FSFE Timeline - Working for Free Software since 2001
With the support of our Supporters, and our corporate donors FSFE has been promoting and defending all aspects of software freedom in Europe since 2001. Take a look at our most important achievements in different areas with our timeline.
Our work can be divided in four often intertwined categories, represented on the timeline below. "Internal" 🤝︎ presents the work accomplished to have a solid structure, carrying efficiently the rest of FSFE's actions. "Policy Advocacy" 🏛︎ brings together successes brought by a continuous involvement in local, national and European law making processes. "Legal Support" ⚖︎ presents the achievements of the Legal team, and "Public Awareness" 📣︎ lists the largest steps of our general advocacy work and campaigns.
2017
⚖︎ REUSE Initiative is launched
The FSFE created an initiative to deliver the best development options for Free Software licensing compliance.
Learn more🤝︎ Community Meeting in Berlin
For the first time, the FSFE holds an open-invite community meeting. In order to share knowledge, grow projects, and discuss code.
Learn more⚖︎ Fiduciary Licensing Agreement 2.0 is released
After 10 years of the Fiduciary License Agreement 1.2 (FLA-1.2). The FSFE joins forces with ContributorAgreements.org to produce FLA-2.0.
Learn more🏛︎ Launch of 'Public Money? Public Code!'
The FSFE initiates a campaign for representatives all around Europe to modernise their infrastructure in digital with Free Software.
Learn more🏛︎ Launch of Save Code Share
The FSFE starts a campaign to gather support against violations of Free Software in the EU Directive "Copyright in the Digital Single Market".
Learn more📣︎ Launch of git.fsfe.org
The FSFE launches a Gitea service instance for supporters and paid volunteers.
Learn more2016
📣︎ The FSFE organises its 2016 summit
Marking its 15th anniversary, the FSFE calls in its community to join together under one roof for the first FSFE Summit.
Learn more🏛︎ Compulsory Routers abolished in Germany
A new law in Germany enables customers to use their own routers with their Internet connections, enabling them to use Free Software for their connections.
Learn more📣︎ DFD campaign run by Digital Freedom Foundation
After years of organising the Document Freedom Day, the FSFE handed over the campaign to the Digital Freedom Foundation who will continue organising the event every year in support of Open Standards.
Learn more2015
⚖︎ Legal network reaches 400 participants
The FSFE's Legal network launched in 2006, reaches 400 participants from all over the world.
Learn more📣︎ The FSFE convinces 1125 public administration to remove proprietary software ads
After a six years long campaign, the PDFreaders campaign closes after 1125 public administrations have removed advertisement for proprietary software from their web pages.
Learn more🤝︎ Matthias Kirschner is elected as new president
Having worked with the FSFE since 2004, Matthias Kirschner was elected president together with Alessandro Rubini as vice president.
Learn more🏛︎ The FSFE issues a position paper on OER
The position paper is a boost of Open Educational Resources on the basis of Free Software
Learn more2014
🏛︎ 33 Free Software Pact supporters elected to the EU Parliament
33 newly elected MEPs across the political spectrum signed the Free Software Pact, promising to support Free Software and Open Standards during their time in Parliament.
Learn more🏛︎ Italy puts Free Software first
The Italian government has made Free Software the default choice for public administrations, setting a precedence for the rest of Europe to follow.
Learn more2013
🤝︎ First European Coordinators Meeting
Fellowship Coordinators from all over Europe meet in Berlin for the first time to exchange knowledge and discuss future strategies.
Learn more🏛︎ German parliament unanimous against Software Patents
After many talks and expert meetings, the German Parliament unanimously approved the joint motion which included nearly all of FSFE's core demands.
Learn more2012
⚖︎ Analysis of warranty after flashing phones
FSFE's Legal team clarifies that flashing your phone in order to install Free Software doesn't void your warranty in the EU.
Learn more🏛︎ German Government's White Paper on Secure Boot
Device owners should be in full control of their devices, says Ministry of Interior, echoing FSFE's core demands.
Learn more⚖︎ Promoting fair public procurement in Finland
FSFE activists in Finland analyse hundreds of procurement notices, and contact public bodies that put Free Software at a disadvantage.
Learn more🏛︎ Open Standards consultation in the UK
The FSFE helps the UK government set one of Europe's strongest policies on Open Standards.
Learn more⚖︎ Microsoft fined for violating settlement
The European Commission impose a EUR 561 million fine on Microsoft for violating the web browser settlement. FSFE had warned of the settlement's lack of a monitoring mechanism.
Learn more📣︎ Launch of Free Your Android
Most smartphones come with non-free software and some restrictions. FSFE stars a campaign to help users free their phones and use Free Software apps.
