= End non-free advertisement: stamp out the ads! =
[permanent URL : http://www.fsfe.org/news/2010/news-2010-11-02-01.html]
One month, one campaign, one goal: getting rid of non-free software advertisements on public websites. In four weeks, FSFE received reports concerning 2162 European institutions[1] who advertise non-free PDF readers. Apart from the 305 activists who participated to the search, 1500 individuals, 46 businesses and 38 organisations signed our Petition For The Removal Of Proprietary Software Advertising On Public Websites[2]. Now that the hunt is over, it's time to chase up those websites which encourage visitors to jeopardise their freedom. It's time to stamp out the ads!
Highly motivated volunteers searched the internet for public websites that advertise non-free software and reported 2162 institutions[3]. Some of them, like Massimo Barbieri and Lucas Bickel individually reported more than 350! Alessandro Albini, Rainer Schmitz, and Pavel Kharitonov also made a remarkable contribution in reporting around 50 institutions each.
But the FSFE won't stop with a list of institutions. In the coming weeks, FSFE will send letters to the institutions[4] to draw their attention to their unfair advertising. In the name of the signatories of the petition[5], FSFE will ask the institutions to either remove any recommendation for non-free software from their website, or give a choice of several programs.
Wherever you are, whatever time you have, you can contribute to the removal of non-free software adverts on public websites. The amazing work of the ads hunters and our translators[6] has laid a firm foundation for the next phase. Now it is up to you to enable us to get things done. You can make a difference! Help us to translate the letter[7] into missing languages or donate to the PDF readers campaign fund[8] to help cover the 1600 EUR for postage and the extra costs of administration to deliver the messages throughout Europe. Help us stamp out the ads!
== About the Free Software Foundation Europe ==
The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is a non-profit non-governmental organisation active in many European countries and involved in many global activities. Access to software determines participation in a digital society. To secure equal participation in the information age, as well as freedom of competition, the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) pursues and is dedicated to the furthering of Free Software, defined by the freedoms to use, study, modify and copy. Founded in 2001, 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.
1. http://fsfe.org/campaigns/pdfreaders/buglist.en.html 2. http://fsfe.org/campaigns/pdfreaders/petition.en.html 3. http://fsfe.org/campaigns/pdfreaders/buglist.en.html 4. http://fsfe.org/campaigns/pdfreaders/letter.en.html 5. http://fsfe.org/campaigns/pdfreaders/petition.en.html 6. http://fsfe.org/contribute/translators/translators.en.html 7. http://fsfe.org/campaigns/pdfreaders/letter.en.html 8. http://fsfe.org/donate/donate.en.html