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industry a hitherto unprecedented power over anything consumers do
with their devices and arbitrarily decide and change what the user may
do with the digital information at her disposal, completely bypassing
national or international laws.

FSFE vice president Jonas Ã\u2013berg explains: "While DRM is a separate
issue in some regards, it's important to realise that the media
channel providers are pushing for DRM primarily in proprietary
software. This is because they know that with proprietary software,
the user has no control over it, and there is no way to restore his or
her legitimate rights. When using Free Software, the user can change
and adapt the software, or have someone do it, thereby bypassing the
most unacceptable restrictions. So it is no wonder that the industry
is pushing for products such as Microsoft Vista and other proprietary
software: it gives them more control over what the user can do."

All of these aspects should be taken into account when looking
forward.  The COSPA-project, funded by the European Union, considers
it an advantage remain "independent of software vendors". And even
more importantly, it highlights the fact that Free Software leads to
the creation of new software businesses and one step towards reaching
the European Union Lisbon goals of making Europe the most competitive
knowledge economy by 2010.

FSFE considers this a unique opportunity: With the release of Vista,
users will need to upgrade to a new operating system that will feel
different and require some time to get used to its functionality. The
same is true for any modern GNU/Linux distribution.

It is about the same investment in effort, but it will give you
control over your own data.

About the Free Software Foundation Europe:

   The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is a non-profit
   non-governmental organisation active in many European countries and
   involved in many global activities. Access to software determines
   participation in a digital society. To secure equal participation
   in the information age, as well as freedom of competition, the Free
   Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) pursues and is dedicated to the
   furthering of Free Software, defined by the freedoms to use, study,
   modify and copy. Founded in 2001, 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.

Contact:

   Free Software Foundation Europe
    Belgium:     +32   2 747 03 57
    Switzerland: +41  43 500 03 66
    UK:          +44  29 200 08 17 7
    Germany:     +49 700 373 38 76 73

   Shane Coughlan, FTF Co-ordinator, FSFE extension: 408

   Joachim Jakobs, Media Relations,  FSFE extension: 404
                                             mobile: +49-179-6919565

   Further information: http://fsfeurope.org

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