A commercial company has taken our software and is using it in violation of the spirit and letter of the license which binds it...

Nasty. This company, and this CEO, need to be hurt. They're not getting it. Simple vindictiveness might indicate finding out who's on their board and contacting them too - they might like being personally implicated... :)

Even if the FSF atty won't work for free to free your software, be sure she helps you cover;

• Your documentation and proofs;

• Your rights and responsibilities re: PR and other public venue exposures your group, with the FSF's help, may be able to use (the Big Company may not like public exposure for many reasons...) However, using PR and taking it public has it's own risks - be sure an attorney works with you at every step. Not that this is advice (IANAL), but given proper legal help, could be very interesting.

• What's your fallback position if there are no donos?

• Get her advice and guidance on ALL other avenues and approaches you can pursue, including her advice or referrals to atty's that CAN and WILL take a high profile case pro bono.

• As for payments, do all mentioned. Also include a phone number donors can call. Be sure you have ways to issue receipts.

I just did a little Googling and noticed who they are. Their web site hides all contact and corporate info. Interesting.

There's a bit of data floating around, including good sites like this one.