About the Association For Free Software
Who were they?
They were a membership organisation which promotes Free Software to users, business and government. Their aims work towards continuing Free Software for the UK and increasing public understanding of Free Software.
The term refers to four kinds of freedom for the users of a program:
The freedom to run the program, for any purpose;
- The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (Access to the source code is a precondition for this);
- The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbour;
- The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (Access to the source code is a precondition for this).
AFFS recognises a program as free software if its users have all of these freedoms.
Ethics and Constituion
The constitution of the Association for Free Software sets out five aims:
1.to promote and advance the knowledge, development, use and application of Free Software pioneered by the Free Software Foundation and others.
2.to facilitate the exchange of information and views on the use and development of Free Software.
3.to inform upon the subject of Free Software.
4.to encourage internationalisation and localisation of Free Software.
5.to ensure the continued legal existence of Free Software within the United Kingdom.
Operation
The Association for Free Software was an Unincorporated Association,. It is controlled by its members, through meetings and resolutions and acts within the terms of its constitution.
Members were invited to help with particular tasks and can ask AFFS for help. Between meetings, newsletters and email discussion lists were the main forms of contact.
Day-to-day running was coordinated by a committee elected annually by the members.
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