Software patents detrimental to European power supply business
December 6th, 2004
Dear Mr Haider,
the European Union is on the way to introduce a legal basis for
software patents [1] in Europe. While you may consider this a topic
outside your daily business, it is likely to become the cause of
serious security problems to European power supplies.
The dependence of reliable power supplies on reliable software has
steadily increased over the years and ever since the US-East Coast
blackout of 2003 it has become a topic of public interest. Huge
problems are often caused by small mistakes and thanks to networking
effects, they can spread like wildfire, affecting huge areas.
One of the ideas to counter such developments was recently proposed
[2] by Adilson Enio Motter, guest scientist at the Max Planck
Institute [3] for Complex Systems Physics: His proposal is to stop the
problem spreading by selective shutdown of a few critical crosspoints.
If the software patent directive is adopted in its current form, it
would be possible to apply for a software patent on the so-called
"control of cascade" -- regardless of whether the patentee has
implemented a solution to the idea or not. Anyone who has a solution
to implement this idea needs the permission of the patent holder,
which the patent holder is able to give or refuse.
There will be many other examples for ideas that fundamentally affect
the security of software systems controlling the European power supply
and software in general -- as the methods to make computer systems
secure are limited. It is impossible to avoid software patents
completely as computer programs contain thousands of ideas, all of
which should be patentable according to the directive, you will most
likely only learn of the particular patents once your solutions have
entered the production environment and your legal department receives
the bill.
Not only does this contradict the draft directive on the security of
our electricity supplies, which was passed by the European Council on
Monday 22nd of November 2004, it would make each of the European power
supply companies vulnerable to legal attacks by specialised software
patent companies and law-firms seeking to maximise their revenue.
This seems detrimental to Europe as a region and to the European power
supply business, which is why we would like to ask for your support in
our struggle against software patents in Europe. Please do not
hesitate to contact us should you need further information.
With kind regards,
Georg Greve
President
Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE)
References
[1] http://fsfeurope.org/projects/swpat/swpat.en.html
[2] http://scitation.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id=PRLTAO…
[3] http://www.mpipks-dresden.mpg.de/
[4] http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-131147-16&type=LinksDossier
1. FSFE stands firm in Microsoft case
2. FSFE gains observer status at the WIPO
3. Intensifying world wide co-operation
4. Two FSFE members attending SFScon
5. Other public appearances
1. FSFE stands firm in Microsoft case
Microsoft has steadily been soliciting supporters of the European
Commission antitrust case to withdraw their support for the Commission
by offering a series of financial settlements. The agreement with Sun
Microsystems to withdraw has now been joined by financial settlements
with Novell and the CCIA, after which they also agreed to withdraw from
the case. In light of these developments, the FSFE reaffirms its
determination to support the European Commission in the landmark
antitrust case, in which a decision is expected soon.
This leaves much of the European Commission case depending on the
independence and reliability of FSFE, but it also increments the
personal and financial resources the FSFE will have to spend.
Everybody can help to strengthen FSFE's position against Microsoft
with a donation.
http://www.fsfeurope.org/projects/ms-vs-eu/http://www.fsfeurope.org/help/paypal.en.html
2. FSFE gains observer status at the WIPO
The Free Software Foundation Europe is now officially accredited as
observer at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), where
it will be working along with others to question the ideology that
more monopolisation of knowledge is always good. As announced in the
October WIWO statement, FSFE will be working to change WIPO towards a
"World Intellectual Wealth Organisation."
http://www.fsfeurope.org/projects/wipo/
3. Intensifying world wide co-operation
Earlier last month, Georg Greve contributed a keynote to the Congresso
Internacional de Software Livre (CONISLI) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He
also used the opportunity to increase communication with the vibrant
Brazilian Free Software community and visit several Telecentros in
Sao Paulo. The Telecentro movement is currently the largest digital
inclusion project in the world and a prime example how Free Software
can sustainably and directly empower people.
