FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts: Free Software Foundation (USA) Tim Ney Phone: +1-617-542-5942 Leslie Proctor Proctor Resources Phone: +1-818-395-4482 Free Software Foundation Europe Germany: Georg C. F. Greve Phone: +49-40-23809080 Fax: +49-40-23809081 France: Frederic Couchet Phone: +(33/0) 6 60 68 89 31 Brian Paul is Awarded the Free Software Foundation Award For the Advancement of Free Software VA Linux employee is honored for his work on the Mesa 3D Graphics Library Free Software Foundation Europe Hosts and Organizes Ceremony Paris, France - February 2, 2001 - The Free Software Foundation (FSF) bestowed its third annual Free Software Foundation Award for the Advancement of Free Software in Paris, France. Richard Stallman presented the award, a one-of-a-kind handmade quilt, to Brian Paul for his ground-breaking work on the Mesa 3D Graphics Library. The ceremony was sponsored by Aurora, Idealx, and VA Linux Systems (LNUX). The Association for Promotion and Research in Libre Computing (APRIL) organized the ceremony. Proceeds from the event went to benefit the Free Software Foundation Europe. A panel of free software pioneers and leaders selected the winner and two other finalists from the scores of mostly volunteer programmers worldwide who dedicate their time to advancing free software. The selection panel included: Jeff Bates, Chairperson; Steve Blood; Jeff Carr; Miguel de Icaza and Bruce Perens. "The Mesa 3D Graphics Library allows free software users to model and render in full 3D." Jeff Bates, chairman of the Free Software Foundation Awards Committee said. "The library has added tools and capabilities to the GNU/Linux system that are being utilized by people all over the world." Brian Paul was chosen from three finalists for the award. The other finalists were Donald Becker, for his network device drivers for the GNU/Linux system and Patrick Lenz for his work on freshmeat.net. "We began the Free Software Foundation Award as a way to honor those who have tirelessly given their time and their immense talent to further the Free Software Movement," Richard Stallman, founder and president of the Free Software Foundation said. "While only one of the three finalists will receive the award, they all deserve to be recognized for their invaluable contributions." This was the third award of this kind; the prior winners were Miguel de Icaza and Larry Wall. The ceremony was organized by the Association for Promotion and Research in Libre Computing (APRIL). APRIL is the French associate organization of the Free Software Foundation Europe. "This event was a great opportunity for supports of the FSF and the FSF Europe to work together very closey" said Olivier Berger, the Secretary General of APRIL. At the ceremony, additional awards were also distributed. Georg C. F. Greve, president designate of the FSF Europe, presented Daniel Riek with a certificate of appreciation for his seminal funding of the Free Software Foundation Europe. Frederic Couchet, president of APRIL, presented Loic Dachary with an award commemorating his unwavering support and contributions to free software over the past 14 years. A video and still photos of the event are available at: http://www.gnu.org/award/2000/2000.html About the Free Software Foundation: The Free Software Foundation (FSF), a 501c non-profit, is dedicated to eliminating restrictions on people's right to use, copy, modify and redistribute computer programs. This is done by promoting the development of new free software, working towards the goal of eliminating the need to use proprietary systems and programs. They also work to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues that concern software users' freedom. Their Web site, located at http://www.gnu.org is an important source of information about GNU/Linux worldwide, receiving more than 1 million visits per week. They are headquartered in Boston, MA. About the Free Software Foundation Europe: Among the tasks of the Free Software Foundation Europe will be the coordination of Free Software initiatives throughout Europe, providing infrastructure for Free Software projects and especially the GNU Project and providing a competence-center for politicians and the press. At the moment a group consisting of the original four Bernhard Reiter, Peter Gerwinski and Werner Koch as well as Georg C. F. Greve, all well-known authorities on the Free Software field, has been joined by Frederic Couchet (well known for his work with April in France), Jonas =D6berg (a Free Software evangelist from Sweden) and Alessandro Rubini (very active in the Italian Free Software community) in the core planning team. Together with a lot of dedicated volunteers who have joined this group on the mailing lists we will see to it that the spirit of Free Software will be strengthened and upheld in Europe. Further information about the FSF Europe can be found at http://www.fsfeurope.org/.