Learn more⚖︎ The FSFE warns the US Department of Justice
FSFE warns US competition regulators about faulty competition settlement regarding sale of Nortel patent portfolio. The lawsuit occurs in November 2013, as Rockstar sues Google over Android.
Learn more⚖︎ First "Hacking for compliance" workshop
At this workshop, FSFE trains volunteers to identify and prove GPL violations in embedded devices.
Learn more2011
2010
🤝︎ The FSFE is awarded the Theodor Heuss Medal
FSFE receives the Theodor Heuss medal for its work on freedom in the information society.
Learn more🤝︎ German Merrit Cross on Ribbon for the FSFE's founding president
Georg C. F. Greve receives this high award for his work on Free Software.
Learn more📣︎ First "I love Free Software" Day
Every Valentine's Day since 2010, FSFE calls on Free Software users to show their love and respect to the developers of the Software they use every day.
Learn more2009
🏛︎ First "Ask Your Candidates"
For the federal elections in Germany, FSFE asks political parties about their political opinions regarding Free Software, Open standards and ideas for more freedom.
Learn more📣︎ Launch of the PDFReaders campaign
Many websites from public administrations advertise proprietary PDF readers to their users in order to read their documents. This is unfair advertising of an US software company. FSFE, on the other hand, informs about free PDF readers and contacts public institutions to tell them about it. More than 600 institutions have since remove their non-free ads.
Learn more2008
📣︎ Document Freedom Day campaign launched
For the first time, FSFE promotes this international day to celebrate and show support for access to information and Open Standards. So far it is FSFE's biggest campaign.
Learn more⚖︎ First European Free Software Licensing and Legal Workshop
FSFE offers a workshop focused on medium to large projects and enterprises to discuss their existing license compliance processes. Our legal experts and external partners help to deliver training and consultancy for Free Software.
Learn more2007
⚖︎ Winning Microsoft antitrust case
From 2004 until its conclusion in 2007, FSFE works hard on the case with the Samba team to protect the interests of Free Software developers. Microsoft is now required to publish interoperability information.
Learn more📣︎ Fighting against MS-OOXML
Microsoft tried to make OOXML an Open Standard. This implementation lacks interoperability information and can be considered as an attempt to undermine Open Standards. By informing about this issue MS-OOXML did not establish well enough to be a danger anymore.
Learn more⚖︎ Fiduciary License Agreement
FSFE releases the FLA to ensure legal maintability of Free Software projects and rights in court. In 2008, KDE is adopting it as well.
Learn more2006
📣︎ First Fellowship conference
The first Fellowship conference is organised in Bolzano, Italy, and draws a wide range of Fellows from the community.
Learn more⚖︎ Launch of the FSFE's Legal Team
Established and operating in close collaboration with gpl-violations.org, "FSFE Legal" educates and supports Free Software developers with the legal aspects, including enforcement in the case of license violations.
Learn more📣︎ DRM.info campaign launched
Under the slogan "Your devices don't trust you", FSFE starts a campaign to inform about the dangers of controlling private media usage.
Learn more2005
⚖︎ Intervening EC's antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft
In order to support the fight against Software Patents, FSFE files an application for leave to intervene in this important case.
Learn more🏛︎ EU Parliament votes against Software Patents
After an intense campaign by FSFE and many other organisations, the European Parliament rejects the new Software Patent initiative.
Learn more🏛︎ Karlsruhe Memorandumagainst Software Patents
Nearly 40 organisations and over 220 individuals take a stand against the Software Patents directive before its second reading in the European Parliament
Learn more🤝︎ Creation of the Fellowship of the FSFE
European Free Software advocates can now become supporting members of FSFE and use its infrastructure to promote and spread the vision of FSFE.
Learn more2004
🏛︎ European Interoperability Framework
The EIF is a set of interoperability guidelines with a pan-European scope. FSFE critically observes its evolution and the influence of lobby groups for properietary software vendors.
Learn more📣︎ Action week against Software patents
To inform citizens, economists and politicians about the harmful consequences of the Software Patent initiative FSFE initiates panel discussions and several demonstrations.
Learn more🏛︎ Definition of Open Standards
FSFE refines Open Standards definition which will be adopted by many organisations and companies in Europe.
Learn more2003
📣︎ Launch of Education Task Force
In order to improve the access to Free Software in education, FSFE volunteers build a team of experts to focus on this issue.
Learn more2002
2001
📣︎ We speak about Free Software campaign
FSFE explains the advantage of the term Free Software instead of "Open Source". Several companies and Bruce Perens supported the campaign.
Learn more🤝︎ Foundation of the FSFE
Georg C. F. Greve becomes the founder and first president of the Free Software Foundation Europe - sister organisation of FSF.
Learn more