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.
In the timeline we differ between the FSFE's activity frames "Device Neutrality" ♺, "Legal Education" ⚖, "Market Regulations" 🗠 , "Public Money? Public Code" 🏛, "Volunteer Engagement" 📣, "Young Generation" 👾, plus "Organisational Development" 🤝.
2025
👾︎ Ada & Zangemann animated movie released
The FSFE's book Ada & Zangemann - was adapted into an animated movie, reaching new audiences worldwide. The movie marked a significant step in the FSFE's long-term strategy to engage with the young generation about software freedom.
Подробности🗠 The FSFE channels community input on Cyber Resilience Act (CRA)
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.
Подробности⚖︎ Launch of Refund4Freedom Initiative
The FSFE and the Italian Linux Society jointly launched Refund4Freedom, a new initiative supporting consumers in reclaiming the cost of unwanted Windows licences bundled with new hardware.
Подробности⚖︎ Launch of Legal Corner column
The FSFE launched the Legal Corner, a regular column that seeks to explain various legal concepts that Free Software developers may encounter, as well as explore current events in the legal realm that impact Free Software.
Подробности🤝︎ Define our Vision 2048
The FSFE discussed what the world might would look like in the different areas of our work in 2048 and took significant strides toward this vision.
Подробности2024
♻ Several victories for Router Freedom and launched the tech wiki
The FSFE participated and monitored regulatory processes in Germany, Austria, Italy and Belgium. Also we introduced the new Router Freedom tech wiki, prepared by our Netherlands team of volunteers.
Подробности♻ Litigation Against Apple's DMA Non-Compliance
The FSFE intervenes in litigation brought by Apple against the European Commission before the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Подробности🗠 The FSFE called for public sustainable long-term funding
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.
Подробности♻ Launch of the Device Neutrality website
The FSFE launched a new dedicated landing page to explain the concept of Device Neutrality in a simple and accessible way for all users, regardless of technical background.
Подробности2023
🏛︎ TEDective won EU Datathon
The FSFE's "TEDective", a Free Software tool designed to help citizens and journalists analyse and visualise public spending data from the EU's TED procurement database, won first prize at the EU Datathon.
Подробности🏛︎ Public awareness for openwashing at Sovereign Workplace
The FSFE critically examined the German government's "Sovereign Workplace", which was labelled as "Free Software", raising questions about missing source code, accountability, and public spending.
Подробности2022
📣︎ Release of the video ‘What is Free Software (Open Source)?’
The FSFE published a short video in English and in German: ‘What is Free Software (Open Source)?’ to explain the complex topic of software freedom. This can help a new audience grasp the importance of Free Software.
Подробности⚖︎ First ‘Legal Education Day’
The FSFE organized the first ‘Legal Education Day’ (LED) to provide basic legal education on the legal context of Free Software: copyright law and the concept of copyleft.
Подробности👾︎ First edition of Youth Hacking 4 Freedom
The FSFE successfully concluded the first edition of Youth Hacking 4 Freedom, a pan-European coding competition aimed at inspiring teenagers to engage with Free Software.
Подробности♻ Defended Router Freedom in Europe
The FSF worked on several challenges, ranging from multi-stakeholder initiatives to bilateral cooperation with regulators and strategic support from partner organisations in Europe.
Подробности🗠 Artificial Intelligence and Free Software
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.
Подробности♻ Device Neutrality into EU legislation
The FSFE dedicated efforts to include Device Neutrality in the EU's new Digital Markets Act. The Act was adopted by 642 votes in favour, formally introducing the principle of Device Neutrality into EU legislation.
Подробности2021
📣︎ FSFE Women group formed
The FSFE Women group was created to help women and everyone who identifies as female build connections with each other while discussing technological issues.
Подробности♻ Launch of Upcycling Android Campaign
The FSFE launched the initiative to help users install Free Software operating systems on their phones, organised workshops across Europe, and developed policy recommendations to extend hardware lifetimes and reduce electronic waste.
Подробности👾︎ Publication of Ada & Zangemann Children's Book
The FSFE released "Ada & Zangemann – A Tale of Software, Skateboards, and Raspberry Ice Cream", a children's book written by FSFE President Matthias Kirschner and published by O'Reilly under a Creative Commons licence.
Подробности♻ Italian Court rules on Windows licence refund
The FSFE supporter Luca Bonissi won a two-year court case against Lenovo in Italy, with the Court of Monza ordering the company to pay 20.000 euros in damages for refusing to refund the price of a pre-installed Windows licence.
Подробности2020
👾︎ Launch of “Learning like a pro”
The local FSFE group in Zurich created a website which they use to explain why Free Software matters in education, described individual Free Software solutions and how these solutions in particular can be used to make school learning efficient and easy.
Подробности♻ Router Freedom victory with BEREC
BEREC sided with the FSFE's demand that any router and modem be under the full control of the user, rather than Internet Service Providers. The FSFE subsequently published a report monitoring the challenges ahead for national implementation across EU member states.
Подробности🏛︎ Free Software for COVID-19 contact tracing apps
The FSFE advocated that all publicly funded COVID-19 contact tracing apps should be released under a Free Software licence. Both the EU and the WHO followed the FSFE's arguments and recommended that any COVID-19 contact tracing app be published as Free Software.
Подробности2019
♻ Router Freedom at EU level
The FSFE started monitoring the status of router freedom in several EU countries and prepared an "activity package" for people and organisations willing to advocate for router freedom.
Подробности📣︎ Launch of the Software Freedom Podcast
The FSFE launched a podcast series to talk once a month with people who have inspiring ideas about software freedom and to reach broader audiences beyond its traditional community.
