Discussion September 2009

discussion@lists.fsfe.org

13 participants
8 discussions

"My University offers me my Microsoft Windows license" Worldwide Campaign
by Matthias-Christian Ott 20 Oct '09

20 Oct '09

Dear Sir or Madam, on your website you claim that you are the "French speaking Libre Software Users' Association" and therefore, support the usage and adoption of Free Software. Today I received an identi.ca notice with a link to your "My University offers me my Microsoft Windows ® license" Worldwide Campaign [1]. On the campaign's website you encourage students to download Microsoft Windows through MSDNAA and to return the OEM versions of Microsoft Windows which the students own. You claim that this will send "send a strong signal to computer manufacturers" and also suggest to install GNU/Linux on the same computer. Returning OEM versions of Microsoft Windows may convince hardware manufacturers to offer computers without Microsoft Windows, but encouraging students in the same breath to install a gratis copy of the same proprietary operating system won't support Free Software at all. Following Richard Stallman tabaco analogy [2], this means that you ask students to return their tabaco to the shop in order to force the shop to not offering tabaco and on the other to get free tabaco samples from the tabaco company. This will of course not solve the problems of smoking. I think the title of your organisation is dishonest, because you violate your own statutes. I suggest to either change your title and statutes or to stop your campaign and to apologise to your members. If you really want to convince hardware manufacturers to offer computers without an operating system or with a pre-installed free operating system, I suggest to support the Windows Tax Refund initiative [3] of the Free Software Foundation Europe. Sincerely, Matthias-Christian Ott [1] http://www.racketware.info/msdnaa/call-on-students [2] http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/schools.html [3] https://wiki.fsfe.org/WindowsTaxRefund

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books / papers on software exports/imports and bop
by Novica Nakov 05 Oct '09

05 Oct '09

Hi, I was wondering if someone maybe knows if there are some published books or research papers on effect of software exports / imports on the balance of payments of countries, especially developing countries where free software is highly advocated. Thanks Novica

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New Project Page - “Ask your candidates” / Now I ask you
by Matthias Kirschner 30 Sep '09