4. Two FSFE members attending SFScon
The LUG Bozen/Bolzano/Bulsan decided to enrich their traditional
LinuxDay with the first South Tyrol Free Software Conference (SFScon).
This event also addressed people outside the usual target group, for
example with a meeting of Wikipedia authors. The FSFE supported this
conference with three speeches: Werner Koch talked about "privacy and
encryption techniques", and Alessandro Rubini presented "Free Software
in teaching" and gave an "Introduction to kernel programming".
5. Other public appearances
On 5 November, a seminar on Free Software was organised in Västerås by
the local LUG, the Swedish Linux Association and the Department of
Computer Science and Engineering at Mälardalen University. Jonas Öberg
gave an introduction about the four freedoms that make software free.
At a local event in Genova on 11 November, Alessandro Rubini held a
speech about the development process of Free Software. He explained
that while collaborative development is good, smaller projects often
cannot build up a large community. Still, as long as the software is
free, the projects remain useful in their niche problem space even
years after development stopped. Several schools participated in the
event, and the final discussion brought in the topic of Free Software
in education and the problem of software patents.
You can find a list of all FSF Europe newsletters on
http://www.fsfeurope.org/news/newsletter.en.html
[ for immediate release ]
FSFE becomes WIPO observer
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is one of 16
specialised agencies of the United Nations which primarily deals with
global policies granting monopolies on knowledge and other
"virtualities." These policies filter down into local legislation,
shaping the way humankind approaches the knowledge based society.
Currently there are many threats to the freedom of our society and our
economy in a knowledge based society -- from the European Copyright
Directive (EUCD) to the expansion of patentability -- originating at
least ideologically at UN level and beyond discussion when they are
finally passed as national laws. This leaves very little room to
attempt to limit the harm and damaging effects.
For that reason, FSFE has requested to be granted observer status at
the WIPO in 2003, which was confirmed by the Assembly of the Member
States of WIPO from 27 September to 5 October, 2004.
In the scope of the FSFE WIPO project team [1], the FSFE will work
with other players to change WIPO from an organisation that is solely
oriented towards monopolisation of knowledge to one that is aimed at
increasing the intellectual wealth of all of humankind through a more
flexible, sustainable and effective tool set. [2]
"Whenever Civil Society tried to approach the issues of Patents,
Copyrights and Trademarks during the United Nations World Summit on
the Information Society (WSIS), we were told that WIPO was the place
to have these discussions and make these changes", Georg Greve,
president of FSFE explains.
He continues: "If WIPO is the place to do this, then WIPO is where we
need to participate to preserve freedom in the digital age."
More information can be found on the FSFE web site at
[1] http://fsfeurope.org/projects/wipo/
[2] http://fsfeurope.org/documents/wiwo.en.html
About the Free Software Foundation Europe:
The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is a charitable
non-governmental organisation dedicated to all aspects of Free
Software in Europe. Access to software determines who may participate
in a digital society. Therefore the Freedoms to use, copy, modify and
redistribute software - as described in the Free Software definition-
allow equal participation in the information age. Creating awareness
for these issues, securing Free Software politically and legally, and
giving people Freedom by supporting development of Free Software are
central issues of the FSFE. The FSFE was founded in 2001 as the
European sister organisation of the Free Software Foundation in the
United States.
Further information: http://www.fsfeurope.org
[for immediate release]
FSFE: "Freedom is priceless, but has a cost!"
"The Free Software Foundations have a 20 year history of implementing
and defending freedom in the information society -- be it on a on a
single user machine or at the European Court in Luxembourg -- and we
are proud of the independence and integrity we have always
maintained", the president of Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE)
Georg Greve says in view of the settlement between Microsoft and the
Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA).
As reported by the Financial Times, Microsoft bought CCIAs withdrawal
from the European Court case, deserting the European Commission for
payment of 20 Million US-Dollar to the CCIA, half of which were paid
to CCIAs president Ed Black personally.
