1. FSFE self-conception 2. Is Microsoft happy that the FSFE is included in their appeals process? 3. FSFE intervenes at the European Court 4. FSFE at the Ars Electronica 5. GNU/Linux World Expo in Milan, Italy 6. FSFE at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 7. Spanish press release mailing list now available
1. FSFE self-conception
In the course of improving the "About" section of the web site, a page was added explaining the self conception of the FSFE. We recommend that everybody interested in the work of the FSFE may like to read this page, as it explains the philosophy behind the FSFE:
http://www.fsfeurope.org/about/self-conception.en.html
2. Is Microsoft happy that the FSFE is included in their appeals process?
As mentioned in the July newsletter, the EU Commission invited the FSFE to support their position in the Microsoft trial. Handelsblatt, Germany's most influential economic newspaper, reported that Microsoft wrote a two page letter to the European Court trying to argue that FSFE should not be involved. When the Handelsblatt raised this issue with Microsoft, its spokesperson denied that any such attempt had been made and that Microsoft believes more third parties would be beneficial to the case. No comment was made whether this was related to Microsoft asking that third parties in support of the Commission should pay Microsoft's lawyers.
3. FSFE intervenes at the European Court
Meanwhile, Carlo Piana and Jeremy Allison delivered FSFE's first statement; they also represent the Samba team in this trial. While they explained why Microsoft has to disclose the specifications of the network protocols used in MS-Windows networks to enable ongoing competition, they also made clear that they do not request Microsoft to publish source code of their Windows Operating Systems. The hearing will continue on 1 October 2004 and the final decision should be made public around the end of October 2004.
4. FSFE at the Ars Electronica
During Ars Electronica 2004 in Linz, Austria, Georg Greve participated in a discussion focusing on "digital commons" together with Lawrence Lessig. Before this there was the "Netvision" prize award ceremony, which was awarded to the "Creative Commons" organisation.
5. GNU/Linux World Expo in Milan, Italy
The FSFE presented a booth at the GNU/Linux World Expo in Milan, and Stefano Maffulli gave two speeches at that event, presenting the activities of FSFE. Several companies contacted the FSFE staff there to express their interest to release their software under a Free license and asked for help with that goal. Commercial Free Software is seen more and more as a realistic business opportunity.
6. FSFE at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Georg Greve participated in the Expert Meeting on Free Software at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Geneva, Switzerland. In the panel on economic perspectives of Free Software, he spoke about Free Software and its role in advancing the information society, in particular in developing countries.
7. Spanish press release mailing list now available
The FSFE has now set up a mailing list where you can subscribe to receive its press releases in Spanish. This is the sixth language press releases will be available in:
http://www.fsfeurope.org/press/
Help with the necessary translations for all the languages is still very welcome:
http://www.fsfeurope.org/contribute/translators.en.html
You can find a list of all FSF Europe newsletters on http://www.fsfeurope.org/news/newsletter.en.html