affiliates.
https://www.apereo.org/
CC is a non-profit, US-based organization charged with expanding the range of creative works that are available for others to legally share, modify, or adapt to other creative purposes. Creative Commons has formed several Creative Commons licenses, based on copyright law, allowing software creators to better communicate which rights they reserve and which they waive. Its programs, licensing, staff, board, and affiliates are defined. A blog is included.
https://creativecommons.org/
Originally known as Software Freedom International, the organization sponsors Software Freedom Day, Education Freedom Day, Hardware Freedom Day, Document Freedom Day, and other events, each of which is highlighted on its site, including schedules, speakers, registration data, and other details. Its sponsors are acknowledged, and its organizational structure, officers, and contacts are included, along with links to other free software groups.
https://www.digitalfreedomfoundation.org/
Formed in 2004, the Eclipse Foundation is a non-profit corporation that serves as the steward of the Eclipse Open Source software development community, focusing on intellectual property management, ecosystem development, development process, and IT infrastructure. The organization resulted from the Eclipse Project. The site includes contacts, documentation, forums, working groups, service status information, and an online marketplace.
https://www.eclipse.org/
Previously known as the United Kingdom UNIX User Group (UKUUG), the organization’s name was changed to reflect its expanding interest, from UNIX to open-source, free software, and connected communities. FLOSSUK is made up of people who have an interest in IT standards and the systems that implement them, including hardware, software, and data. Membership information, a calendar of events, sponsorships, consultancy services, and informational articles are included.
https://www.flossuk.org/
Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure
Formed in Germany in 1999, the FFII is a non-profit organization works to establish a free market information technology, removing the barriers to competition, particularly in defending a free and competitive software market, open standards and patent systems. Membership information, action groups, and information about software patents are put forth, along with free and open-source, open networks, and press releases. A calendar of events is posted to the site.
https://www.ffii.org/
Created in 1985, the FSF is a non-profit organization that supports the free software movement and promotes software distributed under copyleft licenses, such as its own GNU General Public License. Headquartered in Massachusetts, the organization is active worldwide. Its organizational structure, work, campaigns, and projects are discussed, and a guide to choosing a software license, such as the GNU Licenses and other licenses, are put forth. Its membership policies are outlined.
https://www.fsf.org/
Free Software Foundation Europe
Founded in 2001, the FSFE supports all facets of the free software movement in Europe. Registered as a charitable association in Germany, the organization has registered chapters in several European countries. Its principles, associates and contacts are put forth, with reports on its projects, campaigns, and other work, and press information. Its code of conduct, membership policies, meeting and event schedules, and an introduction to local groups are included.
https://fsfe.org/
Established in 1996, KDE is an international free software community that develops free and open-source software, and acts as a central development hub, providing tools and resources used for collaboration amongst developers. Membership information is provided, along with a list of its products, applications, and frameworks, documentation, and announcements. Community and user wikis are available, offering information, instructions, and networking opportunities.
https://www.kde.org/
Formed in 1997 and incorporated in 1999, Linux Australia is an Australian Free and Open Source Software organization. Although originally intended to provide legal support for the Conference of Australian Linux Users, its interests have expanded over the years. Its constitution, policies, and organizational details are set forth, along with its subcommittees and groups, a calendar of events, and membership policies. Job postings and contacts are available.
https://linux.org.au/
LF was created as a consortium through the 2000 merger of Open Source Development Labs and the Free Standards Group, its chief purposes being to standardize Linux, support its growth, and promote its commercial adoption. The LF also promotes the development of other open-source software projects. Its membership information, projects, events, and training programs are highlighted, and various publications, open-source guides, and other resources are included.
https://www.linuxfoundation.org/
Also known as moz://a, the not-for-profit organization is largely concerned with supporting and leading the open-source Mozilla project. Founded in 2003, the organization governs the development, operates its key infrastructure, and controls Mozilla’s trademarks and copyrights. Other efforts of the organization include sponsoring MozFest, publishing research in the Internet Health Report, and leading various advocacy issues related to open-source software.
https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/
Open-source brings a number of benefits to NASA software efforts, including increased quality, reduced costs, faster development cycles, and reduced barriers to public-private collaboration. Its site makes new software available through its portal for NASA open-source software, and to establish processes, policies, and a culture that encourages open-source development. Its open-source projects are outlined, and a guide to releasing projects as open-source to NASA is included.
https://code.nasa.gov/
New Zealand Open Source Society
The non-governmental organization was founded in 2003 for the purpose of promoting free and open-source software in New Zealand. An overview of the NZOSS is stated, with information on its education, business, and government groups, associated societies and clubs, user and development groups, membership policies, and opportunities for others to participate in its work or to attend various get-togethers and events. Its software services, collaborations, and contracts are included.
