[FSFE PR][EN] First hearing in the Microsoft Vs EC antitrust case

Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) press at fsfeurope.org
Fri Oct 1 11:58:26 CEST 2004


The first part of the hearing in the appeal procedure by Microsoft Vs
the EC has finished yesterday at 12.30pm. The Court heard from Jeremy
Allison, introduced by Carlo Piana from the Milan-based Tamos & Piana
law firm, on behalf of the Free Software Foundation Europe.

Allison's intervention has been very clear: Microsoft has worked
closely with the Samba Team in the past to achieve interoperability
between Windows systems and other operating system (including
GNU/Linux).  "The SAMBA team and the FSFE are simply asking for the EC
to protect European consumers and to re-establish collaboration towards
a free and competitive market", says Stefano Maffulli, Chancellor of the
Italian Chapter of the FSFE. Moreover: "Neither the SAMBA Team, nor the
FSFE (which is representing SAMBA interests in the hearing), have ever
asked to see any part of Microsoft's source code. All that European
consumers need is to know the communication standards (protocols) used
by Microsoft Windows systems to implement their network services. This
is in order to allow non-Windows computer systems to interoperate with
Microsoft Windows systems."

The full text of the intervention is available by request; just write
to:

        press-it at fsfeurope.org

The text will be soon made available on the FSFE website:

        http://fsfeurope.org/

FSFE members are available for interviews and further details.

Contacts:

   Stefano Maffulli <maffulli at fsfeurope.org>
   Tel: +39 02 34 537 127
   Fax: +39 02 34 531 282
   Cel: +39 347 14 93 733


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 at office.fsfeurope.org>
Press Speaker - FSF Europe (http://fsfeurope.org)
In der Roede 24, 64367 Mühltal (Tel: +49-179-6919565)





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