Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 14:56:44 -0600 From: Brett Glass <brett@lariat.org> To: Dan Langille <dan@langille.org>, <freebsd-chat@FreeBSD.ORG> Subject: Re: Stallman now claims authorship of Linux Message-ID: <4.3.2.7.2.20010425143835.04a83680@localhost> In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSF.4.32.0104251619090.28197-100000@xeon.int.nz.freeb sd.org> References: <4.3.2.7.2.20010424195227.0454c700@localhost>
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At 10:19 PM 4/24/2001, Dan Langille wrote: > > The FSF should, again, be stripped of its nonprofit status. And should > > be investigated to see if it obtained it fraudulently in the first > > place, as I personally believe it did. > >What's needed to get that process started? Complaint letters to the IRS. Such a letter might go something like this: Attn: Director, Exempt Organization Division Internal Revenue Service 1111 Constitution Ave NW, Room #6411 Washington DC 20224 Sir: I am a computer software developer who makes a living writing computer programs. It has recently come to my attention that an organization called the Free Software Foundation, located at 59 Temple Place Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, claims to be a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code but may not qualify as such. The stated purpose of the Free Software Foundation, as stated on its Web site at http://www.fsf.org/ on the World Wide Web, is to raise funds for work on the "GNU Project" -- a project which develops software which is given away for free to the public with the express purpose of undermining private businesses and reducing the wages of, and the demand for the services of, computer programmers such as myself. The Web site further states that a key goal of the FSF and the GNU Project is to destroy the businesses of commercial software companies (whose activities the FSF's founder, Mr. Richard Stallman, believes to be morally wrong) by distributing equivalent products for free. While there is nothing wrong with giving away one's work for free, to do so with the intent to hurt legitimate businesses is not an activity deserving of tax-exempt status. The FSF claims to be a tax exempt charitable organization. Yet, it appears that it does not meet the qualifications for a tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is not educational. It teaches no classes, has no formal curriculum, has no accreditation, and awards no degrees. It is not scientific. It conducts no research, publishes no scientific or scholarly papers, and makes no new scientific discoveries. The software which the FSF does create is based on well-known, existing principles of computer engineering, and is virtually always a copy of an existing computer software product. It is not charitable, in that it does not provide benefits only to those in need. The provision of computer software to the public is not a legitimate charitable activity, as is the provision of food, clothing, etc. to the poor. The organization also makes money by selling publications and clothing. According to the organization's own Web page at http://www.fsf.org/help/help.html, "Most of the FSF's funds" come from these unrelated business activities. If this statement is accurate, the organization may not qualify for tax exempt status for this reason as well. Finally, the FSF uses its Web site, as well as speaking engagements by its founder, Richard Stallman, to lobby in favor of legislation and changes in legislation that affect copyrights and patents. As I am sure you are aware, 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations are not permitted to engage in such lobbying efforts. Please review this organization's activities, which are documented on its Web sites at http://www.fsf.org and http://www.gnu.org. I think you will agree that this organization should not be allowed to claim 501(c)(3) status, and that the group may have defrauded the IRS by claiming that it has ever qualified for such status. Sincerely, J. Random Hacker 1001 Cyberspace Lane Silly Valley, CA To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message
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