Hi all!
Below are the questions on PDFreaders we want to send to the MEP Jan Philipp Albrecht who will forward them to the EC.
Please send us any comments you have, or additional questions you think we may ask.
Thank you!
Regards,
Natalia
*******
Subject: Software advertising on public websites
Numerous EU public websites refer to proprietary software, like the Acrobat Reader, as the only possibility to read PDF files and provide a download link. That is the case of direct advertising by public institutions, which creates a competitive advantage for this company to sell other products.
- Can the Commission give an overview of the frequency of such advertisements on the websites of public institutions in the Member States?
- Have the EU and the Member States' public institutions ever reported their reasoning (financial gain, lack of other software, etc) to advertise this particular software as the only possibility to read PDF files?
- If so, have the institutions explained whether they tried other PDF readers before? Which software have they mentioned?
- Will the Commission recommend the EU and the Member States' public institutions to avoid such advertisements on their websites?
On Mon, Jul 11, 2011 at 11:40:12AM +0200, Natalia Evdokimova wrote:
Hi all!
Below are the questions on PDFreaders we want to send to the MEP Jan Philipp Albrecht who will forward them to the EC.
Please send us any comments you have, or additional questions you think we may ask.
In general, I think it's better to target only the Commission itself, rather than public institutions throughout Member States -- the EC has no control over most of those institutions, and will just spend most of the answer pointing that out.
So best keep the questions focused on the EC itself. Afterwards, we can always go to other countries etc. and point out any changes that the Commission has made to its practices.
Thank you!
Regards,
Natalia
Subject: Software advertising on public websites
Numerous EU public websites refer to proprietary software, like the Acrobat Reader, as the only possibility to read PDF files and provide a download link. That is the case of direct advertising by public institutions, which creates a competitive advantage for this company to sell other products.
- Can the Commission give an overview of the frequency of such advertisements on the websites of public institutions in the Member States?
The EC most likely can't, and this question gives them an easy way out. I suggest instead:
- On how many of the Commission's own pages do such advertisements appear?
(that will keep them counting for a while...)
- Have the EU and the Member States' public institutions ever reported their reasoning (financial gain, lack of other software, etc) to advertise this particular software as the only possibility to read PDF files?
What is the Commission's reason (e.g. financial gain, lack of other functional software) for advertising this particular software as the only possibility to read PDF files?
- If so, have the institutions explained whether they tried other PDF readers before? Which software have they mentioned?
[which institutions?]
...did they mention?
- Will the Commission recommend the EU and the Member States' public institutions to avoid such advertisements on their websites?
- Does the Commission view this widespread advertising practice as a problem? If so, what steps is the Commission taking to resolve this problem regarding a) the Commission's own website, and b) the websites of public institutions in Member States?
-- Natalia Evdokimova - Intern, Assistant to the President Free Software Foundation Europe (http://fsfe.org) Is Free Software important to you? Join us! (http://fsfe.org/join)
* Karsten Gerloff gerloff@fsfeurope.org [2011-07-11 13:56:16 +0200]:
In general, I think it's better to target only the Commission itself, rather than public institutions throughout Member States -- the EC has no control over most of those institutions, and will just spend most of the answer pointing that out.
So best keep the questions focused on the EC itself. Afterwards, we can always go to other countries etc. and point out any changes that the Commission has made to its practices.
You're right, I fully agree. For the member states we can also work with the local parliaments. In Germany the Green party already indicated that they are interested.
The EC most likely can't, and this question gives them an easy way out. I suggest instead:
- On how many of the Commission's own pages do such advertisements appear?
(that will keep them counting for a while...)
Should we aso ask them for the URLs? Or the organisations where it happens?
- Have the EU and the Member States' public institutions ever reported their reasoning (financial gain, lack of other software, etc) to advertise this particular software as the only possibility to read PDF files?
What is the Commission's reason (e.g. financial gain, lack of other functional software) for advertising this particular software as the only possibility to read PDF files?
Good.
- If so, have the institutions explained whether they tried other PDF readers before? Which software have they mentioned?
[which institutions?]
...did they mention?
Yeah, should make it clear that we mean the institutions which have the advertisement on their website.
- Will the Commission recommend the EU and the Member States' public institutions to avoid such advertisements on their websites?
- Does the Commission view this widespread advertising practice as a problem? If so, what steps is the Commission taking to resolve this problem regarding a) the Commission's own website, and b) the websites of public institutions in Member States?
Should we ask if they see it as a problem, or should we directly ask what they will do about it. (Take into account that an MEP will ask that questions, not FSFE.)
Natasha, will you incorporate the feedback?
Regards, Matthias
Hi!
Please find below new draft of questions, with feedback from Matthias, Karsten and Nico. Any further comments?
****
Subject: Software advertising on public websites
Numerous EU public websites refer to proprietary software, like Acrobat Reader, as the only possibility to read PDF files and provide a download link. This is a case of direct advertising by public institutions, which creates a competitive advantage for one company to sell its products.
1. Currently, on how many of the Commission's own web pages do such advertisements appear?
2. Could the Commission provide links to these pages, as well as names of EU institutions that have such advertising on their websites?
3. What are the Commission's reasons (e.g. financial gain, lack of other functional software, etc) for advertising this particular software as the only possibility to read PDF files?
4. Have the institutions, that have such advertising on their website, explained whether they tried other PDF readers before? Which software did they mention?
5. What steps is the Commission taking to resolve this problem regarding a) the Commission's own website, and b) the websites of public institutions in Member States?
Regards,
Nata
On 12.07.2011 17:36, Matthias Kirschner wrote:
- Karsten Gerloff gerloff@fsfeurope.org [2011-07-11 13:56:16 +0200]:
In general, I think it's better to target only the Commission itself, rather than public institutions throughout Member States -- the EC has no control over most of those institutions, and will just spend most of the answer pointing that out.
