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Dear Free Software Supporter,

Since its launch on January 24th, we've had an overwhelming amount of
support in [our call to "upcycle" Windows 7][0]. Truthfully, the signature
count flew far faster than we ever expected it to, even despite our
conservative, if aptly numbered, goal of 7,777 signatures. (We ended
the petition with a total of 13,635 signatures!) We have
seen the campaign called quixotic and even "completely delusional,"
but in every case, people have recognized the "[pragmatic idealism][1]"
that is at the core of the FSF's message. Even where this campaign has
been attacked, it's nevertheless been understood that the FSF really
does want *all software* to be free software. We [recommend][2] every
fully free operating system that we are aware of, and want to be able
to expand that list to include *every* operating system. So long as
any remain proprietary, we will always work to free them.

[0]: [link removed]
[1]: [link removed]
[2]: [link removed]

Over the last few weeks, we have been carefully watching the press
coverage, and are glad to see the message of software freedom popping
up in so many places at once. We received a lot of support, and have
responded to dozens of comments expressing support, concern, and even
outrage over why the FSF would think that upcycling Windows 7 was a
good idea, and why it was something we would want to demand.

Microsoft can free Windows. They already have all of the legal rights
necessary or the leverage to obtain them. Whether they choose to do
so or not is up to them. In the past weeks, we've given them the
message that thousands of people around the world want Windows to be
freed. Next, we'll give them the *medium*.

This afternoon we will be mailing an upcycled hard drive along with
the signatures to Microsoft's corporate offices. It's as easy as
copying the source code, giving it a license notice, and mailing it
back to us. As the author of the [most popular free software
license][3] in the world, we're ready to give them all of the help we
can. All they have to do is ask.

[3]: [link removed]

We want them to show exactly how much love they have for the "open
source" software they mention in in their advertising. If they really
do love free software -- and we're willing to give them the benefit of
the doubt -- they have the opportunity to show it to the world. We
hope they're not just capitalizing on the free software development
model in the most superficial and exploitative way possible: by using
it as a marketing tool to fool us into thinking that they care about
our freedom.

Together, we've stood up for our principles. They can reject us, or
ignore us, but what they cannot do is stop us. We'll go on
campaigning, until all of us are free.

Happy hacking,

Greg Farough
Campaigns Manager

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