FSFE Timeline - Working for Free Software since 2001

The FSFE and the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) worked together with representatives from civil society, academia, industry and public authorities in a project on the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and its implication for Free Software.

The FSFE responded to the EU's cut of funding for the NGI Initiative, highlighting its demand for secured long-term funding for Free Software across Europe.

The FSFE analysed how AI can be more verifiable, trustworthy, innovative with Free Software, and made policy recommendations and presented this result in different conferences.

The FSFE obtained the first limited exclusion for Free Software in a major EU legislation. In this case in the amendments 143 and 150 of the current copyright reform proposal of the European Parliament's directive.

The FSFE starts a campaign to gather support against violations of Free Software in the EU Directive "Copyright in the Digital Single Market".

After many talks and expert meetings, the German Parliament unanimously approved the joint motion which included nearly all of the FSFE's core demands.

The FSFE helps the UK government set one of Europe's strongest policies on Open Standards.

The European Commission impose a EUR 561 million fine on Microsoft for violating the web browser settlement. The FSFE had warned of the settlement's lack of a monitoring mechanism.

The FSFE played a key role at a Microsoft hearing before the European Union's General Court, helping explain the intricacies of Free Software servers.

Called Horizon 2020, the program will provide 80 billion EUR for research and development projects. The FSFE provided input to the Commission in order to make the program accessible for Free Software research and projects.

From 2004 until its conclusion in 2007, the FSFE worked hard on this case with the Samba team to protect the interests of Free Software developers. Microsoft is now required to publish interoperability information.

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.

In order to strengthen a culture of interoperability between devices in EU member states, the FSFE files an application to participate in this important case"

After an intense campaign by the FSFE and many other organisations, the European Parliament rejects the new Software Patent initiative.

Nearly 40 organisations and over 220 individuals take a stand against the Software Patents directive before its second reading in the European Parliament.

The European Interoperability Framework (EIF) is a set of interoperability guidelines with a pan-European scope. The FSFE critically observes its evolution and the influence of lobby groups for proprietary software vendors.

To inform citizens, economists and politicians about the harmful consequences of the Software Patent initiative, the FSFE organized panel discussions and several demonstrations.

The FSFE refines the Open Standards definition which will be adopted by many organisations and companies in Europe.