1196 lines
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HTML
1196 lines
58 KiB
HTML
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
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<html newsdate="2021-11-10">
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<version>1</version>
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<head>
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<title>Software Freedom in Europe 2021</title>
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</head>
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<body>
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<h1 id="software-freedom-in-europe-2021">Software Freedom in Europe 2021</h1>
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<p>
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Cancelling of large events, limitations in meetings, and travel
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restrictions: none of this stopped the FSFE from advancing software
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freedom in 2021. From Router Freedom to new podcast episodes to
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co-organising the Legal and Policy devroom at FOSDEM, we keep
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empowering people to control technology.
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</p>
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<p>
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'Public Money? Public Code!' online workshops were offered to
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volunteers, and an online Legal and Licensing Workshop for legal
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experts was organised. The FSFE assisted software projects to
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become REUSE compliant with our new initiative, REUSE Booster. We
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created a monitoring map to demonstrate the developments of
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Router Freedom rights in Europe. The FSFE presented suggestions
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and demands to support sustainable software. Meanwhile, a two-year
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court case initiated by FSFE supporter Luca Bonissi successfully
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came to an end, unequivocally recognising the right to a Windows
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licence refund. Overall, significant accomplishments for software
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freedom marked 2021, the year <strong>FSFE is celebrating its 20th
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anniversary</strong>.
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</p>
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<figure>
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<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/757e1cb6599c1e9f76b202fa52033a73.jpg"/>
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</figure>
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<p>
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While this yearly report corresponds to our work during November
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2020 - October 2021, many of our activities last for many years. We
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are celebrating our 20-years milestone because ultimately
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<strong>it is our long term presence that allows us to advance
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software freedom</strong>. Initiatives become more robust every
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year, as we have seen with the growing adoption of 'Public Money?
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Public Code!' and REUSE.
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</p>
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<p>
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In 2017, we launched the 'Public Money? Public Code!' campaign,
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convincing several public administrations to change their IT
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strategy. Since then, the accompanying open letter has been signed
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by over 200 civil society organisations and several public
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administrations like the city of Barcelona and the Swedish JobTech
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Development center. The same year, we also initiated REUSE to
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provide a set of recommendations that make licensing Free Software
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projects easier for developers. Since then, REUSE has been adopted
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by well-known projects such as the German Corona Warn App and
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KDE.
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</p>
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<p>
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Likewise, informing the public about the benefits of Free Software
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is a core activity that builds up over time. We inform people in
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information booths, we run workshops and give talks, we send out a
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monthly Newsletter and publish a podcast episode every two months to
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help the Free Software community grow and stay connected. Our "I
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Love Free Software Day", which started over a decade ago, is
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celebrated around the globe every year on 14 February. Still,
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sometimes our endeavors succeed after an entire journey which
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brings us in parliaments or to courts, as the <a href="/activities/ms-vs-eu/ms-vs-eu.html">Microsoft v. EU case</a>
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did. This is why <strong> continuous engagement for software
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freedom matters</strong>.
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</p>
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<div class="toc">
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<p>Table of contents</p>
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<ul>
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<li><a href="#20-years-fsfe">Celebrating 20 Years FSFE</a></li>
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<li><a href="#policy">Policy advocacy</a></li>
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<ol>
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<li><a href="#pmpc">Raising 'Public Money? Public Code!' demand</a></li>
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<li><a href="#sustainability">Discovering the sustainability of Free Software</a></li>
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<li><a href="#router-freedom">Supporting Router Freedom in the EU</a></li>
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<li><a href="#international-development-cooperation">Promoting Free Software in international development cooperation</a></li>
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<li><a href="#radio-lockdown">Preventing a Radio Lockdown</a></li>
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<li><a href="#german-warning-system">Suggesting improvements to the German warning system</a></li>
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<li><a href="#electoral-activities">Running electoral activities</a></li>
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</ol>
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<li><a href="#legal-support">Legal support</a></li>
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<ol>
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<li><a href="#reuse-booster">Launching REUSE Booster</a></li>
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<li><a href="#landmark-court-case">Celebrating win in landmark court case </a></li>
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<li><a href="#llw">Organising Legal and Licensing Workshop</a></li>
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<li><a href="#ngi0">Assisting projects in Next Generation Internet Initiative</a></li>
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<li><a href="#licensing-questions">Answering licensing questions</a></li>
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</ol>
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<li><a href="#pa">Public awareness</a></li>
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<ol>
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<li><a href="#fosdem-devroom">Co-organising FOSDEM Legal and Policy devroom</a></li>
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<li><a href="#podcast">Publishing podcast episodes</a></li>
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<li><a href="#further-outreach">Thanking creators behind Free Software</a></li>
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<li><a href="#sfscon">Participating in SFSCon</a></li>
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</ol>
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<li><a href="#inside-the-fsfe">The FSFE community</a></li>
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<li><a href="#join">Join our movement</a></li>
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<li><a href="#looking-forward">Looking forward to 2022</a></li>
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<li><a href="#about">About the FSFE</a></li>
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</ul>
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</div>
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<h3 id="20-years-fsfe">Celebrating 20 Years FSFE</h3>
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<p>
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Long before the first smartphone was introduced, it was evident
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to the FSFE's founders that it is the people who should be in
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control of technology. In 2001, Free Software
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experts around Europe therefore created the Free Software
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Foundation Europe e.V. In 2021, the <strong> <a href="/about/">Free Software Foundation Europe</a>
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turned 20</strong>. This means two decades of empowering users to control
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technology. Free Software gives everybody the rights to use, study, share, and improve software. This way, Free Software contributes to freedom,
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transparency, and self-determination.
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</p>
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<figure>
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<video width="100%" crossorigin="crossorigin" poster="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/65f178190d23b13698df901452b25f42.png" controls="controls">
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<source media="screen" type="video/mp4; codecs="avc1.42E01E, mp4a.40.2"" src="https://download.fsfe.org/videos/20years/cory_doctorow/cory_doctorow_en_desktop.mp4"/>
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<source media="screen" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" src="https://download.fsfe.org/videos/20years/cory_doctorow/cory_doctorow_en_desktop.webm"/>
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<track default="default" label="English" srclang="en" kind="subtitles" src="https://download.fsfe.org/videos/20years/cory_doctorow/subtitles/webvtt/cory_doctorow_en.vtt"/>
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<track label="Italian" srclang="it" kind="subtitles" src="https://download.fsfe.org/videos/20years/cory_doctorow/subtitles/webvtt/cory_doctorow_it.vtt"/>
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</video>
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<figcaption>
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Prolific Sci-fi author Cory Doctorow sends birthday wishes to the FSFE.
