Market Regulations Activities
Since its foundation in 2001, the FSFE has been working every single day to further software freedom in Europe and beyond. Beside the activities below, a large part of our work consists of continuous engagement and background work contributing at events and answering questions and enquiries around software freedom.
Our vision: that all regulatory frameworks encourage the use and development of Free Software.
More Market Regulations Activities

Radio Lockdown DirectiveTerminado
An EU regulation may make it impossible to install a custom piece of software on most radio devices like WiFi routers, smartphones, and embedded devices. It requires hardware manufacturers to implement a barrier that disallows users to install any software which has not been certified by them.
Microsoft vs. EU Antitrust CaseTerminado
In 2001 the European Union started investigating Microsoft's dominant position in the market for desktop operating systems. The FSFE represented the interests of Free Software developer as a public interest organisation who cannot be bought off. Thanks to the excellent work by all involved parties, the case was won in all rulings up to the European Court of Justice in 2012.
Internet Governance Forum (IGF)Terminado
The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is a global policy discussion forum of the United Nations, established as an outcome of the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). FSFE followed the IGF to ensure that policy discussions will not endanger digital freedom in general and Free Software in particular.
IPRED2Terminado
A second Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive was proposed by the European Commission. It aims to criminalise all "intentional, commercial-scale" infringements and allow rights holders to participate in investigations. The FSFE pointed out to the EU institutions how such laws encourage abuse of the legal system and have a chilling effect on law-abiding activities.
World Intellectual Property OrganizationTerminado
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), one of the 16 specialised agencies of the UN system, administers 23 international treaties dealing with various aspects of limited monopolies on knowledge. As an observer to WIPO, and together with a global coalition of other actors, the FSFE worked to transform WIPO into a "World Intellectual Wealth Organisation".
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)Terminado
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was a two-summit UN conference organised by the ITU to propose important cornerstones for the information and knowledge society. The FSFE participated with other civil societies to ensure that the principles of the digital age would protect digital freedom, knowledge sharing, access to information and Free Software.
Classification of Free Software as a World Cultural HeritageTerminado
The goal was to have Free Software classified by UNESCO as an Intangible World Heritage and registered in the World Memory Register (another UNESCO project). The Free Software community and UNESCO share the same values of freedom, equality and fraternity. Such recognition would be a great boost for Free Software.
EUCD - Extensiones de los derechos de autor que dañanTerminado
La Directiva Europea de Derechos de Autor (EUCD por sus siglas en inglés) fue la equivalente europea de la US Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Estas leyes llevan a la creación de monopolios y carteles, y suponen serios obstáculos para la libertad de expresión y de prensa, al proporcionar medios para la censura digital. La FSFE ha estado involucrada de forma activa en la oposición a esta legislación perjudicial.