William John Sullivan
Encyclopedia
William John Sullivan (born December 6, 1976) is a software freedom activist, hacker, and writer. John is currently executive director
of the Free Software Foundation
, where he has worked since early 2003. He is also a speaker and webmaster for the GNU Project
. He also maintains of the Plannermode and delicious-el packages for the GNU Emacs text editor.
Active in both the free software
and free culture
communities, Sullivan has a BA
in philosophy and an MFA
in Writing and Poetics. In college, Sullivan was a successful policy debater
, reaching finals of CEDA Nationals
and the semifinals of the National Debate Tournament
.
Until 2007, John was the main contact behind the Defective by Design
, BadVista
and Play Ogg campaigns. He also served as the chief-webmaster for the GNU Project
, until July 2006.
Since 2011 he serves as Executive Director of the Free Software Foundation
.
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the Free Software Foundation
Free Software Foundation
The Free Software Foundation is a non-profit corporation founded by Richard Stallman on 4 October 1985 to support the free software movement, a copyleft-based movement which aims to promote the universal freedom to create, distribute and modify computer software...
, where he has worked since early 2003. He is also a speaker and webmaster for the GNU Project
GNU Project
The GNU Project is a free software, mass collaboration project, announced on September 27, 1983, by Richard Stallman at MIT. It initiated GNU operating system development in January, 1984...
. He also maintains of the Plannermode and delicious-el packages for the GNU Emacs text editor.
Active in both the free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
and free culture
Free Culture movement
The free culture movement is a social movement that promotes the freedom to distribute and modify creative works in the form of free content by using the Internet and other forms of media....
communities, Sullivan has a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in philosophy and an MFA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Writing and Poetics. In college, Sullivan was a successful policy debater
Policy debate
Policy debate is a form of speech competition in which teams of two advocate for and against a resolution that typically calls for policy change by the United States federal government or security discourse...
, reaching finals of CEDA Nationals
Cross Examination Debate Association
The Cross Examination Debate Association is the largest intercollegiate policy debate association in the United States. Throughout the school year, CEDA sanctions over 60 tournaments throughout the nation, including an annual National Championship Tournament that brings together over 175...
and the semifinals of the National Debate Tournament
National Debate Tournament
The National Debate Tournament is one of the national championships for collegiate policy debate in the United States. The tournament is sponsored by the American Forensic Association with the Ford Motor Company Fund.-History of the NDT:...
.
Until 2007, John was the main contact behind the Defective by Design
Defective by Design
Defective by Design is an anti-digital rights management initiative by the Free Software Foundation. DRM technology, dubbed "digital restrictions management" by opponents, restricts users’ ability to freely use their purchased movies, music, literature, software, and hardware in ways they are...
, BadVista
BadVista
BadVista was a campaign by the Free Software Foundation to oppose adoption of Microsoft Windows Vista and promote free software alternatives. A follow-up to the Defective by Design campaign against digital rights management technologies, it aimed to encourage the media to make free software part of...
and Play Ogg campaigns. He also served as the chief-webmaster for the GNU Project
GNU Project
The GNU Project is a free software, mass collaboration project, announced on September 27, 1983, by Richard Stallman at MIT. It initiated GNU operating system development in January, 1984...
, until July 2006.
Since 2011 he serves as Executive Director of the Free Software Foundation
Free Software Foundation
The Free Software Foundation is a non-profit corporation founded by Richard Stallman on 4 October 1985 to support the free software movement, a copyleft-based movement which aims to promote the universal freedom to create, distribute and modify computer software...
.
As a speaker for the GNU Project
John currently delivers speeches on the following topics, in English:- Digital Restrictions Management issues and the FSF's Defective by DesignDefective by DesignDefective by Design is an anti-digital rights management initiative by the Free Software Foundation. DRM technology, dubbed "digital restrictions management" by opponents, restricts users’ ability to freely use their purchased movies, music, literature, software, and hardware in ways they are...
campaign - Media format patents, proprietary licensing, and the FSF's PlayOgg.org campaign
- Choosing free softwareFree softwareFree software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
over MicrosoftMicrosoftMicrosoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
Windows VistaWindows VistaWindows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
, and the FSF's BadVista.org campaign - How you can help: Strategies for communicating and organizing around free software ideals
- Why software should be free
- Introduction to the GPLv3 and free software licensing
- FSF/GNU high-priority free software projects