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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The FSFE was founded in <a href="https://lists.fsfe.org/pipermail/press-release/2001q2/000003.html">April
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2001</a>, so this year in April 2021 we started having a look <a href="/activities/20years/20years.html">at our community and
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previous work</a>. We contacted people who paved the way of the
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FSFE since its beginning, such as long term volunteers and past
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staffers. We have interviewed <a href="/news/2021/news-20210204-01.html">Georg Greve</a>, <a href="/news/2021/news-20210625-01.html">Torsten Grote</a>, <a href="/news/2021/news-20210305-01.html">Reinhard Müller</a>, <a href="/news/2021/news-20210420-01.html">and Fernanda Weiden</a>,
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and we received a video message from <a href="/news/2021/news-20210529-01.html">Cory Doctorow</a>. We shared
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the FSFE <a href="/activities/20years/20years.html#Highlights-from-the-last-20-years">highlights
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from the last 20 years</a>, and Matthias Kirschner, President of
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the FSFE since 2015, <a href="https://media.fsfe.org/w/2BiZdZjoM7oy4Jo4fRvVKJ">presented</a>
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the work of the organisation since its founding. To mark this
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important milestone, we produced a <a href="/order/index.html#bag-since2001-blue">bag</a> and
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a <a href="/contribute/spreadtheword.html#fsfe-since-2001-sticker">sticker</a>.
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</p>
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<p>
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Although technology is ever-changing, our values have been
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consistent throughout the last twenty years. The core of our work
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is, in a nutshell: highlighting the sociopolitical implications of
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Free Software, simplifying its legal preconditions, and educating
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people on the nature of Free Software. Therefore, we divide our
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work into three areas: Policy Advocacy, Legal Support, and Public
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Awareness. Matthias Kirschner explains this in his own words in a
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short video:
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</p>
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<figure>
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<video width="100%" crossorigin="crossorigin" poster="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/685726f6b1f36fc04c0a30509631c288.png" controls="controls">
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<source type="video/mp4; codecs="avc1.42E01E, mp4a.40.2"" src="https://download.fsfe.org/videos/20years/210424_20YEARS_FSFE-with-intro-outro-logo.mp4"/>
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<source type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" src="https://download.fsfe.org/videos/20years/210424_20YEARS_FSFE-with-intro-outro.webm"/>
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<track default="default" label="English" srclang="en" kind="subtitles" src="https://download.fsfe.org/videos/20years/210424_20YEARS_FSFE-with-intro-outro.en.vtt"/>
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<track label="Italian" srclang="it" kind="subtitles" src="https://download.fsfe.org/videos/20years/210424_20YEARS_FSFE-with-intro-outro.it.vtt"/>
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</video>
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<figcaption>We divide our work into three areas: policy
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advocacy, legal support, and public awareness.</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<h2 id="policy">Policy advocacy</h2>
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<h3 id="pmpc">1. Raising 'Public Money? Public Code!' demand</h3>
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<p>
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Why is software created using taxpayers’ money not released as Free
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Software? The 'Public Money? Public Code!' initiative was launched
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in 2018. Its popularity demonstrates that our continuous effort
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through the years can make a difference. More than 200 organisations and
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administrations support our call for action by signing our <a href="https://publiccode.eu/openletter/">open letter</a>. Good news
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of municipalities embracing Free Software keeps coming in.
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In 2021, PMPC progressed in a variety of sectors, ranging from EU
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policy to public health related apps.
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</p>
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<h3 id="eu-open-source-strategy">Examining the EU Open Source Strategy</h3>
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<p>
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The FSFE <a href="/news/2020/news-20201023-01.html">examined</a>
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the new 'Open Source Strategy' of the EU for the period 2020-2023 and
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raised its concerns. The benefits of Free Software are fully
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emphasised and the Commission is on paper ambitious in its future
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use of Free Software. However, concrete goals are rare and a clear
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commitment to the use of Free Software is lacking. The strategy
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mainly repeats previous commitments and activities; sustainable and
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verifiable approaches are sought in vain.
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</p>
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<figure>
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<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/e03669d329cb650b7e36a9a5ba70ae3b.jpg" alt="outside of EU building, Brussels"/>
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<figcaption>The EU Open Source Strategy 2020-2023 is ambitious but lacks concrete goals.</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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In February 2021, we <a href="https://archive.fosdem.org/2021/schedule/event/ecoss/">interviewed</a>
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Evangelos Tsavalopoulos, Head of Sector of the European Commission Open Source Software Unit, and addressed the most important
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questions about this strategy.
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</p>
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<h3 id="pmpc-workshops">Offering PMPC Workshops</h3>
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<p>
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In the framework of its campaign 'Public Money? Public
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Code!', the FSFE has launched a workshop series, '<a href="https://wiki.fsfe.org/Activities/ContactingAdministrationsForPMPC">Contact
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your administrations</a>'. Its target audience is volunteers and
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supporters from all over Europe who want to become active in
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reaching out to their local representatives. This workshop aims
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to share best practices when addressing public administrations to
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discuss Free Software in the public sector, while empowering
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volunteers to become more active within their own communities.
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During 2021, Lina Ceballos, an FSFE Project Manager, and
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Alexander Sander, Policy Consultant of the FSFE, held online
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sessions of this workshop for our Italian and Spanish
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communities. Alexander Sander and Bonnie Mehring, Translations
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Coordinator, held the online session for this workshop in German.
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</p>
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<h3 id="code-repository-public-sector">Conceptualising a code repository for the public sector</h3>
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<p>
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Together with our associated organisation the 'Open Source
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Business Alliance', the federal working group of municipal IT
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service providers and other experts, FSFE has developed a first
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concept for a code repository for the public sector (<a href="/news/2020/news-20200910-01.html">EN</a>, <a href="https://download.fsfe.org/policy/papers/20200910-Ein-Ort-fuer-oeffentlichen-Code.v1.pdf">DE,
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.pdf</a>). In the proposal, we clarified the potential of Free
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Software for use in public institutions and how such a repository
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can contribute to the further development of the digitalisation
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of administrations. This concept is already being tested with a
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pilot project in the German states of <a href="/news/nl/nl-202103.html#what-have-we-done-inside-and-outside-the-fsfe">North
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Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg in cooperation with the
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Ministry of Interior</a>.
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</p>
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<figure>
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<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/2882a7897a476a702d8cbbcb950411d3.jpg"/>
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<figcaption>The FSFE conceptualised a code repository for the public sector. It is being tested in a pilot project.</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<h3 id="public-health-apps">Demanding Free Software in Public Health related apps</h3>
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<p>
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Amid the difficulties of the pandemic, the FSFE identifies a
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crucial aspect: that apps related to public health should be Free
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Software. This way they will be transparent, trustworthy, and
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available to people who consciously avoid proprietary software.
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Throughout this challenge <a href="/news/2020/news-20200402-02.html">our demands focus on user
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rights</a>, and this is reflected in our work. In December of
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2020, the FSFE stood in favour of coronavirus tracing apps to be
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Free Software and thanked the volunteers who <a href="https://codeberg.org/corona-contact-tracing-germany/cwa-android">liberated</a>
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the German Corona Warn app (CWA). The FSFE <a href="/news/2020/news-20201208-01.html">appealed</a> to
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governments and administrations to publish developed software as
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Free Software, to break dependencies on proprietary app stores
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and instead make their apps installable from independent sources
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like F-Droid, and to renounce proprietary dependencies. This also
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helps to protect fundamental rights such as the right to privacy.