"Microsoft has invested more than 2.5bn USD into buying two things
from SUN, Novell and the CCIA: The immediate freedom of European
companies and consumers and the capability of the European Commission
to bring about future successful antitrust investigations," Greve
continues. "It may briefly increase their financial assets, but at the
cost of future market perspectives." Examples are home entertainment,
operating systems built into cars and mobile phones.
The Free Software Foundation Europe emphasizes that with each turn of
the wheel, it will become more difficult to break the vicious
cycle. Each failed antitrust ruling will give Microsoft more assets to
buy parties out of future antitrust investigations. Unlike CCIA,
Novell or SUN, the Free Software Foundation Europe cannot be bought
and will continue to support the European Commission in the case.
"Those who wish to see freedom of market restored should be aware that
never can someone with deeper pockets divert support already given to
FSFE, as it happened with the CCIA. This independence is priceless,
but not without cost. The only thing that might therefore be able to
stop us is lack of resources because of lack of support." Greve
finishes.
FSFE members are available for interviews and further details.
About the Free Software Foundation Europe:
The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is a charitable
non-governmental organisation dedicated to all aspects of Free
Software in Europe. Access to software determines who may participate
in a digital society. Therefore the Freedoms to use, copy, modify and
redistribute software - as described in the Free Software definition-
allow equal participation in the information age. Creating awareness
for these issues, securing Free Software politically and legally, and
giving people Freedom by supporting development of Free Software are
central issues of the FSFE. The FSFE was founded in 2001 as the
European sister organisation of the Free Software Foundation in the
United States.
Further information: http://www.fsfeurope.org
Press Speaker:
Joachim Jakobs <jj at office.fsfeurope.org>
Cell: +49-179-6919565
Other Contacts:
Georg C. F. Greve <greve at fsfeurope.org>
Tel: +49-40-23809080
Fax: +49-40-23809081
Stefano Maffulli <maffulli at fsfeurope.org>
Cel: +39 347 14 93 733
First South Tyrolean Free Software Conference enriches Linux Day in 2004
The predominant German speaking Italian province South Tyrol serves as a
bridge between Germany and Italy in a number of aspects. Just as with
Free Software.
As Free Software becomes even more important in South Tyrol, the
GNU/Linux User Group Bozen/Bolzano/Bulsan [1] has developed the
traditional Linux Day into the three day South Tyrolean Free Software
Conference (26.-28.11.2004). The Program is varied and even adresses
people outside of the classic target groups, e.g. with the first South
Tyrolean author meeting of the free encyclopaedia Wikipedia. A typical
South Tyrolean highlight hides behind the title "Linux and Art" - alpine
wood carvings which are brought to live by GNU/Linux based computers as
the "bodyguard", "he" looks after the visitor sceptically.
The Free Software Conference is supported by the Debian project and the
Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE): Their members will give three
different lectures: Werner Koch will speak about "Privacy and encryption
techniques", Alessandro Rubini will present "Free Software in teaching"
and gives an "Introduction to kernel programming".
The Presentations will be made in German and Italian. The entrance is
free. Accommodation can be found at [3].
[1] www.LUGBZ.org
[2] www.SFScon.it
[3] www.suedtirolerland.it
About the Free Software Foundation Europe:
The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is a charitable
non-governmental organisation dedicated to all aspects of Free
Software in Europe. Access to software determines who may participate
in a digital society. Therefore the Freedoms to use, copy, modify and
redistribute software - as described in the Free Software definition-
allow equal participation in the information age. Creating awareness
for these issues, securing Free Software politically and legally, and
giving people Freedom by supporting development of Free Software are
central issues of the FSFE. The FSFE was founded in 2001 as the
European sister organisation of the Free Software Foundation in the
United States.