30 Sep '09

Hi all, I just added the following information to FSFE’s project page for the German federal election [1]: Because of the German federal elections in 2009, FSFE called on all German Free Software supporters to ask the parties’ candidates about their positions on Free Software and Open Standards. FSFE set up a page about the German Bundestagswahl [2] to help asking questions, and to collecting answers. During the campaign politicians from many parties have recognised the potential of Free Software [3] and Open Standards [4] for Germany. In response to questions from supporters of FSFE, they explained that Free Software equals more competition, promotes innovation and provides cost savings. FSFE collected the candidates’ answers [5] and wrote an overview of the parties’ programmes [6] where they concern Free Software (in German). Our Fellows, volunteers [7] and the German team asked 35 questions and got 26 replies. FSFE’s publications - 2009-09-08: Press release “German Election: Ask your candidate about Free Software!” [8] - 2009-09-10: Matthias Kirschner’s question to Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD and Germany’s Vice-Chancellor) [9] (in German) - 2009-09-15: Torsten Grote’s question to Martina Krogmann (CDU) [10] (in German) [Got a reply] - 2009-09-16: Matthias Kirschner’s question to Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU and Germany’s Minister of the interior) [11] (in German). [Got a reply] - 2009-09-17: Thomas Jensch’s question to Guido Westerwelle (FDP) [12] (in German). - 2009-09-21: Press release “Free Software hits German election campaigns” [13] = Selected media coverage = - 2009-09-09: Gulli: “Kandidaten nach Freier Software löchern!" [14] - 2009-09-09: Netzpolitik: “Wahl09: Fragt die Kandidaten nach Freier Software!” [15] - 2009-09-10: Heise: “Free Software Foundation Europe startet Aktion zur Bundestagswahl” [16] - 2009-09-10: Pressetext: “Freie Software als Wahlkampfthema” [17] - 2009-09-10: Pro-linux: “FSFE startet Kandidaten-Befragung zur Bundestagswahl” [18] - 2009-09-14: Computerwoche: FSFE startet Kandidaten-Befragung Freie Software als Wahlkampfthema [19] - 2009-09-21: Heise: “Freie Software: Die Positionen der Politiker” [20] - 2009-09-21: Pro-Linux: “FSFE stellt Politiker-Antworten zu freier Software vor”. [21] - 2009-09-22: OSOR: “DE: Interior minister: ‘Open source reduces vendor lock-in and monopolies’” [22] (in English). - 2009-09-22: Pressetext: “Politiker zeigen Interesse an freier Software — FSFE bemängelt fehlendes Gesamtkonzept deutscher Parteien” [23]. - 2009-09-25: Heise: “Mit dem “Steini-Girl” und “3 Tage wach” in den Wahlkampfendspurt” [24] = You liked that? = Please support us preparing and implementing such activites in future. Here are some suggestions: - Help us translating our information into your mother tongue [25], so more people can read about Free Software and our activties. - Support us with a donation [26] or ask your employer to donate us. That is crucial to secure our financial independence. - Join FSFE’s Fellowship [27] to meet other likeminded people, participate in our activities and secure our financial independence plus our political weight. - Promote our newsletter [28] so more people read about Free Software issues. You can do this with our _new newsletter banners and buttons_ [29]. - Buy a t-shirt [30] and spread our message, plus support us financially. Best wishes, Matthias 1. http://www.fsfe.org/projects/btw09/btw09.en.html 2. http://wiki.fsfe.org/Bundestagswahl2009 3. http://blogs.fsfe.org/documents/freesoftware.html 4. http://blogs.fsfe.org/projects/os/def.html 5. http://wiki.fsfe.org/Bundestagswahl2009#SchongestellteFragenunderhalteneAnt… 6. http://wiki.fsfe.org/Bundestagswahl2009#DiePositionenderParteieninihrenProg… 7. http://blogs.fsfe.org/contribute/ 8. http://blogs.fsfe.org/news/2009/news-20090908-01.html 9. http://blogs.fsfe.org/mk/?p=333 10. http://blogs.fsfe.org/mk/?p=343 11. http://blogs.fsfe.org/mk/?p=349 12. http://blogs.fsfe.org/riepernet/?p=90 13. http://blogs.fsfe.org/news/2009/news-20090921-01.html 14. http://www.gulli.com/news/bundestagswahl-kandidaten-nach-2009-09-09/ 15. http://www.netzpolitik.org/2009/wahl09-fragt-die-kandidaten-nach-freier-sof… 16. http://www.heise.de/newsticker/Free-Software-Foundation-Europe-startet-Akti… 17. http://pressetext.at/news/090910009/freie-software-als-wahlkampfthema/ 18. http://www.pro-linux.de/cgi-bin/NB2/nb2.cgi?show.14679.3010 19. http://www.computerwoche.de/software/software-infrastruktur/1905401/ 20. http://www.heise.de/newsticker/Freie-Software-Die-Positionen-der-Politiker-… 21. http://www.pro-linux.de/news/2009/14722.html 22. http://www.osor.eu/news/de-interior-minister-open-source-reduces-vendor-loc… 23. http://pressetext.de/news/090922025/politiker-zeigen-interesse-an-freier-so… 24. http://www.heise.de/newsticker/Mit-dem-Steini-Girl-und-3-Tage-wach-in-den-W… 25. http://www.fsfe.org/contribute/translators/translators.en.html 26. http://www.fsfe.org/donate/donate.en.html 27. http://fellowship.fsfe.org/join 28. http://www.fsfe.org/news/newsletter.en.html 29. http://wiki.fsfe.org/Artwork/Banners#Newsletterbannersandbuttons 30. http://www.fsfe.org/order/order.en.html -- German Coordinator, Fellowship Coordinator Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) [] (http://fsfe.org) Join the Fellowship of FSFE! [][][] (http://fsfe.org/join) Your donation powers our work! || (http://fsfe.org/donate)

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petition on net neutrality
by Geza Giedke 23 Sep '09

23 Sep '09

Hello, please consider the petition http://www.euopeninternet.eu/ which requests to fix general principles of net neutrality in European and national law. The petition is timely in view of the imminent telecom package reading in the European Parliament http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Telecoms_Package (negotiations between parliament and commission are planned for next week according to heise.de http://www.heise.de/newsticker/EU-Petition-setzt-sich-fuer-ein-offenes-Inte… and the net neutrality discussion in the US http://www.openinternet.gov/read-speech.html regards Geza

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Survey on Openness
by Igor Zubiaurre 16 Sep '09

16 Sep '09

http://www.werebuild.eu/wiki/index.php/Survey_to_NGOs I think FSFE should participate (if not yet) on this (?).

