[larrys]

Free to me doesn't matter. By one definition a vendor is a company that supplies goods. Some definitions go further to say that they "sell" the goods. However there is nothing to indicate in any definition of vendor that money has to change hands. A company could be a vendor for a particular product and give it away for free. Additionally whether an organization is non profit or for profit really doesn't change the situation.

http://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/vendor.asp

http://www.yourdictionary.com/supplier

[sarciszewski]

Counter-point: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.en.html#Vendor

[Chlorus]

Here are some other entries on that page so you can tell how seriously you should take that list: "LAMP system” "Content" "Compensation" "Creator"

[johncolanduoni]

Wow, what a page! My personal favorite is "Creative commons licensed", which you apparently shouldn't use because it's universally more important to distinguish the license based on the FSF's definition of free.

Also replacing various biased, propaganda terms (fair point) with "corrected" biased, propaganda terms (less fair) is an interesting choice.

edit: typo

[larrys]

Counter-point to your counter-point!

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Vendor_Pre...