Our Work
As a non-profit, non-governmental organisation, Free Software Foundation Europe works to create general understanding and support for Free Software and Open Standards in politics, business, law and society at large. Please read on to learn more about our work and our ongoing campaigns.
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Freedom Task Force
The Freedom Task Force collects and shares knowledge about legal and licensing aspects of Free Software, safeguards the interests of Free Software projects, connects experts throughout the world and helps other groups achieve similar goals. We provide assistance, training and documentation, in partnership with gpl-violations.org and members of the European Legal Network.
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The European Legal Network
We maintain the world's largest private, non-partisan, vendor-neutral network of legal experts in the field of Free Software licensing.
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Open Standards
Open Standards allow people to share all kinds of data freely and with perfect fidelity. They prevent lock-in and other artificial barriers to interoperability, and promote choice between vendors and technology solutions. FSFE's work on Open Standards has the goal of making sure that people find it easy to migrate to Free Software or between Free Software solutions.
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United Nations
FSFE has been active at the United Nations level since 2002. We have contributed to having Free Software recognised as a world heritage at UNESCO. We are currently active in the following areas:
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European Union
FSFE works with the European Commission and European Parliament to create a positive environment for Free Software and Open Standards in Europe. We fight against monopolies and for competition in the software market by participating as an interested third party in antitrust cases. We inform policy makers about the opportunities that Free Software offers, and push for interoperability.
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Public Awareness
Informing the public about Free Software is part of FSFE's core mission. Many people in the organisation are experts on various Free Software topics, and can be contacted about giving authoritative talks, holding workshops, or participating in discussions.
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Education
FSFE actively promote the use of Free Software in schools and universities. Free Software is pedagogically superior, its basic spirit involving freedom and cooperation is the same spirit of education in a democratic environment.
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Software patents in Europe
Software patents are a menace to society and economy. They restrict innovation, damage businesses and put collaborative creativity in great danger. FSFE fights to keep Europe free of software patents, and works at the UN level to abolish software patents around the world.
Our documents contain more information about FSFE's contribution to these different projects.
Campaigns
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Document Freedom Day 2010
On March 31st, we will raise awareness for Open Document Formats and Open Standards by organizing activities all over the world together with partner organizations and volunteers. Help us on www.documentfreedom.org.
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PDFreaders.org
Launched by the Fellowship of FSFE, pdfreaders.org is a site providing information about Free Software PDF readers for all major operating systems.
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DRM.info
DRM.info is a collaborative platform initiated and maintained by FSFE to inform on the dangers of Digital Restrictions Management and make visible the concerns from various different groups. DRM.info contributors include digital liberty groups, consumer protection, net-activism and library organisations.
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Towards a World Intellectual Wealth Organization
We endorse and support the Geneva Declaration, and invite its drafters, signatories, and the United Nations to start thinking now not only about what the role of WIPO should be, but rather what kind of organisation it should become in the future in order to manage our intellectual wealth.
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“Ask your candidates” - German Federal Election 2009
During the German federal elections in 2009, FSFE called on all German Free Software supporters to ask the parties' candidates about their positions on Free Software and Open Standards.
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I ♥ Free Software
Valentines Day is a celebration of love and affection between intimate companions. FSFE's campaign try to make the opportunity to show you care about the people and Free Software that show you love all year round.
The Free Software Foundation Europe has worked on many other issues and campaigns. See our Finished And Discontinued Projects for details of what we've achieved.