[FSFE PR][EN] FSF Europe Newsletter

[FSF Europe]

1. Announcing Wilhelm Tux as a new associate organisation
2. Software patents discussion
3. Donating to the FSFE in the United Kingdom
4. Speech at the KDE Community World Summit


1. Announcing Wilhelm Tux as a new associate organisation

Wilhelm Tux, a Swiss organisation for Free Software, has become an
associate organisation of the FSFE. The FSFE now has 9 associate
organisations in 8 different countries.  Wilhelm Tux is the first
European associate organisation that resides in a country not being an
EU member state.


2. Software patents discussion

The FSFE has always pointed out that software patents are a big threat
for companies and individuals developing or using software, no matter
whether if it is free or proprietary. Recent software patent discussions
relating to the ongoing migration to Free Software in Munich seemed to
create the wrong impression for some people, namely that the software
patent problem only exists for Free Software, and the FSFE is happy that
it could help to clarify this point.
The FSFE also congratulates Mr. Ude, the mayor of Munich, who is showing
himself to be highly reasonable and competent: He continues the
migration without delays while both evaluating the risks potentially
created and speaking out against introduction of software patents in
Europe.


3. Donating to the FSFE in the United Kingdom

Due to substantial bank fees charged for international money transfers,
small donations or standing orders are too expensive to be send directly
to the Free Software Foundation Europe bank account. To rectify this,
FSFE in July 2004 entered into an agreement with UK based associate
organisation AFFS to collect donations and transfer them in larger
batches.

http://www.fsfeurope.org/help/donate-2004-uk.en.html


4. Speech at the KDE Community World Summit

Bernhard Reiter gave a speech at the KDE User and Administrator
Conference, which was part of the KDE Community World Summit in
Ludwigsburg, Germany. He spoke about social and political aspects of
Free Software.


You can find a list of all FSF Europe newsletters on
http://www.fsfeurope.org/news/newsletter.en.html