[Fsfe-uk] FSFE Newsletter

[Free Software Foundation Europe]

1. Microsoft antitrust: A victory for Free Software and freedom of competition
2. WIPO: FSFE calls for interoperability and Open Standards
3. Freedom Task Force signs MoU with TIS Free Software Center, Southern Tyrol, 
Italy
4. Videos of FSFE president Georg Greve with Chilean Minister of Economy
5. FSFE supports protest against increased surveillance of digital communication
6. FSFE presents FSCONS and The Scandinavian Free Software Award
7. FSFE at OpenExpo, Switzerland
8. Get active


1. Microsoft antitrust: A victory for Free Software and freedom of competition

European Commission demands for Microsoft to cease obstruction of 
interoperability with its products and to cease bundling practices 
have been upheld in the European Court of First Instance.

These events originate in a complaint by Sun Microsystem about a lack 
of interoperability information for Microsoft products in 1998. This 
lead to the Commission's 2004 decision that Microsoft unfairly 
distorted the market and Microsoft's subsequent appeal against this 
ruling at the European Court.  This appeal has now been rejected on 
all counts and it was even noted that the Commission had been too 
lenient with Microsoft on some issues.

More information can be found in FSFE's press release and a Groklaw
article explaining the fallacies of Microsoft's spin following the
decision:

  http://mail.fsfeurope.org/pipermail/press-release/2007q3/000186.html
  http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20070923170905803


2. WIPO: FSFE calls for interoperability and Open Standards

The 2007 Assembly of the Member States was quite confrontational and
could not reach agreement despite going into overtime.  This was 
largely due to the turmoil surrounding WIPO's Director General Kamil 
Idris and allegations of misconduct.  There was also tension over the 
fees WIPO receives and the need to increase effectiveness of 
organisation. It quickly became clear that budgeting could endanger 
the success of agreements like the Development Agenda.

In response, FSFE is calling for interoperable, vendor-independent and
Open Standards based procurement at WIPO, and for the WIPO committees
to study Free Software and Open Standards more closely:

  http://fsfeurope.org/projects/wipo/statement-20070928


3. Freedom Task Force signs MoU with TIS Free Software Center, Southern Tyrol, 
Italy

FSFE's Freedom Task Force has signed a Memorandum of Understanding
with the TIS Free Software Center about increased cooperation in the
field of Free Software licensing and training. Both groups expect to
work closely together on developing common services. 


4. Videos of FSFE president Georg Greve with Chilean Minister of Economy

The Chilean Ministry of Economy has put the recording of a meeting
between Chilean Minister of Economy Alejandro Ferreiro and FSFE
president Georg Greve on-line on YouTube. The talks are about economics
of Free Software and legislation to create a transition path towards
freedom.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz6LO16JNPU
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae2MCdUTKME


5. FSFE supports protest against increased surveillance of digital communication

The German Chapter of the FSFE supported a protest under the slogan
"Liberty instead of Fear - Stop the Surveillance Mania!" on 22nd
September in Berlin.  In total more than 15,000 people participated 
in the demonstration.

The protest took a stand against the retention of telecommunication 
data, an issue that is extremely topical on Autumn's political agenda 
in Germany.  Other issues of concern included the suggested covert 
on-line-searching of computers.

By supporting the protest, FSFE emphasises the value of liberty in
digital communication. The large turnout shows that people consider 
the continuing tightening of surveillance laws to be unacceptable. 
This was the largest protest for civil liberties and privacy 
protection in Germany since the census in 1987.


6. FSFE presents FSCONS and The Scandinavian Free Software Award

The Free Software Conference Scandinavia (FSCONS) is going to take 
place in Gothenburg, Sweden on the 7th and 8th of December 2007. It 
is the first event of its kind in the region and is inspired by the 
growing momentum around Free Software. Top notch programmers, hackers,
lawyers, and government representatives will speak to stakeholders from
all areas of Free Software. Spreading the buzz for Free Software in the
region is the goal. 

As part of FSCONS, FSFE is also presenting the first Scandinavian Free
Software Award. Presented to a person, project or organisation from 
Scandinavia that has showed an outstanding contribution to the cause 
and spirit to Free our minds, it is to become an annual event.

  http://www.fscons.org  
  http://www.fscons.org/award_idea


7. FSFE at OpenExpo, Switzerland

At this year's OpenExpo in Zurich, FSFE president Georg Greve opened
the event with a keynote speech entitled "Free Software is compatible
with your business." The audio recording and slides (all in German)
are available at:

  http://www.openexpo.ch/openexpo-2007-zuerich#c188


8. Get active

Do you want to contribute to digital freedom?  Get active by 
joining our Fellowship, contributing as a translator, webmaster or 
booth volunteer, or even come to one of our offices as an intern.  
Find out more by visiting the link below:

  http://fsfeurope.org/contribute



You can find a list of all FSFE newsletters on
http://www.fsfeurope.org/news/newsletter.en.html

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