From 3385fffd6c6f88b01349953d5d211d240efebb1e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Dario Presutti Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2025 11:39:40 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] news interop survey --- fsfe.org/news/2025/news-20250618.01.en.xhtml | 120 +++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 120 insertions(+) create mode 100644 fsfe.org/news/2025/news-20250618.01.en.xhtml diff --git a/fsfe.org/news/2025/news-20250618.01.en.xhtml b/fsfe.org/news/2025/news-20250618.01.en.xhtml new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..c2244a039f --- /dev/null +++ b/fsfe.org/news/2025/news-20250618.01.en.xhtml @@ -0,0 +1,120 @@ + + + 1 + + + DMA: tell us how gatekeepers are handling your interoperability requests + + + + +

DMA: tell us how gatekeepers are handling your interoperability requests

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Free Software developers: your voice is needed! The Free Software Foundation Europe has launched the Digital Markets Act Interoperability Survey to gather first-hand experiences from developers requesting software interoperability.

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Imagine you are a developer building a Free Software +payment system for iOS, or an emulator for the iPad, or even an +alternative app store for the iPhone. You are ready to share your +project with the world, but you are denied access to the APIs you need. Or you try to contact Apple, but you get no reply at all to your +interoperability request. Or the documentation online is faulty, and +there is no reaction to your bug filing on Apple’s tracking system. Or, worst of all, you have your request denied, and no explanation +whatsoever is given of the reasons.

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These scenarios are not far-fetched. These are +realities many Free Software developers face in their daily work when +interacting with “gatekeepers” like Apple and other large tech +companies.

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The Digital +Markets Act (DMA) is a law in the European Union aimed to remediate these issues. Article 6(7) specifically requires gatekeepers, like Apple, Google, Microsoft and Amazon, to provide developers free-of-charge, effective, and documentedaccess to hardware and software features they need for their projects. The idea is simple: enable real competition, encourage innovation, and make room for Free Software alternatives.

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A victory for interoperability!

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During the regulatory dialogues with the European +Commission, the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) has coordinated +efforts within a coalition +of Free Software projects that +were directly affected, including developers of alternative browsers, +payment systems, app stores, and emulators. We documented their attempts +to request interoperability, and the roadblocks they encountered, vague +procedures, unreasonable requirements, or simply being ignored. We then +presented these findings to the European Commission, calling for clearer +enforcement.

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In December 2024, the European Commission started a +regulatory procedure to improve Apple’s procedures for granting +developers interoperability within iOS and iPadOS. The FSFE engaged with +the Commission providing comprehensive inputs demanding +better policies towards Free +Software developers. In March 2025, the Commission published a decision adopting +several of our suggestions, +substantially improving Apple’s procedures for interoperability +requests. In its turn, Apple reacted aggressively, starting +new litigation against the +Commission in opposition to these +procedures.

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Now, the challenge comes with the enforcement of +these rules. Monitoring is paramount.

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Hackers needed: share your experience with +interoperability

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The recent victory achieved by the decision of the +Commission has underscored the importance of interoperability for +innovation. It is enabling alternatives to proprietary services and +ultimately giving users more choice and control over the technology they +use every day

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The FSFE has launched the DMA +Interoperability +Survey, aimed at collecting +crucial input from Free Software developers who have tried, or plan to +try, to request interoperability from companies like Apple, Google, +Microsoft, and Amazon under Article 6(7) of the DMA. We want to monitor +how gatekeepers are handling the interoperability requests submitted by +Free Software developers. We want to hear the developers’ experiences +and to make sure their voices are heard when gatekeepers fall short of +their obligations.

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If you are a Free Software developer and made or plan +to make an interoperability request under Article 6(7) of the DMA, we +need your help! Whether your request was successful, delayed, denied, or +ignored: your insights are valuable. Please, take a look at the survey +or share it with anyone for whom this might be relevant. +

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The FSFE will use the findings to identify systemic +issues, advocate for stronger enforcement, and support a full and fair +implementation of the DMA. This protects and empowers developers, and +our software freedom.

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Take the interoperability survey and share your experience

+ Start the survey +
+ + + + + + DMA + Device Neutrality + highlights + + + + + + + +