WE, DEVELOPERS, USERS, AND BENEFICIARIES OF LINUX, proclaim that Linux is intended to be royalty free and that it is essential to the further development, distribution, and use of Linux that it remain unencumbered by royalties.

LINUX is a collective work of numerous contributions whose respective copyright holders allow free use of the work under the understanding that no copyright holder will receive royalties.

WE WARN that corporations that collect or pay royalties for Linux violate the rights of thousands of copyright holders. Furthermore, we warn that the payment of royalties for Linux may lead to the improper reassignment of copyrights out of the hands of original authors.

WE CALL UPON responsible corporations, citizens, and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen Linux as a royalty free work for the betterment of society.

Copyright © Stephen Saunders, 2003. Verbatim copying of this proclamation is permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.