It has been another busy month for software freedom. Open Standards have
continued to dominate discussions in ICT with the MS-OOXML proposal being
accepted by ISO as a standard. FSFE and numerous other parties have observed
this process from the beginning and have reason to be concerned about the state
of international standardisation. You could read more about this in our
lead story below.
Document freedom, open access and software licensing are increasingly
important topics of discussion. Awareness of these issues has never been
higher but at the same time the challenges faced have never been so difficult.
As Free Software becomes more accepted, so too do the attempts by those
supporting restrictions and constraint to undermine our movement. We need
your help to ensure that logic, fairness and decisions for the benefit of all
continue to be heeded by decision-markets in Europe and beyond. If you
have some free time, please visit http://fsfeurope.org/contribute/ and
see how you can contribute to our success.
Shane, FSFE Zurich Office
1. MS-OOXML approved by ISO, FSFE concerned about standardisation process
2. FSFE context briefing: Interoperability woes with MS-OOXML
3. Document Freedom Day - young but strong
4. Keynote at Chemnitzer Linux-Tagen, Germany
5. FSFE co-launches Open Parliament initiative
6. Speech on Free Software licensing and the GPLv3 at OSiM USA
7. FTF delivers licensing courses in Zurich, Switzerland
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
8. (2008-04-19) Linuxwochen, Krems, Austria
9. (2008-04-19) Linuxwochen, Graz, Austria
10. (2008-05-15 to 2008-05-17) Linuxwochen, Vienna, Austria
1. MS-OOXML approved by ISO, FSFE concerned about standardisation process
Microsoft received Ecma's approval for the partial documentation of its
Office 2007 file format in December 2006 as Ecma-376. Ecma then filed
Ecma-376 for ISO approval as DIS29500. This raised concerns that in
spite of claims to the contrary this would turn out to be a strategic
move to get ISO approval at all cost for pure marketing purposes.
FSFE's own experience in some countries and the reports about various
irregularities around the world confirmed that concern. These concerns
also overshadow the final approval of MS-OOXML as an ISO standard. ISO
certification was never a seal for Open Standards, as demonstrated by
patent-encumbered formats like MPEG. But if technically deficient
documentation gets ISO approval, it questions ISO on a much more
fundamental level.
http://mail.fsfeurope.org/pipermail/press-release/2008q2/000206.htmlhttp://www.fsfe.org/fellows/ciaran/ciaran_s_free_software_notes/what_s_wron…http://www.fsfe.org/fellows/greve/freedom_bits/re_enacting_the_parrot_sketch
2. FSFE context briefing: Interoperability woes with MS-OOXML
FSFE released a context briefing on interoperability problems caused by
Microsoft's Office OpenXML format: "The proposed MS-OOXML/DIS29500
specification raises serious technical and legal concerns. This context
briefing highlights three examples of how the proposed specification and
its practical implementation in MS Office 2007 hinders interoperability,
fosters vendor dependence and results in market distortion."
http://fsfeurope.org/news/2008/news-20080305-01
3. Document Freedom Day - young but strong
We are happy to announce that the first Document Freedom Day was a
complete success. Great response we received from the teams during the
preparations and registration process, resulted with lots of activities
on March 26th all over the globe. DFD Teams did their best to pass the
message of document freedom and importance of Open Standards. DFD flags
were hoisted around the world in Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, North
and South America.
Events and activities of more than 200 DFD teams ranged for street
events and speeches to an award for the German governmental body that adopted
good policies in the field of Document Freedom and Open Standards. We are
expressing our biggest gratitude to all DFD teams for being part of the
community and contribution in making DFD08 successful.
http://documentfreedom.org/
4. Keynote at Chemnitzer Linux-Tagen, Germany
Shane Coughlan, the coordinator of FSFE's Freedom Task Force, delivered the
keynote speech at Chemnitzer Linux-Tagen at 13:00 on the 1st of March. The
title of the keynote was 'Free Software in the ICT mainstream' and covered
issues ranging from licensing through to Free Software on the desktop. The
key message of the speech was that we have come a long way, and now that we
are a mainstream technology we can accomplish even more. The big question
remaining for each individual is simply "what will I contribute to this?"