So best keep the questions focused on the EC itself. Afterwards, we can always go to other countries etc. and point out any changes that the Commission has made to its practices.
You're right, I fully agree. For the member states we can also work with the local parliaments. In Germany the Green party already indicated that they are interested.
The EC most likely can't, and this question gives them an easy way out. I suggest instead:
- On how many of the Commission's own pages do such advertisements appear?
(that will keep them counting for a while...)
Should we aso ask them for the URLs? Or the organisations where it happens?
- Have the EU and the Member States' public institutions ever reported their reasoning (financial gain, lack of other software, etc) to advertise this particular software as the only possibility to read PDF files?
What is the Commission's reason (e.g. financial gain, lack of other functional software) for advertising this particular software as the only possibility to read PDF files?
Good.
- If so, have the institutions explained whether they tried other PDF readers before? Which software have they mentioned?
[which institutions?]
...did they mention?
Yeah, should make it clear that we mean the institutions which have the advertisement on their website.
- Will the Commission recommend the EU and the Member States' public institutions to avoid such advertisements on their websites?
- Does the Commission view this widespread advertising practice as a problem? If so, what steps is the Commission taking to resolve this problem regarding a) the Commission's own website, and b) the websites of public institutions in Member States?
Should we ask if they see it as a problem, or should we directly ask what they will do about it. (Take into account that an MEP will ask that questions, not FSFE.)
Natasha, will you incorporate the feedback?
Regards, Matthias
Hi Natalia,
* Natalia Evdokimova natalia@fsfe.org [2011-07-13 12:02:47 +0200]:
Please find below new draft of questions, with feedback from Matthias, Karsten and Nico. Any further comments?
[...]
Looks good from my side.
Btw.: I just also checked and found some websites: http://ec.europa.eu/education/pdf_en.html http://ec.europa.eu/euratom/contacts_en.html http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/about_en.htm ...
(it did not work from google, so I used ECs search on the website.)
Regards, Matthias
nice!
Am Mittwoch, 13. Juli 2011, 12:02:47 schrieb Natalia Evdokimova:
Hi!
Please find below new draft of questions, with feedback from Matthias, Karsten and Nico. Any further comments?
Subject: Software advertising on public websites
Numerous EU public websites refer to proprietary software, like Acrobat Reader, as the only possibility to read PDF files and provide a download link. This is a case of direct advertising by public institutions, which creates a competitive advantage for one company to sell its products.
- Currently, on how many of the Commission's own web pages do such
advertisements appear?
- Could the Commission provide links to these pages, as well as names
of EU institutions that have such advertising on their websites?
- What are the Commission's reasons (e.g. financial gain, lack of
other functional software, etc) for advertising this particular software as the only possibility to read PDF files?
- Have the institutions, that have such advertising on their website,
explained whether they tried other PDF readers before? Which software did they mention?
- What steps is the Commission taking to resolve this problem
regarding a) the Commission's own website, and b) the websites of public institutions in Member States?
Regards,
Nata
On 12.07.2011 17:36, Matthias Kirschner wrote:
- Karsten Gerloff gerloff@fsfeurope.org [2011-07-11 13:56:16
+0200]:
In general, I think it's better to target only the Commission itself, rather than public institutions throughout Member States -- the EC has no control over most of those institutions, and will just spend most of the answer pointing that out.
So best keep the questions focused on the EC itself. Afterwards, we can always go to other countries etc. and point out any changes that the Commission has made to its practices.
You're right, I fully agree. For the member states we can also work with the local parliaments. In Germany the Green party already indicated that they are interested.
The EC most likely can't, and this question gives them an easy
way out. I suggest instead:
On how many of the Commission's own pages do such
advertisements appear?
(that will keep them counting for a while...)
Should we aso ask them for the URLs? Or the organisations where it happens?
- Have the EU and the Member States' public institutions
ever reported
their reasoning (financial gain, lack of other software, etc) to advertise this particular software as the only possibility to read PDF files?What is the Commission's reason (e.g. financial gain, lack of other functional software) for advertising this particular software as the only possibility to read PDF files?
Good.
- If so, have the institutions explained whether they
tried other PDF
readers before? Which software have they mentioned?[which institutions?]
...did they mention?
Yeah, should make it clear that we mean the institutions which have the advertisement on their website.
- Will the Commission recommend the EU and the Member
States' public
institutions to avoid such advertisements on their websites?
- Does the Commission view this widespread advertising
practice
as a problem? If so, what steps is the Commission taking to resolve this problem regarding a) the Commission's own website, and b) the websites of public institutions in Member States?
Should we ask if they see it as a problem, or should we directly ask what they will do about it. (Take into account that an MEP will ask that questions, not FSFE.)
Natasha, will you incorporate the feedback?
Regards, Matthias
* Natalia Evdokimova natalia@fsfe.org [2011-07-13 12:02:47 +0200]:
Please find below new draft of questions, with feedback from Matthias, Karsten and Nico. Any further comments?
Ok, as there was nothing added, I propose we sent it to the MEP after my vacation in mid August.
Regards, Matthias
Le 11/07/2011 11:40, Natalia Evdokimova a écrit :
[…] Numerous EU public websites refer to proprietary software, like the Acrobat Reader, as the only possibility to read PDF files and provide a download link. That is the case of direct advertising by public institutions, which creates a competitive advantage for this company to sell other products.
I would suggest the following two changes: "the Acrobat Reader" → ø Acrobat Reader /or/ the Acrobat Reader software "That is the case" → _This_ is _a_ case
Just some thoughts.
Grüße aus Strasbourg! Nico