FSFE files application for leave to intervene in antitrust suit against
Microsoft
The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) today filed an application
for leave to intervene in the antitrust suit against Microsoft. Georg
Greve, President of FSFE said: "The more Microsoft is able to purchase
its opponents' solidarity, the more important FSFE's commitment to
freedom and interoperability is."
According to Greve, FSFE meets Microsoft and other adversaries of
freedom in various venues these days: "Yesterday there was a hearing
in Brussels regarding the 'Intellectual Property Rights European
Enforcement Directive' (IPRED2) - a directive pushed by the
rights-holding industry to raise the barriers around their
distribution monopolies. Last week we discovered how Microsoft was
able to rewrite the Vienna Conclusions on ICT and Creativity for the
World Summit on Information Society (WSIS). Earlier this summer we
helped save Europe from the serious troubles caused by software
patents."
He continues: "All these initiatives aim at limiting the freedom of
software developers and normal people in their everyday life
alike. But many people don't realise how their freedom is being
threatened. If they want to keep it, they need to stand up and defend
it. One way of doing that is by joining The Fellowship of FSFE today,
and by encouraging others to join."
About the Free Software Foundation Europe:
The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE), founded 2001, is a
charitable non-governmental organisation dedicated to all aspects of
Free Software in Europe. Access to software determines who may
participate in a digital society. The the Freedoms to use, copy,
modify and redistribute software - as described in the Free Software
definition - allow equal participation in the information
age. Creating awareness for these issues, securing Free Software
politically and legally, and giving people Freedom by supporting
development of Free Software are central issues of the FSFE. Further
information about FSFE's work can be found at http://fsfeurope.org,
get active yourself at http://fsfeurope.org/contribute/.
--
Joachim Jakobs <jj(a)office.fsfeurope.org>
Media Relations - FSF Europe (http://fsfeurope.org)
fixed line: +49 700 - 373387673, Ext.: 4004
mobile: +49-179-6919565
Join the Fellowship and protect your freedom! (http://www.fsfe.org)
1. Fellowship portal migrated to eZ publish
2. Joint Statement of FSFE and FSF Latin America to WIPO GA
3. WSIS workshop on internet governance and human rights
4. Workshop about Free Software in Austrian schools
5. Internet Hungary 2005
6. Valtellinux in Caiolo (Italy)
7. Internetdagarna in Stockholm (Sweden)
8. FSFE's political message in Ireland
9. Georg Greve in Brazil
10. Real Networks leaves antitrust EU case
11. Microsoft's new "shared source" licenses
1. Fellowship portal migrated to eZ publish
After the Fellowship portal has been online with basic functionality for
several months, it was becoming clear that the FSFE does not have enough
manpower available to stabilize and extend it further as planned.
However, eZ systems generously offered the migration of the portal to
eZ publish and its maintenance as a contribution to the Free Software
community. Now, after the migration is complete, the portal is already
faster and more functional, even though it is still under development.
https://www.fsfe.org/
2. Joint Statement of FSFE and FSF Latin America to WIPO GA
The Free Software Foundation Europe and its sister organisation, the
Free Software Foundation Latin America, issued a statement towards the
2005 WIPO general assemblies in which they strongly criticise current
plans about the Broadcasting Treaty. The Broadcasting Treaty would
create another layer of monopolisation on material that is transmitted
in various forms, including the Internet: broadcasting companies would
get a prohibitive privilege lasting for 50 years on all broadcasted
images and sounds without any gain by society.
In the same statement, the Free Software Foundations in Europe and
Latin America emphasise that to promote creativity, WIPO should seek
to support new and alternative means of fostering creativity in the
interest of humankind, not add more layers of monopolisation.
http://www.fsfeurope.org/projects/wipo/statement-20050930.en.html
3. WSIS workshop on internet governance and human rights
Jonas Öberg participated in the WSIS workshop on internet governance and
human rights at Uppsala University in Sweden. The workshop was focused
on the human rights issues in relation to the WGIG (UN Working Group
for Internet Governance). Besides taking part in the discussions, Jonas
also managed to establish some interesting contacts.
4. Workshop about Free Software in Austrian schools
The Danube University Krems in Austria organised a workshop about Free
Software in Austrian schools. Karin Kosina opened the workshop with a
general introduction to Free Software and its relevance for the
educational sector.
The general consensus after the meeting was that while there are many
strong local groups, there should be more focus on working together and
coordinating the activities in the future. The initiators are planning
to organise a follow-up event.
5. Internet Hungary 2005
Stefano Maffulli held a speech at Internet Hungary 2005, Hungary's
biggest professional conference for internet users. The focus of the
conference was on possible business activities for communication and
media industry. Stefano's speech was about software freedom and
business freedom.
6. Valtellinux in Caiolo (Italy)
FSFE participated to the annual meeting of Free Software users in the
beautiful valley Valtellina, in the Italian Alps. Stefano Maffulli
presented the Fellowship, and Alessandro Rubini gave a speech about
embedded GNU/Linux.
7. Internetdagarna in Stockholm (Sweden)
The Swedish Internet infrastructure foundation organised the conference
"Internetdagarna 2005" in Stockholm, Sweden. Several issues were
discussed during the conference, including a discussion on Sweden's IT
policy and the dangers of a digital divide. Jonas Öberg participated
throughout the conference.
8. FSFE's political message in Ireland
FSFE's Brussels Representative, Ciaran O'Riordan, gave the opening talk
at this year's annual general meeting of the Irish Linux User Group.
O'Riordan spoke of the recent software patents legislation, the new
IPRED2 legislation, the unseen work of FSFE, and how to support FSFE and
national Free Software organisations.
9. Georg Greve in Brazil
During a trip that brought him to Sao Paulo, Campinas and Manaus,
Georg Greve participated in the III Encontro de Software Livre do
Amazonas (ESLAM) in the north of Brazil: Giving two speeches on Free
Software and the dangers to freedom in software he greatly enjoyed the
opportunity to participate in this exceptional conference and meet
many old and new friends in the local Free Software community.
10. Real Networks leaves antitrust EU case
As part of their USD 761 Million deal with Microsoft, Real Networks
has now left the antitrust case against Microsoft. After the record
fine of EUR 500 Million, Microsoft has now spent roughly six times
that amount to solicit support away from the European Commission: This
brings the number of parties in support of the EC down to two,
including the Free Software Foundation Europe. This case increasingly
turns into an impressive demonstration why it is so important that
FSFE is independent and its positions are incorruptible.
http://mail.fsfeurope.org/pipermail/press-release/2005q4/000118.html
11. Microsoft's new "shared source" licenses
For some time now Microsoft has tried to play on the common confusion
around "Open Source" with its "Shared Source" program. Now they released
five simplified licenses, two of which are being thoroughly screened by
the FSF Licensing Committee: they might turn out to be Free Software
compliant, one of them mildly Copyleft, even. Given previous Microsoft
statements about the Copyleft approach and in particular the GNU GPL as
"viral", "cancerous" and "communist", seeing Microsoft now publish
licenses applying the very same principles came as quite a surprise.
Of course there are two large caveats before starting to celebrate
Microsoft as a Free Software company: Publishing a license does not
mean much before significant software is released under that license,
and it would have been preferable to use directly the most successful
Copyleft licenses, the GNU General Public License (GPL) and Lesser
General Public License (LGPL) for its "Shared Source" program.
http://mail.fsfeurope.org/pipermail/press-release/2005q4/000120.html
You can find a list of all FSF Europe newsletters on
http://www.fsfeurope.org/news/newsletter.en.html