Policy Advocacy Activities
As a non-profit, non-governmental organisation, Free Software Foundation Europe works to create general understanding and support for Free Software and Open Standards. The following activities are concrete actions that we take in the areas of public awareness, policy advocacy, and legal support.
Since its foundation in 2001, the FSFE has been working every single day to further Free Software in Europe and beyond. With our concrete activities, based upon the three pillars of our work, we focus on protecting and extending user rights. Some of our actions run for many years, some are aimed at short-term developments, but all are part of our mission: empower users to control technology.
Another major part of our work consists of continuous engagement and background work. We are present at dozens of conferences per year, support and maintain an excellent community, and provide it with helpful resources. Furthermore, we are a prominent contact point for all questions and enquiries around software freedom, Open Standards, and user rights. We also provide basic education resources on Free Software legal and licensing issues.
We need political change to strengthen Free Software. Learn more about how we achieve this.
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Liberdade de Roteadores
Deveria ser desnecessários dizer que na nossa sociedade deveríamos ser aptos(as) a escolher livremente os dispositivos técnicos para usar em nossas casas. Mas alguns provedores de serviços de Internet na Europa desonram esse princípio ao ditar qual dispositivo seus consumidores devem usar para se conectar à Internet, ou praticam discriminação contra proprietários(as) de dispositivos alternativos. A corrosão de nosssa liberdade básica de escolha é fortemente oposte pela FSFE e muitas outras ONGs, projetos e pessoas avulsas. Liberdade de Roteadores não é apenas um tópico para "experts". Afeta a todos(as) nós.
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Device Neutrality
Although digital devices are ubiquitous today, the number of devices on which users cannot run Free Software is exponentially increasing. The consequence is an increased loss of control over users’ technology. Device Neutrality aims to enable end-users to bypass gatekeepers to have a non-discriminatory use of Free Software on their devices.
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Digital Markets Act
Device Neutrality is the policy concept to regulate monopoly over devices and re-establish end-user control over their digital equipment. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulates the economic activity of large digital platforms and introduces Device Neutrality in the EU legislation, fostering access to Free Sofware in Devices.
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Dinheiro Público? Código Público!
Por que o software criado usando dinheiro de pagadores(as) de impostos não é liberado como Software Livre? Queremos legislação exigindo que software financiado publicamente e desenvolvido para o setor público seja publicamente disponível sob uma licença de Software Livre e Aberto. Se é dinheiro público, o código deve ser tão público quanto. Código pago pelo público deve ser disponibilizado ao público!
More Policy Activities
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Diretiva de Travamento dos Rádios
Uma regulação da União Europeia pode tornar impossível instalar um pedaço personalizado de software na maioria dos aparelhos que lidam com ondas de rádio como roteadores, "smartphones" e dispositivos embarcados. Ele requeer que os fabricandes de hardware implementem uma barreira que proíba usuários(as) de instalar qualquer software que não seja certificado por eles. Estamos trabalhando para evitar as esperadas implicações negativas nos direitos dos(as) usuários(as) e do Software Livre, segurança, livre competição, meio ambiente e iniciativas comunitárias de caridade.
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Atividades eleitorais
Qual a melhor época há para perguntar a políticos(as) sobre suas posições quanto ao Software Livre e Padrões Abertos do que no tempo pré-eleitoral? Acreditamos que podemos e devemos fazer esses tópicos um assuto em todas as eleições, quer seja em nível europeu, nacional, regional ou local. Dependendo do sistema eleitoral e da cultura local, há estratégias diferentes e ferramentas que usamos: Perguntar a seu/sua candidato(a) uma lista de perguntas, a ferramenta online "Digital-O-Mat" e a plataforma também online Freedomvote, além da "Let's Promise"(Prometamos) para anotação de compromissos.
Software Patents in Europe
We are working towards a world where software does what software users want it to do. For this, software users must be able to participate in the development and distribution of the software. Software patents block this goal by adding legal and financial risks to software development and distribution and by giving the patent holders legal power to completely prohibit software developers from using the patented ideas.
PDFreaders
With the PDFreaders campaign we turn the spotlight on government organisations who advertise proprietary PDF readers, exposing how frequent such advertisements for non-free software are. With the help of activists across Europe, we contacted these organisations and explained to them how to improve their websites so that they respect our freedom. On pdfreaders.org we present Free Software PDF readers for all major operating systems.
Microsoft vs. EU Antitrust CaseConcluído
In 2001 the European Union started investigating Microsoft's dominant position in the market for desktop operating systems. The FSFE played two key roles in this case. First, we represented the interests of Free Software developers. Second, we are a public interest organisation who cannot be bought off. Thanks to the excellent work by all involved parties, the case has been won in all rulings up to the European Court of Justice in 2012.
Unlock Education in the NetherlandsConcluído
We want to enable all citizens to have free access to education and all other public institutions, both online and offline. We wish to achieve this by pushing for a mandatory use of Open Standards and guaranteed platform-independent access to all materials required in the public educational system. This allows students and parents to use Free Software, enabling them to tap into their potential for personal growth and development, without being made dependent of a company. This activity was specifically aimed at the Dutch education sector.
7th EC Framework Programme (FP7)Concluído
The European Commission funds research and development through official framework programmes (FP for short). From 2007 these framework programmes were used to select projects for support until 2013. The FSFE played a central role in supported projects related to Free Software.
Internet Governance Forum (IGF)Concluído
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.
MS-OOXMLConcluído
Since the very beginning of the standardisation process for Microsoft's Office Open XML - OOXML (hereinafter MS-OOXML), the FSFE has expressed serious doubts about whether MS-OOXML could be considered as open, if even as a standard at all. The FSFE first raised the issue in the community and led the movement against the standardisation of MS-OOXML, following closely over the years the relevant developments.
IPRED2Concluído
A second directive on the enforcement of "intellectual property rights" was proposed by the European Commission. It aims to criminalise all "intentional, commercial-scale" infringements, and to allow rights-holders to take part investigations. The FSFE pointed out to the EU institutions how such laws encourage abuse of the legal system and have chilling effects on law-abiding activities.
World Intellectual Property OrganizationConcluído
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is one of the 16 specialized agencies of the United Nations system of organisations. Its role is administrating 23 international treates dealing with different aspects of limited monopolies on knowledge. As an observer to WIPO and together with a global coalition of other players with similar goals, FSFE worked towards reshaping it as a "World Intellectual Wealth Organisation."
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)Concluído
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was a two-summit UN conference organised by the ITU at which important cornerstones for the information and knowledge society were proposed to be laid. The FSFE participated along with other civil societies to make sure that the principles of the digital age would protect digital freedom, sharing of knowledge, access to information, and Free Software.
6th EC Framework Programme (FP6)Concluído
Funding of research and development by the European Commission is usually done within the "framework programmes" (FPs). These last for four years and FP6 started officially on December 17th, 2002. The FSFE sought to help with Free Software related activities in FP6.
Classification of Free Software as a World Cultural HeritageConcluído
The objectives were to have Free Software classified as an intangible world cultural heritage by UNESCO, 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 a recognition would be a great promotion of Free Software.
EUCD - Copyright extensions that harmConcluído
The European Copyright Directive (EUCD) was the European equivalent of the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). These laws not only lead to the creation of monopolies and cartels, they also provide serious impediments to the Freedoms of speech and press, as they provide means for digital censorship. The FSFE was actively involved in the resistance against such harmful legislation.