https://nzoss.org.nz/
Open Source Automation Development Lab
Founded in 2005, OSADL is a German organization charged with promoting and coordinating the development of open-source software for the machine, machine tool, and automation industries. Its membership is made up of companies from around the world, user associations, and open-source software service providers. Its memberships, projects, services, products, and partner organizations are outlined. Various documents, a glossary of terms, and downloads are included.
http://www.osadl.org/
Open Source Geospatial Foundation
Formed in 2006, OSGeo is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, based in Chicago, that was created to support and promote the collaborative development of open geospatial technologies and data, and which provides financial, legal, and other support to the larger free and open-source geospatial community. Its memberships, sponsors, partners, and branding material are featured, and its projects and initiatives are highlighted. Local chapters are identified.
https://www.osgeo.org/
Open Source Hardware Association
OSWA was created to educate the general public about open-source hardware, and provide organization to the open-source hardware movement, including conferences and community events. The organization also collects and publishes data on the movement, and provides a way in which open-source hardware creators can indicate that their products meet a standard for open-source compliance, through certifications. Membership policies, research, and a calendar of events are featured.
https://www.oshwa.org/
Open Source Industry Australia
The OSIA is an Australian organization created to advance the cause of both free and open-source software in Australia. Its membership services are outlined, and a statement as to its public policy stance is included. Case studies are outlined, and a calendar of programs and events are presented. Its sponsors are acknowledged and sponsorship opportunities are posted to the site. Publications, including government submissions and corporate documents, are available for viewing.
http://www.osia.net.au/
Inspired by the Netscape Communications Corporation, the OSI was founded in early 1998, and one of its first tasks was to draft the Open Source Definition and to use it to create a list of OSI-approved licenses. Its history, articles of incorporation, bylaws, board members, and associated organizations and operations are highlighted, along with the Open Source Definition, licenses by category or name, the license review process, and a statement on open standards are included.
https://opensource.org/
The Restructured Extended Executor (REXX) is an interpreted programming language developed at IBM in 1979. RexxLA is an independent, non-profit organization that manages several open-source implementations of the REXX language, two of which are successors of previous commercial languages from IBM. The organization hosts an annual symposium in the United Kingdom. The REXX language is outlined, and ooRexx, Regina, and NetRexx may be downloaded.
http://www.rexxla.org/
GNU Savannah is a project of the Free Software Foundation, a collaborative for free software projects. Its site is split into two domain names, savannah.gnu.org for software that is officially part of the GNU Project, and savannah.nongnu.org for all other software. The organization hosts free projects that run on free operating systems without any dependencies on proprietary software. Projects are highlighted, and new projects may be registered. Guides and other documentation are included.
http://savannah.nongnu.org/
Incorporated in Massachusetts, SIP Foundry is a not-for-profit organizations that collaborates with tech industry leaders and professionals, entrepreneurs, startup businesses, universities, and others to create open-source software products based on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), promoting the standardization of SIP, and its interoperability with other products and solutions, so that it can become as much a part of the Internet as HTTP, SMTP, and XML.
http://www.sipfoundry.org/
Offering non-profit home and infrastructure support, including legal services, for free and open-source software projects, the SFC is headquartered in New York City. Today, the organization helps to promote, improve, develop, and define Free, Libre, and Open Source Software (FLOSS) projects, freeing developers to focus on writing and improving their software. Its organizational structure, directors, officers, staff, and committees are set forth, and sponsors are acknowledged.
https://sfconservancy.org/
Headquartered in New York City, the SFLC provides pro bono legal representation to not-for-profit developers of free software and open-source software. Its staff and directors are introduced, with contacts. Its services, which include licensing, trademark counseling, public education, consulting and training, patent defense, and litigation support, are outlined, its services are reported and archived, and its publications are available to read online or download.
https://www.softwarefreedom.org/
Software in the Public Interest
Created to assist organizations in developing and distributing open hardware and software, the SPI is a non-profit organization. Founded in 1997, SPI membership is open to everyone, and contributing membership is open to those who participate in the free software movement. Its organizational structure, membership policies, meeting schedules, and a calendar of events are published to the site. Its projects are highlighted, and sponsorship opportunities are posted.
http://www.spi-inc.org/
TenthPlanet Open Source Foundation
TPOSF is an open-source community created in 2008 to serve the needs of people who are looking for work, and to become job creators, using open source technologies. Its program includes an open-source startup program, and programs for freelancers, contributors, developers, and a one-day career guidance seminar to make job seekers aware of opportunities in the open-source environment. Its educational programs, ventures, and contributions are highlighted.
https://tenthplanet.org/
Founded as Unix Users Group in 1975, the organization was originally focused on the development of Unix and related systems. However, in 1977, they were advised that they could no longer use the word UNIX, as it was a trademark of Western Electric, which led to its name change. Currently, the organization and its sponsored conferences and workshops cover a variety of topics related to computing systems. A calendar of events, membership information, and services are defined.
https://www.usenix.org/
