N'afọ 1985, Stallman bipụtara GNU Manifesto, nke kọwara mkpali ya maka imepụta sistemụ arụmọrụ n'efu a na-akpọ GNU, nke ga-adaba na Unix. Aha GNU bụ mkpirisi okwu maka "GNU's Not Unix". N'oge na-adịghị anya, ọ malitere otu ụlọ ọrụ na-enweghị uru a na-akpọ Free Software Foundation iji were ndị mmemme ngwanrọ n'efu wee nye akụrụngwa iwu maka mmegharị ngwanrọ n'efu. Stallman bụ onye isi na-akwụghị ụgwọ nke FSF, nke bụ 501 ((c) ((3) nzukọ na-enweghị uru hiwere na Massachusetts. Stallman mere ka echiche nke copyleft, usoro iwu kwadoro iji chebe mgbanwe na nkesa ikike maka ngwanrọ n'efu. E bu ụzọ tinye ya n'ọrụ na GNU General Public License 1989, na mmemme mbụ nke GNU General Public License (GPL) wepụtara.
Afọ 1989