Further information: http://www.fsfeurope.org
--
Joachim Jakobs <jj(a)office.fsfeurope.org>
Press Speaker - FSF Europe (http://fsfeurope.org)
In der Roede 24, 64367 Mühltal (Tel: +49-179-6919565)
Microsoft has steadily been soliciting supporters of the European
Commission antitrust case to withdraw their support for the Commission
by offering a series of financial settlements. The agreement with Sun
Microsystems to withdraw has now been joined by financial settlements
with Novell and the CCIA, in which they also agreed to withdraw from the
case.
In light of these developments, the Free Software Foundation Europe
(FSFE) reaffirms its determination to support the European Commission in
the landmark antitrust case, in which a decision is expected soon.
The list of supporters of the European Commission may be getting
shorter, but the FSFE and Software & Information Industry Association
(SIIA) are still participating in the case, and fighting on behalf of
European consumers. The FSFE's commitment to the case and its support of
the Commission is not undermined by the recent developments.
"There is not enough money in the world to buy our withdrawal from this
case. My client did not join this case in mere self-interest. Our goal
is to help the Commission restore some of the freedoms of the market and
restore the competition that was lost in previous years", explains Carlo
Piana, who represents the FSFE in this case.
"We believe that in cooperation with the SAMBA team we have done a
very good job so far and we will continue our effort for the sake of
those who are apparently all too easily forgotten -- the Free Software
developers and European customers.", adds Georg Greve, president of the
Free Software Foundation Europe.
Georg Greve points out: "We are financed purely by donations, and are
engaged in this struggle as we believe this is the right thing to do for
our supporters and for Europe. We will not give up this fight."
"For the Samba Team, this case is about leveling the playing field, and
encouraging Microsoft to use Royalty-free Open Public Standards in its
products" said Volker Lendecke & John Terpstra of the Samba Team. "We
fully support the FSFE and the European Commission in this case, and
will continue to provide direct evidence of how Microsoft has used its
monopoly to obstruct software interoperability and damage the
competitive landscape in Europe."
[1] http://www.novell.com/news/press/archive/2004/11/pr04076.html
[2] http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/53028
FSFE members are available for interviews and further details.
About the Free Software Foundation Europe:
The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is a charitable
non-governmental organisation dedicated to all aspects of Free
Software in Europe. Access to software determines who may participate
in a digital society. Therefore the Freedoms to use, copy, modify and
redistribute software - as described in the Free Software definition-
allow equal participation in the information age. Creating awareness
for these issues, securing Free Software politically and legally, and
giving people Freedom by supporting development of Free Software are
central issues of the FSFE. The FSFE was founded in 2001 as the
European sister organisation of the Free Software Foundation in the
United States.
Further information: http://www.fsfeurope.org
Press Speaker:
Joachim Jakobs <jj at office.fsfeurope.org>
Cell: +49-179-6919565
Other Contacts:
Georg C. F. Greve <greve at fsfeurope.org>
Tel: +49-40-23809080
Fax: +49-40-23809081
Stefano Maffulli <maffulli at fsfeurope.org>
Cel: +39 347 14 93 733
--
Joachim Jakobs <jj(a)office.fsfeurope.org>
Press Speaker - FSF Europe (http://fsfeurope.org)
In der Roede 24, 64367 Mühltal (Tel: +49-179-6919565)
1. From WIPO to WIWO
2. Via Libre becoming associate organisation
3. FSFE at the LWE in Frankfurt
4. Other public appearances
5. FSFE watches the Municipality of Pavia
6. Italian system integrator, Engineering, chooses GNU GPL
7. Donations via PayPal
1. From WIPO to WIWO
Seeking to endorse the Geneva Declaration, a group of organisations
declared their support in form of advocating the idea of a "World
Intellectual Wealth Organisation" to take the place of WIPO. This
organisation would be searching for new questions and answers, not
just for more careful application of the old tool of granting limited
monopolies on knowledge.
http://www.fsfeurope.org/documents/wiwo.en.html
2. Via Libre becoming associate organisation
Fundación Vía Libre, a Free Software organisation in Argentinia,
became associated organisation of the FSFE. This is the latest
highlight of a long and productive history of cooperation between the
European and the Latin American Free Software communities.
