Contacting the GNU project

We strive to put the answers to all possible questions you might have on our web site. However, sometimes, you might have a question or issue that isn't covered. This page describes how to contact us in these circumstances.

Please keep in mind, though, that time spent answering individual queries reduces the time available to work on writing, documenting, protecting and promoting free software. So, please look to see if your question is addressed on our web site first. If you can't find the answer, use the table below to figure out what to do.

We prefer that you contact the GNU project via email, if at all possible. This allows for best routing of your query. The list below gives our various addresses and when to use them.

For technical support

Or if you need technical information about GNU software or other free software, or are trying to find a particular free software or GNU program…

Please note that we do not provide technical support ourselves; however, help is at hand:

• We have a general page on getting help with GNU software.
• The home page for each GNU package is http://www.gnu.org/software/pkgname; for example, http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs for GNU Emacs.
• Try our mailing lists—there is usually one or more lists for each GNU package; that is, a GNU Emacs mailing list, a GNU Chess mailing list, etc.
• The Free Software Directory can help you find both GNU and other free software packages.
• Our IRC chat rooms.
• Finally, our service directory will help you find companies and people in your area who have provide support services, usually for a fee.

For inquiries about the content of the GNU web site

Including ideas for our web site, or corrections of typographical errors.

• For general pages, contact the GNU Webmasters <webmasters@gnu.org>.
• For pages of specific GNU packages, contact the particular package maintainer(s).

For memberships, donations, t-shirts, books, GNU toys, …

FSF is a 501(c)(3) charity in the USA, and therefore your membership dues are tax-deductible in the USA.

• Make a donation to the Free Software Foundation.
• Join the FSF as an associate member with a monthly or yearly contribution.
• Buy books, t-shirts, manuals and more at the GNU press store.

For ideas for the GNU task list

See our page on how to help GNU.

For questions about maintaining GNU software

Including how to submit your software for consideration to become a GNU program. See the GNU Coding Standards, Information for GNU Maintainers, and the GNU software evaluation questionnaire. If still questions, email <maintainers@gnu.org>.

For questions about Savannah hosting

To ask questions about savannah, our hosting server available for both GNU and non-GNU free software projects, please see the savannah contact page.

For licensing violations

If you want to report a free software license violation that you have found, please read our license violation page, and then contact <license-violation@gnu.org>.

For questions about free software licensing and copyright

Please check our licensing FAQ, the license list, general copyleft information, and related pages. If questions remains, email <licensing@gnu.org>.

The FSF's licensing compliance lab also offers paid-consulting on free software licensing issues.

For accounts on GNU/FSF machines

If you are actively maintaining or working on a GNU project, and need an account on a GNU or FSF machine, see machine access information.

For copyright assignments of FSF-copyrighted GNU programs

Contact <assign@gnu.org>.

For updating personal GNU email aliases

If you have an email forward from the gnu.org domain, and need it updated, contact <sysadmin@gnu.org>.

For reporting a security issue on gnu.org or one of its subdomains

• If you have GnuPG setup, send encrypted email the FSF Executive Director, Deputy Director, Web Developer, and Senior Sysadmins listed on our Staff and Board page.
• If you don't have GnuPG setup, write to <sysadmin@gnu.org>.