Software Free

The European Commission’s initiative to promote interoperability at the expense of IP rights has been criticized by the software industry

Yesterday we wrote about Microsoft’s attempt to ‘consume’ ODF. Joining the skepticism now is the man behind the open source definition and a vocal critic of Novell’s deal with Microsoft. Bruce Perens does not trust Microsoft, either. He explains why.

Rather pathetically for someone based in an island lying but a few dozens of kilometres off the continent, I am conscious of the fact that I don't write enough about the open goings-on in Europe. Matthew Aslett's excellent European Tour - by far the best round-up of OSS activity in Europe around - goes a long way to filling this need, but it's (presumably) something of a one-off.

What we need is more info from Over There on a regular basis, from someone who's well plugged into that scene. I find that Roberto Galoppini's postings on this topic are really helpful here, and definitely worth keeping an eye on if you're interested in what those funny people East of Dover are up to.

"...The goal of the Hacker Space Festival is to bring together people from many cultural and technological backgrounds and from different Hacker Spaces and Autonomous zones in France and Europe (and from beyond, if they can attend) to share and show what's going on..." -- via http://artlibre.org/archives/news/315

The Internet is the place to be, where ever you are. But if you happen to be in Europe, then the Web really is a great place to advertise.

The Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe (IAB Europe) released the findings of its annual advertising expenditure survey for 2007. Considered to be THE guide to the size and value of the European online advertising industry, its results showed that online advertising continues to grow, grow, grow, with "an average growth rate of 40% year-on-year."

"The Fellowship is the primary way people can identify with and support the Free Software Foundation Europe. It provides collaborative tools for supporters to describe what they are doing and interact with each other. The Fellowship is a society for people who want to help the Free Software movement grow..."

If the media industry wants to make sure that everyone will start copying content and generally handing it around to all their mates, this is by far the best way to do it:

Hardware makers meet politicians and copyright societies in Brussels today to discuss introducing a Europe-wide levy on media devices, offsetting revenue apparently lost from personal copying. Since 2001, 22 of Europe’s 27 countries have made technology manufacturers pay the surcharge on products that allow music, books, movies and other copyrighted content to be copied. Despite the companies having fought the obligation for years, the levy reaped €568 million for rightsholders in 2004.

"GPL-Violations.org and FSFE's Freedom Task Force to work more closely together. Coordinators of the FSFE Freedom Task Force (FTF) and GPL-Violations.org recently met in Berlin to discuss future cooperation. The two organisations have agreed to deepen their partnership, building on their combined work since the launch of the FTF in October 2006..."

A roundup of RAND abuses, software patent lawsuits and lobbying for lock-in in Europe.

The European regulators intend to crack down on the sorts of dirty trick Microsoft has been pulling since its early days.

"...Please consider how you can contribute to our movement. You can visit http://fsfeurope.org/contribute for suggestions of ways to get involved...
1. FTF workshop leads to broad agreement on European licensing infrastructure
2. Lack of quality in standardisation a serious problem
3. Licensing as a strategic imperative, speech at FISL
4. Fellowship Group at Ubuntu Release Party in Berlin

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Microsoft sets dangerous precedence with NBC, says the EFF

It appears as though OOXML might be put on the ice for a while longer amid complaints

"...Guy Bono is indignant about the freedom-killing amendments that have been submitted in the framework of the “Telecom Package”, that is currently being discussed in the European Parliament.

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A couple of days ago we included a link to this exploration of Douglas Goodyear and that connection to Microsoft. We have also been exploring Microsoft’s use of the United States government to push software patents into the European Union.