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</p>
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<figure>
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<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/3682bd7fc37ede3df39501126bf84c7f.jpg" alt="Example of Corona Tracing app"/>
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<figcaption>Example of Corona Tracing app</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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In August 2021, we witnessed the same
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problematic pattern in Germany: volunteers once more had to step
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in to take over the government's task in order to make the
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CovPass app available to everyone. The FSFE <a href="/news/2021/news-20210830-01.html">urges</a>
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the government to quickly adapt its practices and make sure
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everyone can use such apps without any restrictions from the
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start. Furthermore, if it is ensured that solutions are published as
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Free Software, they can be adjusted and reused by other
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institutions around the world.
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</p>
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<h3 id="participation-apps">Demanding accessibility to political participation apps</h3>
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<p>
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In the Netherlands, the official application for parliamentary debates is not
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available under a Free Software license.
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In 2018, FSFE supporter Jos van den Oever noticed that the 'Debat Direct' app
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could not be downloaded to his Firefox OS phone. Jos' request to get the
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app's source code was denied, and he brought the case to court. The
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Council of State ruled on 31 March 2021 that the Parliament does
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not have to publish the source code. The FSFE therefore <a href="/news/2021/news-20210611-01.html">calls
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upon the Dutch Parliament</a> to impose rules on itself, to act
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transparently, and to publish the source code of such applications
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under a Free Software licence in the future.
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</p>
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<figure>
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<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/530aa5d4c4403f5a23c1df4f65525f21.jpg" alt="Dutch parliament in the Hague"/>
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<figcaption>The FSFE calls upon the Dutch Parliament to publish the source code of political participation apps.</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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Moreover, the FSFE calls on the Dutch government to <a href="/news/2021/news-20210521-01.html">stand firm and get a grip
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on their digital security and autonomy by adhering to Open
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Standards and Free Software</a>, in line with their earlier
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commitment to use Free Software by default. The Netherlands is
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becoming dependent on a digital infrastructure that is dominated
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by a small number of monopolistic companies. Although the Dutch
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Cyber Security Council recognises the consequent risk, their
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report neglects focusing on Open Standards and Free Software, the
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proven best practices to face this problem.
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</p>
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<h3 id="spreading-the-word">Spreading the word</h3>
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<p>
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In 2021 we translated our 'Public Money? Public Code!'
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video into <a href="https://publiccode.eu/sv/#about">Swedish</a> and
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<a href="https://publiccode.eu/nl/#about">Dutch</a>.
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Apart from those translations, the PMPC video is available in
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English, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and
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Slovenian. We also translated the PMPC brochure into Spanish.
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</p>
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<h3 id="local-governments">Bringing Free Software to local governments</h3>
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<p>
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On May 2021, we contributed to a report on the use of Free Software
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in <a href="https://www.kgst.de/documents/20181/34177/KGSt-Bericht-5-2021_Open-Source.pdf/994d10d0-ec25-f8ed-91af-1a12518c27d3">local
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administrations</a> (DE)(.pdf) which was released by the German
|
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association for municipal government. </p>
|
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|
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<figure>
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<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/900719f3ded7729bef6a039d9726e350.jpg"/>
|
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<figcaption>Dortmund embraces Free Software</figcaption>
|
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</figure>
|
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|
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<p>
|
||
With an overwhelming
|
||
cross-faction majority, <a href="/news/2021/news-20210331-01.html">Dortmund</a> committed itself to the use of
|
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Free Software in a groundbreaking <a href="/news/2021/news-20210331-01.html">resolution</a>
|
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(DE) in February 2021. The case of Dortmund, where the motion
|
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passed unanimously, proves that all sides can appreciate the
|
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practical benefits of Free Software. The result was made possible
|
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by the consistent efforts of the DO-FOSS initiative, which also
|
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supported the "Public Money? Public Code!" campaign of the
|
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FSFE. The Council's decision means that there is now
|
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political backing to gradually break down dependencies on
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proprietary vendors. The FSFE will follow the implementation and
|
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at the same time call on other administrations in Germany and
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Europe to follow Dortmund's example.
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</p>
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<p>
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The Swiss cantons of <a href="/news/2021/news-20210318-01.html">Bern and Uri</a>
|
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embraced Free Software and the FSFE met online with the people
|
||
behind this process. Bern followed the steps of another Swiss
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canton, Uri, trailbrazer for the use of Free Software in
|
||
administration. For years, the Free Software app 'Caluma' has
|
||
been successful in Switzerland. The example of the cantons of Uri
|
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and Bern shows that the principle of "Public Money? Public
|
||
Code!" benefits everyone: citizens, the administration, and
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also the economy.
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</p>
|
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|
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<h3 id="sustainability">2. Discovering the sustainability of Free Software</h3>
|
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<p>
|
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We recently published a study <a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html">'On the
|
||
Sustainability of Free Software'</a> that includes five core demands about <a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#what-can-politics-and-society-do-for-a-more-sustainable-digitization">What
|
||
can politicians and society do for a more sustainable
|
||
digitization?</a> Among them are:
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>
|
||
When the software of a device is not supported any more, the
|
||
manufacturers should publish the source code of the software
|
||
under a Free Software license.
|
||
</li>
|
||
<li>
|
||
Users must be given the right to install the operating system
|
||
of their choice on their own devices, as well as any software.
|
||
</li>
|
||
<li>
|
||
Devices should be produced with open standards, drivers,
|
||
and interfaces, to ensure a sustainable use of hardware
|
||
resources.
|
||
</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
|
||
<figure>
|
||
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/c5/0e/34d0ef26365f03837ef3d1bfb16c.png" alt="Internet of things -> End of Support -> Publication of Source Code -> Upcycling by third parties -> Second life"/>
|
||
<figcaption>
|
||
The "upcycling of software" can extend usage lifetimes and grow
|
||
aftermarkets after the end of support by the initial
|
||
manufacturers.
|
||
</figcaption>
|
||
</figure>
|
||
<p class="license">Icons reused from sources available on <a href="https://freepik.com">Freepik.com</a></p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
Erik Albers, Program Manager of the FSFE, also gave a <a href="https://media.ccc.de/v/wk04-7557-von-freier-software-zu-nachhaltiger-software-und-wieder-zurck">talk</a>
|
||
(DE) about the subject of software sustainability at this
|
||
year's Winterkongress, the annual conference from the Swiss Digital Intiative, and in the second round table <a href="https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/event/how-do-we-shape-and-grow-a-green-tech-sector">"How
|
||
do we shape and grow a green tech sector?"</a>, organised by
|
||
the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament. In February, Erik
|
||
co-published the <a href="https://www.oekologisches-wirtschaften.de/index.php/oew/article/view/1788">paper</a>
|
||
"Design Options for Long-lasting, Efficient and Open Hardware
|
||
and Software" in "Ökologisches Wirtschaften:
|
||
Digitalisation and Sustainability". In January we <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12797-Designing-mobile-phones-and-tablets-to-be-sustainable-ecodesign/F1465695_en">participated</a>
|
||
in the European Comission's consultation about "Designing
|
||
mobile phones and tablets to be sustainable – ecodesign". </p>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="router-freedom">3. Supporting Router Freedom in the EU</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
Since 2013 the FSFE has been a leading voice in promoting
|
||
end-users' right to use their own personal modems and
|
||
routers. Router Freedom is not a one-time achievement. As the
|
||
regulations change, our work is continuous to defend this digital
|
||
right. Our long-term engagement for Software Freedom is needed,
|
||
and it makes a difference.
