[smetsjp]

There is a presentation at FOSDEM 2021 about FDL: https://fosdem.org/2021/schedule/event/fosstaxbreak/

Title: Give open source a (tax) break

Cash that gets into FDL/LEF is then spent to sponsor existing FLOSS projects or to acquire intellectual property rights of existing works and change their license to FLOSS.

Case 1: https://bossanova.uk/jspreadsheet/v4/ got financed partly by FDL/LEF

Case 2: the radio hardware of the Open Radio Station (a 4G/5G vRAN base station based on Amarisoft stack and SlapOS) is in the process of being acquired and released as open source hardware. See https://shop.rapid.space/product_module/241/Resource_viewAsS...

The requirement for PhD is here to ensure that all projects that are financed by FDL/LEF have some kind of general interest or innovation, something which is useful to comply with Tax Law

[solarkraft]

> ensure that all projects that are financed by FDL/LEF have some kind of general interest or innovation

How does it ensure that?

[fermigier]

The selection process is described in details here: https://www.fdl-lef.org/process/

(Disclaimer: I'm one of the members of the selection committee. Ask me if you need more clarification).

[indymike]

So only a PhD can innovate?

[fermigier]

As stated in my previous comment, the PhD requirement is for sitting on the selection committee only.

[indymike]

Is only a PhD is capable of recognizing libre software deserving of support?

[fermigier]

Nowhere is it implied that this could be true.

[radicalbyte]

Well, they have no hope of getting tenure (that budget is needed for administration), so it's good that PhD have another option where they can avoid doing any real work* ;)

* Giving people whose talent is thinking the chance to do that is a good idea. Better than losing that talent to management.