3. FSFE at the LWE in Frankfurt
The FSFE was again present with a booth at this year's LWE in
Frankfurt, Germany, where two members of Wilhelm Tux, FSFE's Swiss
associate organisation, joined the booth team.
4. Other public appearances
At a conference called "E-Südtirol" in Bozen, Italy, Georg Greve
spoke about "autonomy and freedom of knowledge in the information
society". He also participated in several workshops at that event.
Shortly afterwards, Georg Greve attended the "Zukunftsforum IT"
Conference in Berlin, which was organised by the Handelsblatt, the
most influential economic newspaper in Germany, to speak about the
overall vision of Free Software.
A little later, in Evora, Portugal, Georg Greve gave a short
presentation and participated in a round table at the aLANtejo
conference organised by students of the local university. He also took
the opportunity to meet several people from the Free Software Community
in Portugal, in particular from FSFE's associate organisation ANSOL and
intensify the cooperation between the FSFE and the Portugese Free
Software movement.
Towards the end of the month, Georg Greve gave the opening keynote for
the BerLINux event in Berlin, Germany.
5. FSFE watches the Municipality of Pavia, Italy
The Municipality of Pavia announced that it will help building a new
backoffice framework for the Italian local public administrations.
This package will be funded by private banks, developed by an Italian
company and distributed by Microsoft. The FSFE managed to get invited
as observer in the technical meeting, where the specifications of the
project will be defined. The Italian Chapter will follow closely the
issue and inform the Italian community.
6. Italian system integrator, Engineering, chooses GNU GPL
The GNU GPL has been chosen by one of the biggest Italian system
integrators, Engineering (www.eng.it), for the release of its
application framework SPAGO. Engineering worked with FSFE to make
sure that the license was well applied and also asked to comment on
the governance of the project. Although the software falls in the
Java Trap, the Italian Chapter was happy to help and hopes more
companies ask FSFE to support their business.
7. Donations via PayPal
Supporting the work of FSFE has just become easier for those who prefer
to donate by credit card and/or via the PayPal service. A web page
where an online donation can be made is available:
http://www.fsfeurope.org/help/paypal.en.html
You can find a list of all FSF Europe newsletters on
http://www.fsfeurope.org/news/newsletter.en.html
Dear Mr Barroso,
The preceding European Commission (EC) was campaigning actively for the
introduction of software patents in Europe. This campaign was against
the information and evidence showing that this would lead to
considerable risk to the European economies: On top of the studies
already known [1], recent publications by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC)
[2] and Deutsche Bank Research [3] further underlines the damaging
consequences of software patents on Europe. As The Register quotes PwC:
"The mild regime [...] in the past has led to a very innovative and
competitive software industry with low entry barriers. A software
patent, which serves to protect inventions of a non-technical nature,
could kill the high innovation rate."
The reality that software patents are becoming an innovation restriction
may be one reason why all the parties in the German parliament objected
to their introduction. This is the first time (which we are aware of)
that all parties have objected in this way. Furthermore acknowledging
the damaging effect of software patents, the latest idea of the parting
European Commission is compulsory insurance [4] to limit the damage.
This insurance would apply to both defendants and patentees. When
looking for examples of software patent litigation that this insurance
should protect against, one does not have to look far: Eolas
Technologies sued Microsoft because of the infringement of a software
patent in 1999. Meanwhile - five years and remarkable legal expenses
later - the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has declared the patent
invalid. There is no expert certain the patent would be upheld.
Nevertheless Eolas declared they would keep fighting, there is no way to
predict when this litigation will end. Eolas is continuing along this
road without insurance against losing the lawsuit.