|
||
</p>
|
||
<p>
|
||
2021 represented a milestone for the implementation of Router
|
||
Freedom in Europe. We exerted great efforts to protect Router
|
||
Freedom on the European level. We have been involved in
|
||
legislative processes and implementation of technical rules in
|
||
diverse jurisdictions in the EU. Also, we provided to communities
|
||
and individuals all necessary elements to engage in initiatives
|
||
so that they can push the agenda on a political level.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<figure>
|
||
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/1cf36799352693a18b21c33db066c0fb.png" alt="Router Freedom Talk"/>
|
||
<figcaption>We have been promoting Router Freedom all over Europe. SFSCon, 2019. </figcaption>
|
||
</figure>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
This year demonstrated that although the regulatory framework
|
||
remains fragmented in the EU, Router Freedom is emerging as a
|
||
prospective reality. We empowered people to defend their right to
|
||
use their own internet equipment all over Europe.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="rf-informing">Informing and empowering the public</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
In response to the EU reform of telecommunications law (EECC), we
|
||
explained that <a href="/news/2020/news-20200601-01.html">Router
|
||
Freedom is fundamental for security and privacy</a> and
|
||
summarized the current status in an <a href="https://download.fsfe.org/routers/fsfe-router-freedom-activity-summary.pdf">Activity
|
||
Summary</a>. Router Freedom is essential for fair competition in
|
||
markets and sustainability by promoting compatibility among
|
||
devices and the right to repair.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
In March 2021, when EU countries started to implement the telecom
|
||
reform, we launched an <a href="/news/2021/news-20210330-01.html">Engagement Package</a> so
|
||
that anyone can organize supporting activities for Router
|
||
Freedom. The included <a href="https://wiki.fsfe.org/Activities/CompulsoryRouters/">wiki
|
||
page</a> helps the volunteers of the initiative identify
|
||
interested people, collect information, and set up courses of
|
||
action. To involve the maximum number of people, we promoted
|
||
Router Freedom in several events, gave talks, and organised expert
|
||
meetings with stakeholders all over Europe. Our demands have been
|
||
shared by several groups in public consultations and official
|
||
hearings.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="rf-country">Pushing the Router Freedom demand in each country</h3>
|
||
|
||
<figure>
|
||
<a href="https://download.fsfe.org/routers/fsfe-router-freedom-activity-summary.pdf">
|
||
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/e43af89a0b452934b62ec8003e14b944.png" alt="Router Cable"/></a>
|
||
<figcaption>Router Freedom is emerging as a reality in the EU. Photo credit: Tom, CC-BY-2.0. </figcaption>
|
||
</figure>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
We followed closely the positive developments in the <a href="/news/2021/news-20210805-01.html">Netherlands</a>,
|
||
which confirmed our demands for consumer rights. In June 2021, we
|
||
talked with a representative of the <a href="/news/2021/news-20210629-01.html">Finnish
|
||
regulator</a>, who explained why Router Freedom is essential for
|
||
net neutrality. Our coordinated activities in <a href="/news/2021/news-20210505-01.html">Greece</a>
|
||
in May 2021 supported that regulator's preliminary decision to
|
||
secure Router freedom. We worked closely with consumer
|
||
organisations, digital groups, and business representatives to promote and leverage the
|
||
agenda, demanding clear rules for consumers, as in the beginning
|
||
of the legislative process in <a href="/news/2021/news-20210506-01.html">Austria</a>.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
On another hand, we have monitored issues with implementations
|
||
which could harm Router Freedom. We raised our concerns when <a href="/news/2021/news-20210505-01.html">Germany</a>
|
||
decided to step back from the positive experience the country has
|
||
built since 2016 by allowing the national regulator to determine a
|
||
regulatory framework against consumers. <a href="/news/2021/news-20211027-01.html">Latvia</a> opened an extremely dangerous precedent by
|
||
allowing ISPs to determine by themselves technological issues to
|
||
prohibit the use of personal routers.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="collecting-data">Collecting Data</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
Router Freedom is undergoing a rapid development in Europe, so we
|
||
created a <a href="https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/router-freedom-tracker_581123#4/53.12/18.37">monitoring
|
||
map</a> to help everyone keep track of the Router Freedom status
|
||
in their countries.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<figure>
|
||
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/07dc0f987728eae33777eebd53e6cc0e.png" alt="Router Freedom monitoring map"/>
|
||
<figcaption>Monitoring map for Router Freedom</figcaption>
|
||
</figure>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
To understand better the issues end-users are facing with ISPs'
|
||
abusive commercial practices, we started a <a href="https://survey.fsfe.org/index.php/628449?lang=en">survey</a>.
|
||
With this research, which is unique in the EU, we aim to
|
||
gather data about end-user experience, so we can highlight the
|
||
issues to regulators and decision makers. Our survey is still open
|
||
and you are welcome to answer our questions.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="international-development-cooperation">4. Promoting Free Software in international development cooperation</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
In December 2020, the FSFE published an <a href="/freesoftware/developmentcooperation/index.html">analysis</a>
|
||
of the benefits of using Free Software in international
|
||
development cooperation. In this increasingly digitised sector,
|
||
Free Software is becoming an indispensable fundamental technology
|
||
that guarantees legally compliant international cooperation and
|
||
reuse. With Free Software, global scaling is possible, as well as
|
||
local adaptability. New monopolies and dependencies are avoided,
|
||
which is a major UN sustainability goal.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<figure>
|
||
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/954d4f464602dd534ab90dd976e2547c.png"/>
|
||
<figcaption>Sustainable Development Goals by the United Nations</figcaption>
|
||
</figure>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="radio-lockdown">5. Preventing a Radio Lockdown</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
Since 2015, we have been monitoring the possible unpleasant
|
||
effects of the European Radio Equipment Directive, for which we coined the term
|
||
<a href="/activities/radiodirective/">Radio Lockdown</a>.
|
||
Although the FSFE has warned the European Commission multiple
|
||
times of the disastrous consequences Article 3(3)(i) can have for
|
||
users, organisations, and the whole communication equipment
|
||
market, the regulators did not give in. However, in the past 12
|
||
months the Commission did not propose any concrete draft
|
||
regulations, so we are in limbo. The FSFE will continue to
|
||
monitor the situation closely.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="german-warning-system">6. Suggesting improvements to the German warning system</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
Already in November 2020, the FSFE flagged that <a href="/news/2020/news-20201112-01.html">Germany's warning system is
|
||
unstable and ineffective</a> and pointed out pragmatic improvements
|
||
that can guarantee that a warning message can reach every person
|
||
needed while respecting software freedom and privacy.
