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@nicemicro >I think the FSF does a relatively good job in specifying requirements, except maybe for firmware? There is a temporary exception for secondary processors for the RYF certification (https://ryf.fsf.org/about/criteria):

“However, there is one exception for secondary embedded processors. The exception applies to software delivered inside auxiliary and low-level processors and FPGAs, within which software installation is not intended after the user obtains the product. This can include, for instance, microcode inside a processor, firmware built into an I/O device, or the gate pattern of an FPGA. The software in such secondary processors does not count as product software.

We want users to be able to upgrade and control the software at as many levels as possible. If and when free software becomes available for use on a certain secondary processor, we will expect certified products to adopt it within a reasonable period of time. This can be done in the next model of the product, if there is a new model within a reasonable period of time. If this is not done, we will eventually withdraw the certification.

The BIOS of a PC runs on the CPU, not on a separate secondary processor, so this exception does not apply to the BIOS.”

The only reason the exception exists is because otherwise they couldn’t certify any computers at all.

Anyone who has a problem with the exception is welcome to solve the problem by replacing a bunch of such software with free software and therefore getting removing the need for such exception.

In my opinion, using software as a private person on your personal computer is a bit different than using a school or corporation owned computer Yes, but I was only writing about personal usage as you wrote “your computer”.

The school or corporation should use free software for their freedoms sake, but that’s a different problem: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/who-does-that-server-really-serve.html