In the Information Technology world, the Free Software Foundation is the organization that struggles against the drive to convert knowledge itself into a capitalist commodity known as Intellectual Property. The emergence of Linux, the fastest growing computer operating system (OS), has done much to validate the FSF work. Today, the FSF and the Linux movement have given rise to an increasing number of politically active programmers, including the Progressive Programmers League, based in the United States.

How It All Began...

video Our Web, Not Theirs

In Who’s Interest is the Internet Being Shaped?


Media power takes on new dimensions as we move into an “always on” digital mediascape, where questions loom concerning not just the media that citizens will consume, but also the digital environment they will consume it in. At this pivotal time the Internet is becoming evermore subjugated to commercial interests of a cartel of domineering big media corporations.

Large companies use their monopoly control to impose de facto standards. In itself standardisation is a very positive thing. When buying a new computer, it makes sense to have all the necessary software available without any further costs. It also helps that computers use the same formats so that documents, audio files etc. can be exchanged without problems. The negative aspect of this kind of standard is that the selfsame companies use these proprietary standards to further reinforce their monopoly.