|
||
Unfortunately, our suggestions were not implemented in time:
|
||
the German warning system once again failed in July 2021 during a
|
||
number of heavy regional floodings, after which the FSFE <a href="https://www.thelocal.de/20210730/germany-knew-its-disaster-warning-system-wasnt-good-enough-why-wasnt-it-improved-2/">repeated</a>
|
||
that the more effective alternatives must be adopted as soon as
|
||
possible to prepare for the next serious events. The commentary
|
||
received several republications.
|
||
Since this wake-up call, it seems the responsible administrations
|
||
have been giving this crucial change the necessary attention and
|
||
traction.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<figure>
|
||
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/75f193238b2c1e38e36550a6ab20877a.png" alt="traffic signs"/>
|
||
<figcaption>
|
||
The FSFE points out pragmatic suggestions that can guarantee
|
||
that a warning message can reach every person needed while
|
||
respecting software freedom and privacy.
|
||
</figcaption>
|
||
</figure>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="electoral-activities">7. Running electoral activities</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
Prior to the German elections we raised our <a href="/news/2021/news-20210427-01.html">PMPC demand</a>, in line
|
||
with our <a href="/activities/elections/index.html">electoral
|
||
activities</a>. During the final week before the German federal
|
||
election we reached out to politicians asking their stance on
|
||
Free Software. The FSFE and the Open Source Business Alliance conducted <a href="/news/2021/news-20210920-01.html">interviews with
|
||
representatives of all political parties with a prospect of government participation</a>. The
|
||
videos are available in German. Also we released our <a href="https://digitalezivilgesellschaft.org/digitalvisionen/">vision
|
||
for the upcoming decades and concrete demands for the next
|
||
government</a> (DE) and analyzed the <a href="https://digitalezivilgesellschaft.org/wahlpruefsteine/oeffentliches-gut/">elections
|
||
programs</a> (DE) of the parties.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<figure>
|
||
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/994b1d8750b7469aa8d7ffaa51b621b9.png"/>
|
||
<figcaption>Interview with Manuel Höferlin, MdB, FDP Chairman, Digital Agenda Committee. October 2021.</figcaption>
|
||
</figure>
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<h2 id="legal-support">Legal support</h2>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="reuse-booster">1. Launching REUSE Booster</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
REUSE has facilitated the licensing of Free Software projects.
|
||
Developers are given standardised ways to mark all files in a
|
||
project with their chosen license and copyright notice. A
|
||
tutorial, a set of FAQs, a helper tool, and an API have been made
|
||
available to lower the threshold and save time.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<figure class="no-border">
|
||
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/0027eafb7bb2fdb1ec479675c1070ae2.png" alt="REUSE Booster logo"/>
|
||
</figure>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
With <a href="https://reuse.software/booster/">REUSE Booster</a>,
|
||
launched in 2021, the FSFE takes this initiative one step further.
|
||
This progress was possible thanks to the support the FSFE has
|
||
received, which enables the implementation of long-term activities.
|
||
REUSE Booster enables Free Software projects to seek tailored
|
||
support by our legal experts. As the name suggests, this will boost
|
||
the process of adopting the best practices as well as general
|
||
understanding of licensing and copyright. Each project is evaluated
|
||
individually and the recommendations apply to its particular
|
||
situation.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
Max Mehl joined a <a href="/news/podcast/episode-11.html">podcast</a> episode to
|
||
present REUSE Booster and talk about the recent developments of
|
||
the whole initiative. For example, REUSE was adopted by the KDE
|
||
community as the standard best practice to communicate all
|
||
projects' licensing and copyright situation. To learn how a large
|
||
community like KDE managed this step, we interviewed <a href="/news/2020/news-20201215-01.html">Andreas
|
||
Cord-Landwehr</a>, long-term developer at KDE, to discuss this
|
||
implementation.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="landmark-court-case">2. Celebrating win in landmark court case initiated by Luca Bonissi</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
On March 2021, FSFE supporter Luca Bonissi <a href="/news/2021/news-20210302-01.html">won a
|
||
court case he initiated against Lenovo</a>. Ιn a historic judgment in Italy,
|
||
Lenovo was
|
||
ordered to pay 20,000 euros in damages for abusive behaviour in
|
||
refusing to refund the price of a pre-installed Windows licence.
|
||
In a motivating gesture for the Free Software cause, Luca donated
|
||
15,000 euros to the FSFE.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<figure>
|
||
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/dd3557bac3956a64521d172e32569377.jpg"/>
|
||
<figcaption>"The Monza decision demonstrated that is possible to
|
||
reverse the unacceptable behaviour of big techs. What was taken
|
||
away from the Free Software community has now been returned to it.
|
||
I encourage everyone to fight back for their legitimate rights!" --
|
||
Luca Bonissi.</figcaption>
|
||
</figure>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="llw">3. Organising the Legal and Licensing Workshop</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
In 2021, we organised and supported the first online edition of the
|
||
<a href="/activities/ln/llw.html">Legal and
|
||
Licensing Workshop</a>. The FSFE's Free Software Legal
|
||
and Licensing Workshop (LLW) has been held annually for the <a href="/activities/ln/llw.html">FSFE's Legal Network</a>
|
||
since 2008, and serves as a conference for <a href="/activities/ln/ln.html">legal experts</a> in the field
|
||
of Free Software to debate over issues and share best practices
|
||
surrounding Free Software licenses. Instead of a physical one-time
|
||
conference, this year, from March to July, LLW offered online
|
||
presentations, discussion panels, and workshops continuously.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<figure>
|
||
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/0418b6e4006c22d87b08165ce16d6621.png" alt="Miriam Ballhausen LLW"/>
|
||
<figcaption>Miriam Ballhausem has been kindly involved in
|
||
organising the LLW. Don't miss her <a href="/news/podcast/episode-6.html">podcast on copyright
|
||
enforcement</a>!</figcaption>
|
||
</figure>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
Discussions ranged from the recently concluded Google v. Oracle
|
||
<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf/18-956_d18f.pdf">case</a>
|
||
in the US Supreme Court to legal considerations of Open
|
||
Hardware. The LLW provided workshops on improving the quality of
|
||
Free Software licensing information, including those specific to
|
||
copyleft licenses. As with all online discussions of the Legal
|
||
Network and its associated events, the <a href="https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/chatham-house-rule">Chatham
|
||
House Rule</a> applied to this year's edition of the LLW.
