Richard Stallman - Agenda Setters 2008
Name: Richard Stallman
Title: Free software advocate
Position: 30 Last year: 40
Why? Carrying the open source torch
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Closest Rivals
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A frequent Agenda Setter, Richard Stallman makes the list again this year for his continuing advocacy of free and open source software.
Founder of the GNU Project and the Free Software Foundation, Stallman "single-handedly" began this movement, according to one Agenda Setter panellist.
He's also credited with building the foundation for modern giants such as Google, which bases much of its infrastructure and many of its products on open source software.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the GNU operating system, one of Stallman's many projects, and saw him continue to speak around the world for open use of software and against software patents.
His influence has also been felt recently through his contributions to version 3 of the GNU Public License, a popular open source licence.
No one better typifies the rebellious spirit and creative opportunities of open source than the outspoken Stallman, the Agenda Setters panel agreed.
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