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.html http://www.fsfe.org/fellows/ciaran/ciaran_s_free_software_notes/what_s_wrong... 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

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