Подробности⚖︎ Reuse 3.0
The FSFE released an updated set of best practices together with more assisting material and tools.
Подробности♻ Tearing down barriers introduced by the Radio Lockdown Directive
The European Commission collected 276 public comments on the Radio Equipment Directive, most of them critical. The FSFE continued pressing regulators to recognise that the right to install Free Software is fundamental to security, education, and innovation.
Подробности🏛︎ First Parliament in Europe demands public code
The Parliament of Asturias became the first Parliament in Europe to vote in favour of signing our open letter demanding "Public Money? Public Code!".
Подробности🏛︎ Expert brochure published
The FSFE published the new expert policy brochure of Public Money? Public Code!" as a helpful source of information.
Подробности2018
🤝︎ Creation of CARE team
To further ensure the availability and enforcement of our Code of Conduct, we created a CARE team so that whenever our Code of Conduct is breached within the FSFE community, you can contact our central CARE team.
Подробности⚖︎ The FSFE joined its first NGI consortium
The NGI is a European Commission initiative supporting technologies that shape the internet into an open, inclusive, and privacy-respecting platform. The FSFE is part of the NGI Zero consortium, providing support on legal and licensing questions.
Подробности🗠 Exclusion of Free Software in the European Union's Copyright Directive
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.
Подробности2017
⚖︎ REUSE Initiative is launched
The FSFE created an initiative to deliver the best development options for Free Software licensing compliance.
Подробности⚖︎ 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.
Подробности🏛︎ Launch of 'Public Money? Public Code!'
The FSFE initiates a campaign framework for legislation requiring that publicly financed software developed for the public sector be made publicly available under a Free Software licence.
Подробности🗠 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".
Подробности📣︎ Launch of git.fsfe.org
The FSFE launches a Gitea service instance for its contributors.
Подробности2016
📣︎ 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.
Подробности♻ 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.
Подробности📣︎ 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.
Подробности2015
⚖︎ Legal network reaches 400 participants
The FSFE's Legal network launched in 2006, reaches 400 participants from all over the world.
Подробности📣︎ 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.
Подробности🤝︎ 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.
Подробности👾︎ The FSFE issues a position paper on OER
The position paper is a boost of Open Educational Resources on the basis of Free Software
Подробности2014
🏛︎ 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.
Подробности🏛︎ 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.
Подробности2013
🤝︎ First European Coordinators Meeting
FSFE coordinators from all over Europe meet in Berlin for the first time to exchange knowledge and discuss future strategies.
Подробности🗠 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.
Подробности2012
♻ 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.
Подробности♻ 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.
Подробности🏛︎ 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.
Подробности🗠 Open Standards consultation in the UK
The FSFE helps the UK government set one of Europe's strongest policies on Open Standards.
Подробности🗠 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.
Подробности♻ 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.
Подробности♻ The FSFE raised concerns over the Nortel patent portfolio sale
FSFE calls on 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.
Подробности⚖︎ First "Hacking for compliance" workshop
At this workshop, FSFE trains volunteers to identify and prove GNU GPL violations in embedded devices.
Подробности2011
⚖︎ Supported the case of AVM vs. Cybits
The FSFE supported the case of AVM vs. Cybits and the court confirmed FSFE's view that users of GNU GPLed software are allowed to modify and install it even if it is shipped as a part of an embedded device's firmware.
Подробности🗠 The FSFE in European Court of Justice hearing
The FSFE played a key role at a Microsoft hearing before the European Union's General Court on Tuesday, helping explain the intricacies of Free Software servers.
Подробности🗠 The FSFE provided input to EU's R & D funding program
Called Horizon 2020, the program will provide 80 billion EUR for research and development projects and the FSFE provided input to the Commission in order to make the program accessible for Free Software research and projects.
Подробности2010
🤝︎ The FSFE is awarded the Theodor Heuss Medal
FSFE receives the Theodor Heuss medal for its work on freedom in the information society.
Подробности🤝︎ 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.
Подробности📣︎ First "I love Free Software" Day
Every 14 February since 2010, FSFE calls on Free Software users to thank the developers of the software they use every day.
Подробности2009
🏛︎ 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.
Подробности📣︎ 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.
Подробности2008
📣︎ 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.
Подробности⚖︎ 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.
Подробности2007
🗠 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.
Подробности🗠 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.
Подробности⚖︎ Fiduciary License Agreement
The FSFE releases the FLA to ensure legal maintability of Free Software projects and rights in court. In 2008, KDE is adopting it as well.
Подробности2006
📣︎ First Fellowship conference
The first Fellowship conference is organised in Bolzano, Italy, and enables FSFE supporters to meet in person.
Подробности⚖︎ 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 in legal aspects.
Подробности📣︎ DRM.info campaign launched
Under the slogan "Your devices don't trust you", FSFE starts a campaign to inform about the dangers of digital restriction management.
Подробности2005
🗠 Intervening EC's antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft
In order to enable interoperability the FSFE files an application for leave to intervene in this important case.
Подробности🗠 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.
Подробности🗠 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
Подробности🤝︎ Creation of the Fellowship of the FSFE
European Free Software advocates can now become supporters of the FSFE and use its infrastructure to promote and spread the vision of the FSFE.
Подробности2004
🗠 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 proprietary software vendors.
Подробности🗠 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.
Подробности🗠 Definition of Open Standards
FSFE refines Open Standards definition which will be adopted by many organisations and companies in Europe.
Подробности2003
📣︎ 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 education.
Подробности2002
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.
Подробности🤝︎ Foundation of the FSFE
The FSFE is founded as a sister organisation of the FSF, with Georg C. F. Greve as the first president.
Подробности