LibrePlanet is an annual conference for free software enthusiasts. The conference brings together software developers, policy experts, activists and computer users to learn skills, share accomplishments and face challenges to software freedom. Newcomers are always welcome, and LibrePlanet 2017 will feature programming for all ages and experience levels.

This year, the theme of LibrePlanet is "The Roots of Freedom." This encompasses the historical "roots" of the free software movement -- the Four Freedoms, the GNU General Public License and copyleft, and a focus on strong security and privacy protections -- and the concept of roots as a strong foundation from which the movement grows.

"LibrePlanet is an impactful, exciting free software conference. Attendance has grown each year, yet the community-minded atmosphere has grown even stronger," said John Sullivan, executive director of the FSF.

Call for Sessions

"We are looking forward to session proposals from people around the world, at all levels of speaking and technical experience. LibrePlanet features developers, users, students, activists, policymakers, and others. The free software movement depends on them all, and LibrePlanet 2017 will highlight their contributions," said Georgia Young, program manager at the FSF.

Call for sessions applications are currently being accepted and are due by Wednesday, November 14th, 2016 at 18:59 EST (23:59 UTC).**

About LibrePlanet

LibrePlanet is the annual conference of the Free Software Foundation. What was once a small gathering of FSF members has grown into a larger event for anyone with an interest in the values of software freedom. LibrePlanet is always gratis for associate members of the FSF. To sign up for announcements about LibrePlanet 2017, visit https://www.libreplanet.org/2017.

LibrePlanet 2016 was held at MIT from March 19-20, 2016. Over 370 attendees from all over the world came together for conversations, demonstrations, and keynotes centered around the theme of "Fork the System." You can watch videos from last year's conference at https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/tag/libreplanet-2016/, including the opening keynote, a conversation with NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.

About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting computer users' right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as in freedom) software -- particularly the GNU operating system and its GNU/Linux variants -- and free documentation for free software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites, located at fsf.org and gnu.org, are an important source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF's work can be made at https://donate.fsf.org. Its headquarters are in Boston, MA, USA.

More information about the FSF, as well as important information for journalists and publishers, is at https://www.fsf.org/press.

Media Contacts

Georgia Young
Program Manager
Free Software Foundation
+1 (617) 542-5942
campaigns@fsf.org