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Re: Discussion Digest, Vol 81, Issue 3
by Igor Zubiaurre 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

> > ---------- Mensaje reenviado ---------- > From: Matthias Kirschner <mk(a)fsfe.org> > To: discussion(a)fsfeurope.org > Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:21:30 +0200 > Subject: Re: Survey on Openness > * Igor Zubiaurre <fioddor(a)gmail.com> [2009-09-11 12:46:34 +0200]: > > > http://www.werebuild.eu/wiki/index.php/Survey_to_NGOs > > > > I think FSFE should participate (if not yet) on this (?). > > We have not been addressed with that. > And what is the purpose of this survey? > I'm nobody to speak for them, but from the information posted in their wiki I guess that "The results will be forwarded directly to the Department of Energy and Infrastructure in Sweden" in an aim to influence "EU-presidency during the second half of 2009" in search of "access to a free internet without intrusive surveillance".

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FSFE Newsletter - August 2009
by Free Software Foundation Europe 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) Newsletter - August 2009 August traditionally is a month with a lower level of activity due to holidays. Still, a lot of things happened under FSFE's and the Fellowship's roofs. Fellowship groups met in Zurich and Stuttgart, other Fellows and volunteers manned a booth at the FrOSCon, our website now benefits from an improved contact page, Karsten Gerloff commented on the ruling about software patent infringement against Microsoft, and Thomas Jensch took on the role of coordinator for our edu-team. Giacomo Poderi 1. Fellowship meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, 26 August 2. 4th FrOSCon in St. Augustin, Germany, 22-23 August 3. Software patent infringed: Microsoft barred from selling Word 4. New overview on our community contacts 5. Fellowship meeting and KDE 4.3 release party in Stuttgart, Germany, 01 August IN THE SPOTLIGHT 6. Thomas Jensch takes on coordination for FSFE's edu-team IT HAPPENED IN THE PAST 7. Karsten Gerloff at the ATTAC Germany summer academy UPCOMING EVENTS 8. Fellowship's booth at the Braderie de Lille, France, 05-06 September 1. Fellowship meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, 26 August On 26 August the Fellowship group of Zurich met for their traditional Free Software summer barbecue. About 13 Fellows and other interested people participated. Christian Holz, FSFE's Executive Director, also joined them meeting to discuss our potential participation in OpenExpo, the consolidation of the Swiss Fellowship group, and the philosophical differences between Free and proprietary Software. http://wiki.fsfe.org/groups/Zuerich 2. 4th FrOSCon in St. Augustin, Germany, 22-23 August We participated with a lively and highly populated booth at the 4th FrOSCon in St. Augustin, Germany. Ten of our Fellows and volunteers were present at the booth during the two days event to explain our work and our projects. As a result new people will join the Fellowship. Matthias Kirschner, Fellowship coordinator, and Michael Kesper, our team member, were also interviewed by a local radio station. Michael wrote a short post on his blog with a couple of pictures taken at FrOSCon. http://blogs.fsfe.org/mkesper/?p=44 http://wiki.fsfe.org/Froscon-2009 3. Software patent infringed: Microsoft barred from selling Word On Tuesday 11 August, Microsoft received an injunction for patent infringement concerning an XML-related patent held by Canadian XML specialist i4i. The injunction prevents Microsoft from selling the 2003 and 2007 versions of Word in the United States and requires the company to pay US$ 290 million in damages. Karsten Gerloff, FSFE's president, commented the news on his blog and focused on how damaging software patents can be even for the biggest corporation. http://blogs.fsfe.org/gerloff/?p=251 4. New overview on our community contacts After some redesign work, our contact page is now available with a new section providing a better overview of our Community contacts. We hope that these improvements will make it easier for people get in touch with the right groups and to start becoming involved in our community of Free Software supporters. http://www.fsfe.org/contact/community.html 5. Fellowship meeting and KDE 4.3 release party in Stuttgart, Germany, 01 August The Fellowship group in Stuttgart gathered together with some KDE people to celebrate the release of KDE 4.3. The meeting started at 19:00 on 1 August and went on until midnight with about ten people discussing about the new improvements of KDE and Free Software in general. There was also space for a small tournament of Ksquares played on the touch screen of a tablet PC. http://wiki.fsfe.org/groups/Stuttgart http://blogs.fsfe.org/gladhorn/2009/08/08/taking-a-walk/ IN THE SPOTLIGHT 6. Thomas Jensch takes on coordination for FSFE's edu-team FSFE's Education project aims at furthering Free Software in all education related activities and institutions, such as kindergartens, schools and universities. In recent years the project had been inactive due to lack of a coordinator and workforce. Now, thanks to Thomas Jensch, our current intern in Zurich, we will be able to revive this important project. Thomas accepted the role of coordinator for the edu-team as a part of his internship and he is already working to reorganise the activities of the project. Thomas also agreed to continue coordinating the team after his intership ends in November. To receive information about the progresses and news of the edu-team, it is possible to register to the edu-eu(a)gnu.org mailing list, to get in contact with the team you can send an e-mail to edu-team <AT> fsfeurope <DOT> org http://www.fsfe.org/news/2009/news-20090831-01.html Relevant links: http://www.fsfe.org/projects/education/education.html http://wiki.fsfe.org/Education http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-eu/ IT HAPPENED IN THE PAST 7. Karsten Gerloff at the ATTAC Germany summer academy In August 2005, Karsten Gerloff, now FSFE's president, was invited to give a speech at ATTAC Germany's summer academy in Goettingen about the developments within the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and the A2K (Access To Knowledge) Treaty. At that time, Karsten had just finished his internship with FSFE. http://mail.fsfeurope.org/pipermail/press-release/2005q3/000115.html UPCOMING EVENTS 8. Fellowship's booth at the Braderie de Lille, France, 05-06 September The Fellowship will take part with a booth to the "Braderie de Lille" (Lille's flea market) in Lille, France. FSFE and, in particular, the Fellowship booth, will get a lot of visibility, since millions of people from different nations take a walk on Lille's streets during the event. The booth will be located on Place du Vieux Marché aux chevaux. If you would like more information about this event please send an e-mail to Benjamin Morant: morant <AT> fsfeurope <DOT> org You can find a list of all FSFE newsletters on http://fsfe.org/news/newsletter.html You can join the Fellowship or find how to support us on http://fellowship.fsfe.org/join http://fsfe.org/contribute/contribute.html You can order our merchandise at http://fsfe.org/order/order.html Copyright 2009, Free Software Foundation Europe <pr(a)fsfeurope.org>. Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.