In this sense, the planned compulsory insurance is like firefighting
with petrol: We already have 30,000 software patents in Europe. Many
compulsory insured patentees will consider the insurance as an
investment they need a return on. Returns from software patents are
reaped in lawsuits filed. The result: Rapidly exploding insurance
premiums, insurance companies limiting their risk to what they can
calculate, and in the end patentees and defendants will find
themselves in a situation similar to one without compulsory insurance,
but with one important difference: They will have spent an insane
amount of money on a useless insurance and bureaucracy for its
administration will have skyrocketed. With these developments, working
on reducing bureaucracy in the European Commission will become a
futile endeavour, but more importantly, innovations in the information
society will be eliminated and Europe will not become a competitive
knowlege based economy by 2010.
We therefore ask you to please spare the European economy both the
introduction of software patents (one of the most efficient road blocks
to innovation and economic growth in the information society) and the
madness of insurance against this needlessly created risk.
With kind regards,
Georg Greve
President
Free Software Foundation Europe
[1]
http://mail.fsfeurope.org/pipermail/press-release-de/2004q2/000030.html
[2] www.theregister.co.uk/2004/09/15/pwc_swpat_are_a_threat/
[3]
www.dbresearch.com/PROD/DBR_INTERNET_EN-PROD/PROD0000000000175949.pdf
[4]
http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/en/indprop/patent/docs/patent-lit…
--
Joachim Jakobs <jj(a)office.fsfeurope.org>
Press Speaker - FSF Europe (http://fsfeurope.org)
In der Roede 24, 64367 Mühltal (Tel: +49-179-6919565)
http://fsfeurope.org/documents/wiwo.en.html
Towards a
"World Intellectual Wealth Organisation"
Supporting the Geneva Declaration
The Geneva Declaration [1] is an impressive step towards the creation of
a broad coalition of people, organisations and countries [2] demanding
that the international community re-think the goals and mechanisms for
awarding monopoly control over different kinds of knowledge. It offers
many constructive, concrete suggestions for changes in WIPO goals,
policies and priorities, and provides ample and insightful arguments for
redesign of the copyright and patent bargains to better serve the public
interest of all of humankind.
We are convinced that new answers sometimes require new questions, not
more careful repetition of old questions. A World Intellectual Property
Organisation will always, understandably, lean towards applying the
pre-selected tool-set of monopolisation that it refers to as
Intellectual Property; a term that we find to be ideologically charged
and dangerously oblivious to the significant differences that exist
between the many areas of law that it tries to subsume.
While it may look at better, possibly more socially sustainable ways of
granting ownership-like monopolies over different forms of knowledge,
WIPO will not have an easy time looking for alternative solutions. WIPO
is not what we need.
We need a World Intellectual Wealth Organisation, dedicated to the
research and promotion of novel and imaginative ways to encourage the
production and dissemination of knowledge. Granting limited monopolies
and limited control over some kinds of knowledge may be part of this new
organisations tool-set, but not the only one, and maybe not even the
most important one.
We endorse and support the Geneva Declaration, and invite its drafters,
signatories, and the United Nations to start thinking now not only about
what the role of WIPO should be, but rather what kind of organisation we
need in its place.
