 No. 44 Richard Stallman, free software advocate
Last year's position: Not placed
Technology stalwart and campaigner Richard Stallman is the founder of the GNU Project and a leader in the free software movement, designed to promote literally and politically free software - open source like Linux but without the tech vendors acting as middlemen - for people to download and pass on without charge.
As well as being active in the fight for a more democratic approach to technology, Stallman promotes civil liberties on and offline and is a significant force in the heating-up battle against software patents.
One panellist said: "I've watched him on the underground political level with the activists in the UK, and he comes over here and he packs the lecture halls."
Stallman has appeared to speak out against proprietary software in India, Australia and Europe this year.
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