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FSFE uses Free Software microblogging on identi.ca
by Matthias Kirschner 03 Sep '09

03 Sep '09

Hi all, many of us have started using the Free Software microblogging service Identi.ca [1] to send status updates and interesting links. Identi.ca is based on the StatusNet platform (formerly Laconi.ca) [2], which is available under the AGPL. Here is some information on how you can spread the word about Free Software and FSFE by microblogging. - Groups: We have created the group "fsfe" [3]. If you want to send a notice to all people in this group, just put "!fsfe" somewhere in your message. Beside that we also set up the group "!fs" as a short group name for Free Software. Other groups which might be of interest to you are the "GNU is Not Unix" group "!gnu", and our sister organisation's "!fsf" group. There are many other groups with people interested in Free Software that you also might want to inform about interesting things. Feel free to look for them. - Tags: We encourage you to use the #fellowship, #pdfreaders, #dfd, etc. tags in your messages when they are related to the named topic. - FSFE user: If anything noteworthy should happen, we will inform you about it with our user "fsfe" [4] - Replacing Twitter with identi.ca: When you are logged in to identi.ca, go to "connect Twitter" [5]. Add your twitter account details and activate the checkbox "Automatically send my notices to Twitter". From now on, you do not have to use the non-free Twitter anymore, but still can sent messages there. - Many people of FSFE's core team [6] also use microblogging. If you want to, you can directly subscribe to them. Just check out who is writing to "!fsfe". Best wishes, Matthias / http://www.identi.ca/kirschner 1. http://www.identi.ca 2. http://status.net/ 3. http://www.identi.ca/group/fsfe 4. http://identi.ca/fsfe 5. https://identi.ca/settings/twitter 6. http://www.fsfe.org/about/team.en.html -- German Coordinator, Fellowship Coordinator Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) [] (http://fsfe.org) Join the Fellowship of FSFE! [][][] (http://fsfe.org/join) Your donation powers our work! || (http://fsfe.org/donate)

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Discussion September 2009