|
||
Next year we plan to organise LLW again as a physical meeting to
|
||
continue building a robust Free Software legal community.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="ngi0">4. Assisting projects in Next Generation Internet Initiative</h3>
|
||
|
||
<figure>
|
||
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/0beb7b64a605d2c6b3132ff31baeac96.png" alt="Next Generation Internet"/>
|
||
<figcaption>Free Software is key for the future of the Next Generation Internet.</figcaption>
|
||
</figure>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
2021 marks the 3rd and final year of FSFE's involvement in the
|
||
European Commission's Next Generation Internet Zero Initiative. Our
|
||
work <a href="/news/2021/news-20210504-01.html">has been
|
||
praised</a> by the European Commission and the projects which we
|
||
have been working with. The FSFE has been a partner organisation
|
||
of <a href="/activities/ngi/index.html">Next Generation Internet
|
||
Zero (NGI0)</a>.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<blockquote>
|
||
<p>
|
||
“Our Free Software developer needs were understood and met with
|
||
minimal frictions. With audits, this NGI0 support went further
|
||
than just allowing us to spend more time working on the project,
|
||
they taught us how to improve it. The FSFE REUSE team even
|
||
contributed actual code with a regular merge-request, in a
|
||
perfect illustration of ‘them’ teaming up with us!”
|
||
</p>
|
||
<p>
|
||
Simon Descarpentires, <a href="https://www.meta-press.es/">Meta-Press.es Project</a>
|
||
</p>
|
||
</blockquote>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="assistance-ngi0">Supporting Free Software Developers Through NGI0</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
The FSFE provided guidance on how to communicate the components,
|
||
licences, and copyrights associated with software packages. We
|
||
assisted software projects with their legal and licensing needs,
|
||
and convinced them to adopt our REUSE standards as best practices
|
||
for displaying licensing and copyright information.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
We have guided over 100 NGI0 software projects to implement the
|
||
REUSE standards on their workflow. This has included working
|
||
directly with their repositories to better improve how the
|
||
licensing and copyright information contained in their
|
||
repositories is displayed, so that any adopters of their work in
|
||
the future can more easily comply with these licence and
|
||
copyright obligations.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<blockquote>
|
||
<p>
|
||
"Regarding REUSE, we have learnt a lot. We realise that the
|
||
idea behind REUSE is simple, clear, and powerful. Nowadays,
|
||
Free Software projects become more and more complicated, and
|
||
many components/files of a single project have different
|
||
license/copyright information. REUSE helps a lot on tracking
|
||
the status of this information in our project.”
|
||
</p>
|
||
<p>
|
||
Xianjun Jiao, <a href="https://github.com/JiaoXianjun/openwifi">OpenWifi
|
||
Project</a>
|
||
</p>
|
||
</blockquote>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="ngi0-reuse">Making Copyright and Licensing Easier for Everyone</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
Together with another NGI0 partner organisation, the <a href="https://www.ifross.org/">Institute for Legal Issues
|
||
regarding Free and Open Source Software, or ifrOSS</a>, we have
|
||
included in our website a set of educational FAQs about Free
|
||
Software legal and licensing issues. These <a href="/freesoftware/legal/faq.html">FAQs</a> tackle topics
|
||
useful to any Free Software developer, such as the <a href="/freesoftware/legal/faq.html#copyright">basics of
|
||
copyright</a>, <a href="/freesoftware/legal/faq.html#license">licensing issues
|
||
with Free Software</a>, and issues with <a href="/freesoftware/legal/faq.html#compatibility">licence
|
||
compatibility</a>. In total, we have created <a href="https://download.fsfe.org/NGI0/V2/">eight educational PDF
|
||
documents</a> that explain these topics more, in greater depth.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<blockquote>
|
||
<p>
|
||
"Being involved in NGI0 has been a nurturing experience. On one
|
||
hand, it has been very interesting to work closely with and
|
||
learn from projects that are reshaping the future of the
|
||
internet. On the other, being part of the FSFE team has
|
||
provided me with the necessary technical and legal skills to
|
||
feel comfortable to contribute directly to projects'
|
||
repositories through merge-requests; a task that was completely
|
||
new for me in the beginning. All the positive feedback from
|
||
these projects only encourages me to keep up the good
|
||
work.”</p>
|
||
<p>
|
||
Lina Ceballos, FSFE Legal Trainee at the time, meanwhile FSFE project manager<br/></p>
|
||
</blockquote>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="licensing-questions">5. Answering licensing questions</h3>
|
||
|
||
<figure>
|
||
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/f1bdc9b8f6624096d659036a7d6a5589.png" alt="Till Jaeger licensing questions"/>
|
||
<figcaption>Till Jaeger is one of the kind expert volunteers of the License Questions team. Don't miss his <a href="/news/podcast/episode-12.html">podcast on GPL enforcement</a>!</figcaption>
|
||
</figure>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
The FSFE runs a group for <a href="/freesoftware/legal/faq.html#lqteam">License
|
||
Questions</a>, composed of several volunteer legal experts from
|
||
around Europe who continuously help projects and individuals
|
||
with topics concerning Free Software licensing. In 2021 the
|
||
department was busy dealing with inquiries related to licence
|
||
violations, contribution policy, relicensing and even the NASA
|
||
license over photos, video, and content.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<h2 id="pa">Public awareness</h2>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="fosdem-devroom">1. Co-organising FOSDEM Legal and Policy devroom</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
On February 2021, the FSFE participated in <a href="/news/2021/news-20210311-01.html">FOSDEM</a>. This year it
|
||
took place online, and according to the main FOSDEM organisers it
|
||
had a peak of 33,600 attendees. Also, the FSFE co-organised the
|
||
Legal and Policy Devroom for the first time.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
In the Legal and Policy Devroom we aimed to cover the most
|
||
crucial current issues, such as the proprietary software
|
||
monopolies which were formed within the rapid digitization after
|
||
the outbreak of the pandemic. This issue was also related to the
|
||
intentional <a href="/news/2020/news-20200330-01.html">misuse of
|
||
the term Free Software</a> for marketing purposes. The
|
||
panels covered three ongoing EU policies, the <a href="https://fosdem.org/2021/schedule/event/ecoss/"> 'Open Source
|
||
strategy'</a>, the <a href="https://fosdem.org/2021/schedule/event/digitalmarketsact/">Digital
|
||
Markets Act</a>, and the regulations connected to <a href="https://fosdem.org/2021/schedule/event/netneutrality/">Router
|
||
Freedom</a>.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<figure>
|
||
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/92c64a86637e832242d90b8622cde894.png" alt="5 people in video call"/>
|
||
<figcaption>
|
||
The organizers of the Legal and Policy DevRoom for FOSDEM 2021 discuss together the issues they have seen over the last year in FOSS.