http://chemnitzer.linux-tage.de/2008/vortraege/detail.html?idx=223
5. FSFE co-launches Open Parliament initiative
The Open Parliament petition was launched in March to initiate a review of
the European Parliament's policies regarding internal software use and file
formats for published information. If this petition gathers enough support
to launch a review, FSFE will have a guiding role in the process. The
official petition is an internal matter for the European Parliament, but
there is also an online petition where FSFE asks free software supporters to
show their support. This petition was co-launched with OpenForum Europe and
ESOMA. More information on this will be published soon on the fsfe.org
blogs.
http://www.openparliament.eu/
6. Speech on Free Software licensing and the GPLv3 at OSiM USA
Shane Coughlan, FTF coordinator, delivered a speech entitled 'Analysing
Whether GPLv3 Has Improved Free Software Licensing' at OSiM USA on Tuesday
the 12th of March in San Francisco. The speech covered topics ranging from
the creation of GPLv3 and its place in licensing through to examining the
place of GPLv3 in tomorrow's market. Reaction was positive and productive
discussions with telecommunications companies took place afterwards.
7. FTF delivers licensing courses in Zurich, Switzerland
Shane Coughlan, FTF coordinator, delivered two training courses in Zurich,
Switzerland as part of the Free Task Force programme to increase awareness
and understanding of software licensing issues. On the 7th of March a half
day session entitled 'Free Software in the public sector' was delivered, and
on the 21st of March another half day session entitled 'Introduction to Free
Software licensing' was presented to an audience of local Free Software
advocates and activists. If you are interested in helping the FTF with its
outreach programme and would like to have training sessions in your area,
please contact the FTF as soon as possible:
http://fsfeurope.org/projects/ftf/contact
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
8. (2008-04-19) Linuxwochen, Krems, Austria
On Tuesday 15 April 2007 at 16:15, Reinhard Müller gives a speech about open
standards and free document formats at a Linuxwochen event at the Danube
University Krems. The FSFE also has a booth at the event where it informs
about its work and about Free Software in general. Admission is free for the
whole event.
http://lug.krems.cc/linuxtag2008/
9. (2008-04-19) Linuxwochen, Graz, Austria
On Saturday 19 April 2007 at 12:00, Reinhard Müller gives a speech about open
standards and free document formats at Linuxwochen event at the University of
Applied Sciences "Johanneum" in Graz. The FSFE also has a booth at the event
where it informs about its work and about Free Software in general.
Admission is free for the whole event.
http://www.linuxtage.at/
10. (2008-05-15 to 2008-05-17) Linuxwochen, Vienna, Austria
>From 15 to 17 May, an event of the Linuxwochen Austria will take place in the
building of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Rudolf-Sallinger-Platz 1, 3rd
district, Vienna. A group of Fellows will be present with a booth where they
inform about FSFE, the Fellowship, and Free Software in general.
Admission is free for the whole event.
http://www.linuxwochen.at/
You can find a list of all FSFE newsletters on
http://www.fsfeurope.org/news/newsletter.en.html
Copyright (C) FSFE. Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire
article is permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.
Sorry about any confusion with respect to last month's meeting. An
e-mail I sent from an internet booth in Lyon didn't arrive and so a
cancellation notice was never sent.
Anyway, this month's meeting will take place on Tuesday at 20h00 in the
White Horse Inn:
http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=53.34678&lon=-6.25653&zoom=17&layers=B0F
Two items currently on the agenda:
* Our response to OOXML being approved by ISO for standardisation.
* The IFSO AGM
Please note that the current committee is currently quite stretched, so
we will need ordinary members to help with actions items arising.
Good luck,
Malcolm
Just got off the phone to NSAI. Ireland's vote was for approval. Worse, it
now looks certain that MS's OOXML will get overall approval.
