[FSFE PR][EN] Fellow Me: No more Vienna Manipulations!

Free Software Foundation Europe press at fsfeurope.org
Sat Dec 3 20:40:18 CET 2005


[ for immediate release and distribution ]

                              Fellow Me: No more Vienna Manipulations!

When FSFE's president first brought attention to the manipulation of
the "Vienna Conclusions" published by the Austrian government for the
United Nation World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) as part
of the World Summit Award (WSA) in his blog, many people were shocked.

When details of how Microsoft and IFPI managed to remove Free Software
and insert promotion of Digital Restriction Management (DRM) in its
stead became known, more media took notice.

On Friday, 2 December 2005, GROKLAW now published [1] the entire story
and its evolution, causing many people to voice their frustration and
anger in the comments about this obvious disrespect for democratic
procedures and the blatant way in which it was conducted.

Several people have expressed their desire to do something against
such conduct and let others know how much they are disgusted by it. So
Georg Greve, president of FSFE, has provided [2] a way in which you
can let everyone know what YOU think about this, a button saying
"Fellow Me: No more Vienna Manipulations!" to link to the story and/or
Fellowship site at http://www.fsfe.org. This button has already been
picked up by a couple of companies and individuals.

Help to make others aware of what happened to this prestigious United
Nations document! Express your feelings about the way the Vienna
Conclusions were turned into the "Vienna Manipulations," let everyone
know this is NOT the way you want politics to be done, and help make
sure to prevent this kind of manipulation in the future by joining the
Fellowship of FSFE [3] and encouraging others to do the same.

Please help us make sure this will not be accepted by silent consent,
and that our disagreement will not be forgotten!

[1] http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20051130185547876
[2] http://www.fsfe.org/fellows/greve/freedom_bits/fellow_me_say_no_to_vienna_manipulations
[3] https://fsfe.org/en/fsfeuser/register


About the Free Software Foundation Europe:

 The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE), founded 2001, 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. The 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.

 Further information about FSFE's work can be found at
 http://fsfeurope.org, get active yourself at
 http://fsfeurope.org/contribute/


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