In the flurry of holiday advertising that happens at the end of the year, many people are swept into buying DRM-laden gifts that take more than they give. Each holiday season the Free Software Foundation -- which runs Defective By Design -- releases a Giving Guide to make it easy for you to choose tech gifts that are DRM-free and respect recipients' rights as computer users. We'll be launching 2014's guide on Black Friday (November 28, 2014), full of gifts that are unencumbered by Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) and other restrictions, and made by companies that share your values. It will be similar to 2013's Giving Guide, but more extensive and spruced up with a new design. It'll even have discounts on some of our favorite items, and translations into multiple languages.

This guide is an easy-to-use resource that can make a difference in what people buy. We just need to get it in front of them. Can you help us spread the word by organizing a Giving Guide Giveaway in the month of December? Giveaways are public meet-ups where free software users gather to hand out our attractive Giving Guide flyer to holiday shoppers trying to decide which electronics to pick up. By having face-to-face interactions with people in your area, you'll be getting your message across way more effectively than we can by talking about it online.

We've created this primer to get you started organizing a Giveaway. Get a few friends together for a small Giveaway, or make a splash with a big one -- it's about spreading the message in whatever way is best for you. Remember that getting people to show up is easiest with advance notice, so don't wait to pick a date and start inviting, even if you don't have all the details worked out yet.

Check out the primer on FSF.org, and organize your Giveaway!

If you're in the Boston-area, you are welcome to come to the Giveaway the FSF is organizing. Details coming soon.