A running tally of votes is being kept on Andy Updegrove's blog:
http://www.consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/article.php?story=2008032907145…
The NSAI's vote in September was for disapproval, and their press release
said that they would only change their vote:
"If the Technical Comments are satisfactorily resolved and incorporated
into a new draft".
IFSO wrote to NSAI reminding them of this earlier this month:
http://www.ifso.ie/documents/correspondence/20080311iso-ooxml2.pdf
(Thanks to Ben North for getting that letter written and sent)
Given the mess that was the Ballot Resolution Meeting (BRM) in Geneva (where
it was decided there was just no time to discuss the problems, so ISO just
had a bulk vote and approved everything without review), I'm very surprised
that anyone could conclude that Ireland's Technical Comments were resolved.
I put links to reports of the BRM in a blog entry:
http://www.fsfe.org/de/fellows/ciaran/ciaran_s_free_software_notes/reading_…
More news is appearing on:
http://groklaw.net/http://www.noooxml.org/
Allegations of vote irregularities among European national standards bodies
are rife.
--
Ciarán O'Riordan (+32 477 36 44 19) \ Support Free Software and GNU/Linux
http://ciaran.compsoc.com/ _________ \ Join FSFE's Fellowship:
http://fsfe.org/fellows/ciaran/weblog \ http://www.fsfe.org
> http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/gen/34784prs20080404.html
> http://www.aclu.org/pdfs/freespeech/in_re_bilski_aclu_amicus.pdf
---
ACLU Introduces First Amendment Argument In Key Patent Law Case
(4/4/2008)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (212)549-2666; media(a)aclu.org
Patenting Abstract Ideas Violates The Constitution, Group Says
WASHINGTON - Introducing a rare argument applying the First Amendment
to patent law, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a friend of
the court brief today urging a federal court to uphold the denial of a
patent that would, if awarded, violate freedom of speech. In the
brief, the ACLU argues that Bernard L. Bilski is seeking a patent for
an abstract idea, and that abstract ideas are not patentable under the
First Amendment.
"The court must ensure that any test it uses in determining whether to
award a patent is in line with the Constitution," said Christopher
Hansen, senior staff attorney with the ACLU First Amendment Working
Group, who filed the brief. "If the government had the authority to
grant exclusive rights to an idea, the fundamental purpose of the
First Amendment - to protect an individual's right to thought and
expression - would be rendered meaningless."
In 2006, Bilski sought a patent for his idea that the weather risk
involved in buying and selling commodities could be minimized if
sellers had conversations with two buyers instead of one. The U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office denied his request and the Board of Patent
Appeals and Interferences affirmed the denial. Bilski appealed that
decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the
court has agreed to hear the case in a single joint session in May.
"Patent law prohibits the patenting of abstract ideas, but recently
the courts and the patent office have been granting patents that
consist essentially of speech or thought," said Hansen. "If the
government continues to allow patents of speech or thought it risks
violating the First Amendment. No one can have a monopoly on an idea
or prohibit speech on a particular subject."
The ACLU's brief is available online here:
www.aclu.org/freespeech/gen/34783lgl20080403.html
On Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:00:21 +0100, <fsfe-ie-request(a)fsfeurope.org> wrote:
> Send FSFE-IE mailing list submissions to
> fsfe-ie(a)fsfeurope.org
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> https://mail.fsfeurope.org/mailman/listinfo/fsfe-ie
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> fsfe-ie-request(a)fsfeurope.org
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> fsfe-ie-owner(a)fsfeurope.org
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of FSFE-IE digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Ireland approved OOXML (Ciaran O'Riordan)
> 2. [Fwd: [A2k] KEI Reaction of OOXML decision by the ISO] (Teresa)
If it wasn't so serious I'd say it was a 1 April thing.....
The Register has an apoplectic item on it with 77 comments, at the last count....
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/31/iso_ooxml_votes_approve/
Did the EU's standards outfit not have any input??
Bye, Barry