|
||
</figcaption>
|
||
</figure>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="podcast">2. Publishing podcast episodes</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
In addition to our regular news stories and monthly newsletter,
|
||
the FSFE regularly publishes the Software Freedom Podcast. We
|
||
talk once a month with people deeply involved in software freedom. Podcasts facilitate community building around
|
||
Free Software. In 2021 we created five new episodes: <a href="/news/podcast/episode-12.html"> "Enforcement of the
|
||
GNU GPL" with Till Jaeger</a>, <a href="/news/podcast/episode-11.html">"REUSE Booster and our
|
||
update on REUSE" with Max Mehl</a>, <a href="/news/podcast/episode-10.html">"How to support Free
|
||
Software and a sustainable digital infrastructure" with
|
||
Elisa Lindinger</a>, <a href="/news/podcast/episode-9.html">"I love Free
|
||
Software"</a>, and <a href="/news/podcast/episode-8.html">"How to tell my mother
|
||
that Free Software can cost money?"</a>.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="further-outreach">3. Thanking creators behind Free Software</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
Free Software often benefits from the generous work of individuals
|
||
who work to develop and maintain Free Software
|
||
projects. By making software available to everyone, they help us
|
||
chat with our friends in privacy, share our notes, save our
|
||
passwords -- you name it! Their valuable contributions should not
|
||
go unnoticed. In the FSFE we celebrate 'I Love Free Software
|
||
Day ' every 14 February thanking creators of Free Software
|
||
and we invite others to join us in doing so. Our <a href="/news/2021/news-20210317-01.html">I Love Free Software Day
|
||
2021</a> received a lot of attention. We counted 411 tweets on
|
||
Twitter and 210 toots in the Fediverse using the hashtag
|
||
#ilovefs. People from all over the world joined I Love Free
|
||
Software Day via social media and tweeted and tooted from at
|
||
least 328 different places.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<figure>
|
||
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/09c38ab455a853df90a04bc166064f53.png" alt="I love free software card"/>
|
||
<figcaption>In the FSFE we celebrate I Love Free Software
|
||
Day every 14 February thanking creators of Free Software
|
||
and we invite others to do so.</figcaption>
|
||
</figure>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="sfscon">4. Participating in SFSCon</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
The South Tyrol Free Software Conference, SFSCon, is "one of
|
||
Europe’s most established annual conferences on Free Software". In
|
||
recent years we have been represented with talks, workshops and our
|
||
information booth. In November 2020, the FSFE organised several <a href="/news/2020/news-20201019-01.html">talks</a> in which legal
|
||
issues and current political developments were analysed. The FSFE
|
||
will also participate in <a href="/news/nl/nl-202110.html">SFSCon
|
||
2021 </a>with several talks, and we will organise a sustainability
|
||
track. If you cannot attend, you can follow our track online this year.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<h2 id="inside-the-fsfe">The FSFE community</h2>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="zurich-award">Educational activity by Local Group Zurich receives award</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
On December 2020, our Local Group Zurich members <a href="/news/2020/news-20201211-01.html">received a DINAcon
|
||
award</a> and we interviewed them. The local FSFE group created a
|
||
website called "<a href="https://lernenwiedieprofis.ch">Learning like a
|
||
pro</a>" (original German: "Lernen wie die
|
||
Profis") which they use to explain why Free Software matters
|
||
in education. It proceeds describing individual Free Software
|
||
solutions and how these solutions in particular can be used to
|
||
make school learning efficient and easy.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<figure>
|
||
<video crossorigin="crossorigin" controls="controls">
|
||
<source type="video/mp4; codecs="avc1.42E01E, mp4a.40.2"" src="https://media.fsfe.org/download/streaming-playlists/hls/videos/767d237b-1510-4fe6-851d-b3d2815810d8-480-fragmented.mp4"/>
|
||
</video>
|
||
<figcaption>
|
||
Ralf Hersel, Coordinator of the FSFE local group Zürich, accepting the DINACon Special Award 2020. (in German)
|
||
</figcaption>
|
||
</figure>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="fsfe-women">FSFE Women group formed in 2021</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
In 2021, the <a href="https://wiki.fsfe.org/Teams/Women">FSFE
|
||
Women</a> group was created to help women and everyone who
|
||
identifies as female build connections with each other while
|
||
discussing technological issues. Starting out as a
|
||
German-speaking group, the FSFE Women turned to English in May to
|
||
welcome new members from around Europe. FSFE Women meets every
|
||
month online and covers aspects related to Free Software. In June
|
||
2021, Irmhild Rogalla gave a talk about the accessibility of
|
||
video conferencing tools, supporting a conferencing platform for
|
||
all. In July 2021, Bonnie Mehring presented 'Public Money? Public
|
||
Code!' in relation to the German elections. In August 2021, Loria
|
||
presented how maps are created in a 2D workadventu.re world. <a href="https://wiki.fsfe.org/Teams/Women">FSFE Women</a> is open
|
||
to everyone who identifies as female; it gladly welcomes new
|
||
members.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="syshackers">There is nothing that System Hackers cannot fix</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
The fact that you can read this report is also thanks to our
|
||
volunteers who call themselves System Hackers. <a href="https://wiki.fsfe.org/Teams/System-Hackers">This group</a> is
|
||
responsible for the development and maintenance of the FSFE's
|
||
technical infrastructure: servers, connectivity, virtual machines,
|
||
DNS, services, backups; a hundred of things can break in between,
|
||
but they keep it running. In 2021, there have too many exciting
|
||
changes to list them here, which is why they will write an article about
|
||
their activities within the next weeks.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="translators">Translators remove language barriers</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
The FSFE Translators team <a href="/news/2021/news-20211011-01.html">removes language
|
||
barriers</a> for Software Freedom. During the past year the team
|
||
has worked tirelessly on creating new translations and improving
|
||
old ones. Since November 2020, the translators team has created
|
||
376 new translations. Most of them are in Italian (189), followed
|
||
by Dutch with 79 new translations. The translators team has also
|
||
worked on improving the translation processes.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<figure>
|
||
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/faae0f4b83a6227b5021900843bfe39b.png" alt="multilingual"/>
|
||
<figcaption>Since November 2020, the translators team has created 376 new translations.</figcaption>
|
||
</figure>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="staffers">Staffers run day-to-day activities of the FSFE</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
Besides its dedicated volunteers, the FSFE also relies on its
|
||
employees for its daily operations. At the FSFE we currently have 7 people working full-time, 5 working part-time, and 2 interns.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
In 2021 we welcomed 6 new staffers. Since November 2020, Linda Wagener completes
|
||
bookkeeping and accounting tasks, offering a helping hand when
|
||
needed. Lina Ceballos completed her internship in the FSFE last year,
|
||
and she has now joined our permanent
|
||
team. Lina is a Project Manager focusing on PMPC, REUSE, and Router
|
||
Freedom. Also, she helps the FSFE to reach our Spanish-language audience.
|
||
</p>
|
||
<p>
|
||
Linus Sehn is our new System Administrator; he makes sure our
|
||
systems run smoothly and solves any problems that come up. Since
|
||
May 2021, Fani Partsafyllidou has been our new Project Manager and
|
||
Newsletter Editor, supporting the implementation of Youth Hacking 4
|
||
Freedom, 20 Years FSFE, and Upcycling Android. Fani makes sure that
|
||
the work of the FSFE is accurately communicated to our community.
