The Free Software Foundation (FSF) announces the creation of a new annual award, and a call for nominations:
"Free Software Award for Projects of Social Benefit"
This award is presented to the project or team responsible for applying free software, or the ideas of the free software movement, in a project that intentionally and significantly benefits society in other aspects of life.
We look to recognize projects or teams that encourage collaboration to accomplish social tasks. A long-term commitment to one's project (or the potential for a long-term commitment) is crucial to this end.
This award stresses the use of free software in the service of humanity. We have deliberately chosen this broad criterion so that many different areas of activity can be considered. However, one area that is not included is that of free software itself. Projects with a primary goal of promoting or advancing free software are not eligible for this award (we honor those projects with our annual Award for the Advancement of Free Software http://www.fsf.org/news/fs-award-2005.html).
We will consider any project or team that uses free software or its philosophy to address a goal important to society. To qualify, a project must use free software, produce free documentation, or use the idea of free software as defined in the Free Software Definition http://www.fsf.org/licensing/essays/free-sw.html. Work done commercially is eligible, but we will give this award to the project or team who best utilizes resources for society's greater benefit.
Please send your nominations to award-nominations@gnu.org, on or before Monday 30 November 2005. Please submit nominations in the following format:
* Put the name of the project or team you are nominating in the email message subject line.
* Please include, in the body of your message, an explanation (40 lines or less) of the project, how it uses free software or free software ideas, and why you think it is especially important to society.
* Please state, in the body of your message, where to find the materials (e.g., software, manuals, or writing) which your nomination is based on.
We will announce the members of the 2005 award committee shortly.