Generally it isn’t a good idea to offend someone you’re trying to convince. This is sounding almost too obvious, but offending someone we are trying to get to free software is a tactic we often use unconsciously. Instead of getting your point across it will likely lead the other to strengthen or adopt a contrary believe.
Read more »Advocacy doesn’t work if you tell someone they’re wrong
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FSFE Fellowship interview with Leena Simon
Chris Woolfrey talks to 'Freedom Not Fear' organiser Leena Simon about Free Software dogmatism, surveillance, and why the movement needs more geek girls, in the latest fellowship interview from Free Software Foundation Europe.
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FSFE: Fighting software patents at WIPO
When we get to explain our views in the plenary, we are after all speaking to 200-300 diplomats and specialist policy makers from around the world. You don’t get many opportunities to explain to such a crowd why software patents are a bad idea, or why patents in software standards must be licensed royalty-free and without restrictions on their use.
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FSFE Newsletter - October 2010
In this edition we discuss the misleading term "fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms" (FRAND)
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Battling the Hydra: FSFE’s work on Open Standards
The European Interoperability Framework is just one battle among many. Besides the topic of interoperability in the public sector, there’s the task of reforming standardisation systems so that they produce Open Standards, and educating policy makers about the importance of the issue.
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2286 public websites advertise non-free software
During Free Software Foundation Europe's pdfreaders.org campaign, Free Software activists from 41 countries have reported 2286 public sector institutions which advertise non-free PDF readers on their websites. FSFE will now contact these institutions, trying to get as many advertisements for non-free PDF readers as possible removed before the end of the year.
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FSFE puts facts against BSA's fictions
On Friday FSFE sent a letter to the European Commission to support Open Standards and interoperability. In the drawn-out battle to retain at least a weak recommendation for Open Standards in the revised European Interoperability Framework, FSFE has countered a leaked letter by the lobby group Business Software Alliance with its own thorough analysis of the relation between standards and patents.
Read more »FSFE refutes BSA's false claims to European Commission
The Business Software Alliance (BSA) is pressuring the European Commission to remove the last vestiges of support for Open Standards from the latest version of the EU's interoperability recommendations, the European Interoperability Framework. FSFE has obtained a copy of a letter sent to the Commission by the BSA last week.
Read more »FSFE refutes BSA's false claims to European Commission
FSFE has obtained a copy of a letter sent to the Commission by the BSA last week. In the following paragraphs they analyse the BSA's arguments and explain why their claims are false, and why Open Standards are key to interoperability and competition in the European software market.
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FSFE’s statement on the relation between standards and patents at WIPO SCP/15
Software standards must be implementable in any software or business model, including those based on Free Software. When patents are included in software standards, they need to be licensed in a manner that doesn’t restrict their implementation in any way. Besides the absence of any other restriction, that means royalty-free licensing to any party implementing the standard.
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FSFE Newsletter - October 2010
In this edition we discuss the misleading term "fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms" (FRAND), we explain what we are doing about centralised computer systems and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), and update you on our current campaign to end non-free software commercials by public institutions.
Read more »Stop unfair advertising - get your government to promote free PDF readers!
The Free Software Foundation Europe calls on all Europeans to seek out advertisements for proprietary PDF readers on their government's websites, and report them. In addition, FSFE has prepared a petition demanding an end to such advertising practices, and encourages the public to sign it.
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FSFE Newsletter for September 2010
In our newsletter, everyone, Free Software enthusiast or not, can learn more about the recent activities of the FSFE. Please take a look and make any comment you like: it will be very appreciated!
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Nicolas, Intern at the Free Software Foundation Europe
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Only one day left to influence the EURO 2012 qualification games
Do you like football? Well you do not have to, to participate at the EURO 2012. Guido Arnold announced a parallel tournament for the European football championship 2012. The criteria: Free Software usage in the public administration. The rules are relatively simple, you can read them in Guido's blog. Tomorrow evening there will be 22 matches. Enough time for you to influence the them.
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Media's response to the hacker != cracker open letter
A few days ago FSFE Fellowship group Slovenia sent an open letter concerning the misuse of the term "hacker". There is an English translation (with the Slovenian original) available. Today we are happy to report that this action had a bigger impact that we hoped for!
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