References
[1] Geneva Declaration:
http://www.cptech.org/ip/wipo/genevadeclaration.html
[2] Proposal by Argentina and Brazil for the establishment of a
development agenda for WIPO:
http://www.wipo.int/documents/en/document/govbody/wo_gb_ga/pdf/wo_ga_31_11.…
Signatories
Organisations
* ANSOL - Associação Nacional para o Software Livre
* APRIL
* Asociación Software Libre y Patrimonio Intelectual Libre
* Assoli - Associazione Software Libero
* Free Software Foundation Europe
* Fundación Conocimiento Libre
* La Fundación Vía Libre
* Linux User Group Bozen-Bolzano-Bulsan
* Movimento Costozero
* Netzwerk Neue Medien
* UKUUG - the UK's Unix and Open Systems User Group
* Verein zur Förderung Freier Software
* Vrijschrift
* WilhelmTux
* Ynternet.org - Free communication for communities
Individuals
* Alex Hudson
* Beatriz Busaniche
* Benoît Sibaud
* David Ayers
* Federico Heinz
* Francis MUGUET
* Frédéric Couchet
* Georg Greve
* Graham Seaman
* Jeroen Dekkers
* Jonas Oberg
* Marc SCHAEFER
* Markus Beckedahl
* Matthias Kirschner
* MJ Ray
* Pablo Machón
* Patrick Ohnewein
* Reinhard Müller
* Richard Stallman
* Rik van Riel
* Sébastien DINOT
* Simone Piccardi
* Stefano Maffulli
* Théo Bondolfi
* Volker Dormeyer
1. FSFE self-conception
2. Is Microsoft happy that the FSFE is included in their appeals process?
3. FSFE intervenes at the European Court
4. FSFE at the Ars Electronica
5. GNU/Linux World Expo in Milan, Italy
6. FSFE at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
7. Spanish press release mailing list now available
1. FSFE self-conception
In the course of improving the "About" section of the web site, a page
was added explaining the self conception of the FSFE. We recommend
that everybody interested in the work of the FSFE may like to read this
page, as it explains the philosophy behind the FSFE:
http://www.fsfeurope.org/about/self-conception.en.html
2. Is Microsoft happy that the FSFE is included in their appeals process?
As mentioned in the July newsletter, the EU Commission invited the
FSFE to support their position in the Microsoft trial. Handelsblatt,
Germany's most influential economic newspaper, reported that Microsoft
wrote a two page letter to the European Court trying to argue that
FSFE should not be involved. When the Handelsblatt raised this issue
with Microsoft, its spokesperson denied that any such attempt had been
made and that Microsoft believes more third parties would be beneficial
to the case. No comment was made whether this was related to Microsoft
asking that third parties in support of the Commission should pay
Microsoft's lawyers.
3. FSFE intervenes at the European Court
Meanwhile, Carlo Piana and Jeremy Allison delivered FSFE's first
statement; they also represent the Samba team in this trial.
While they explained why Microsoft has to disclose the specifications
of the network protocols used in MS-Windows networks to enable ongoing
competition, they also made clear that they do not request Microsoft
to publish source code of their Windows Operating Systems. The hearing
will continue on 1 October 2004 and the final decision should be made
public around the end of October 2004.
4. FSFE at the Ars Electronica
During Ars Electronica 2004 in Linz, Austria, Georg Greve participated
in a discussion focusing on "digital commons" together with Lawrence
Lessig. Before this there was the "Netvision" prize award ceremony,
which was awarded to the "Creative Commons" organisation.
5. GNU/Linux World Expo in Milan, Italy
The FSFE presented a booth at the GNU/Linux World Expo in Milan, and
Stefano Maffulli gave two speeches at that event, presenting the
activities of FSFE. Several companies contacted the FSFE staff there
to express their interest to release their software under a Free
license and asked for help with that goal. Commercial Free Software
is seen more and more as a realistic business opportunity.
6. FSFE at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Georg Greve participated in the Expert Meeting on Free Software at the
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Geneva,
Switzerland. In the panel on economic perspectives of Free Software,
he spoke about Free Software and its role in advancing the information
society, in particular in developing countries.
7. Spanish press release mailing list now available
The FSFE has now set up a mailing list where you can subscribe to
receive its press releases in Spanish. This is the sixth language
press releases will be available in:
http://www.fsfeurope.org/press/
Help with the necessary translations for all the languages is still
very welcome:
http://www.fsfeurope.org/contribute/translators.en.html
You can find a list of all FSF Europe newsletters on
http://www.fsfeurope.org/news/newsletter.en.html