|
||
</p>
|
||
<p>
|
||
In September 2021, Marlene Kietreiber joined our team and brings
|
||
the magic of graphic design to the FSFE. At the same time,
|
||
Niharika Singhal joined our Legal team as an intern. Would you like to join our team? We are always interested in <a href="/about/jobs/internship.html">internship applications</a>.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="ga">The General Assembly guides the progress of the FSFE</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
The FSFE is governed by its formal members, the <a href="/about/people/index.html#general-assembly">"General
|
||
Assembly"</a>, who are responsible for planning, budgeting,
|
||
and setting the agenda, as well as electing the Executive Council
|
||
which currently consists of the FSFE's President Matthias
|
||
Kirschner, Vice-President Heiki Löhmus, and Financial Officer
|
||
Patrick Ohnewein.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
The FSFE complies with the guidelines set out in <a href="https://www.transparency.de/Initiative-Transparente-Zivilg.1612.0.html">“transparent
|
||
civil society” by Transparency International Germany</a> with <a href="/about/transparency-commitment.html">our transparency
|
||
commitment</a>. Besides our constitution and minutes from our
|
||
general assemblies, you will find information in our general
|
||
reports, name and functions of decision makers and staff, our
|
||
connections with other organisations, <a href="/about/funds/funds.html">how we use our money</a>, and <a href="/donate/thankgnus.html">who our donors are</a>.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<h3 id="spreading-the-word">Spreading the word</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
We offer gratis <a href="/contribute/spreadtheword">information
|
||
packages</a>, so that people can raise awareness about software
|
||
freedom in their communities. From 1 November 2020 until now we
|
||
have sent 263 information packages. Thank you to all of you who
|
||
spread the news and help us to reach more people about Free
|
||
Software. The FSFE <a href="/order/">T-shirt collection</a> is
|
||
beloved; we have sold 700 T-shirts since 1 November 2020. Also,
|
||
we introduced two new products to celebrate 20 Years of the FSFE:
|
||
a bag, which you can see below, and a sticker.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<figure>
|
||
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/50909cb78d5fe1b599b4f00e719abfd8.jpg" alt="bag in front of a tree"/>
|
||
<figcaption>FSFE since 2001 bag</figcaption>
|
||
</figure>
|
||
|
||
<h2 id="join">Join our movement</h2>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
In the last few years, we exceeded ten thousand people from
|
||
Europe and beyond who are supporting our cause by <a href="/contribute/spreadtheword">spreading our word</a>, signing
|
||
our open letters, subscribing to our <a href="/contact/email-updates.html">community mails</a> and <a href="/news/newsletter.html">newsletter</a>, or joining our <a href="https://lists.fsfe.org/postorius/lists/discussion.lists.fsfe.org">public
|
||
discussions</a>. If you ever wondered who all these people are
|
||
and what a FSFE supporter looks like, we have created a dedicated
|
||
<a href="/about/people/testimonials">testimonials page</a> for
|
||
you, where several of our supporters have left a quote, an
|
||
interview, or a video.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
<strong>The FSFE would be nothing without our contributors. And
|
||
it would be so much more with you!</strong> If you feel inspired
|
||
after reading our report, there are many ways to engage in our
|
||
movement. We have a dedicated <a href="/contribute">contribution
|
||
page</a> to help you find a way that best fits your interests and
|
||
skills.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
One of the easiest entrance levels is to spread the word about Free
|
||
Software in public or among your friends with our <a href="/contribute/spreadtheword">promotion material</a> or directly
|
||
show your love for Free Software by wearing <a href="/order/index.html">some of our inspiring merchandise
|
||
items</a>. Follow and share our <a href="/events/events.html">event
|
||
announcements</a>, find an event that fits your interests, and then
|
||
go there to meet like-minded people. Don't be shy; most of us
|
||
have been in your position once.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
If you find no event near you, you can also join us online. If
|
||
you want to contribute with your <a href="/contribute/web/web.html">IT skills</a> or your <a href="/contribute/translators/translators.html">language
|
||
skills</a>, you are more than welcome to join our respective
|
||
online teams. Not yet sure where to start? Then look into <a href="https://community.fsfe.org/">our discourse-instance</a> and
|
||
start to get to know our community and get inspired about what
|
||
you can do.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
<strong>Finally, advocating for freedom also costs money and we depend on
|
||
people like you to <a href="https://my.fsfe.org/support">support us
|
||
financially</a>. All support is used to improve European software
|
||
freedom a little more each day, step by step, bit by bit.</strong>
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<h2 id="looking-forward">Looking forward to 2022</h2>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
In 2022, the FSFE will continue its activities while undertaking
|
||
new ones. The following paragraphs are not an exhaustive account of
|
||
our future activities, but a glimpse of what is coming up.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
In 2022 we are going to monitor the implementation of our PMPC
|
||
demands, protect Router Freedom in countries where the respective
|
||
legislation is coming up, and advocate to prevent a Radio Lockdown.
|
||
We plan to have a physical Legal and Licensing Workshop 2022 in
|
||
Gothenburg, Sweden, and will continuously evaluate the current
|
||
conditions there to ensure the safety of all participants. We are
|
||
currently preparing two exciting projects for the next year, Youth
|
||
Hacking 4 Freedom and Upcycling Android.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
<a href="https://yh4f.org">Youth Hacking 4 Freedom</a> is a coding competition to inspire young
|
||
people to Software Freedom. It is open to teenagers 14-18
|
||
from around Europe. Participants will compete in Youth Hacking for
|
||
Freedom by creating programs of their choice licensed as Free
|
||
Software. This hacking competition is a great opportunity for
|
||
young people to receive inspiration and to network with important
|
||
people of the field. For the winners, the cash prize might turn
|
||
into an investment for their own project.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<figure>
|
||
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/8bd7f4e70ea6a8d1cc2dca7a7581fe4b.png" alt="yh4f logo"/>
|
||
<figcaption>Looking forward to the Youth Hacking 4 Freedom project</figcaption>
|
||
</figure>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
Upcycling Android will be a campaign with a web presence and
|
||
practical workshops to overcome software obsolescence on Android by
|
||
installing Free Software. It will aim to achieve users' freedom and
|
||
care for the environment at the same time.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
Overall, the next year
|
||
of the FSFE is exciting and promising as we plan to reach out to a
|
||
younger audience and to highlight the importance of software
|
||
sustainability. If you are interested in following our future projects
|
||
make sure you <a href="/contact/email-updates.html">subscribe</a> to our mail updates.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<h2 id="about">About the FSFE</h2>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is a charity that
|
||
empowers people to control technology by enabling access to
|
||
software and its source code. The rights to use, study, share, and
|
||
improve this software are essential to guarantee equal
|
||
participation in democracies of the 21st century.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
Thanks to the trust of our supporters, the FSFE counts 20 years
|
||
of promoting software freedom in Europe. Our stable presence in
|
||
this field enables us to succeed in lengthy endeavours for
|
||
software freedom, and to be ready at all times to respond to
|
||
related developments. We are grateful for the trust of our
|
||
supporters, and we will keep on empowering people to control
|
||
technology.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
</body>
|
||
|
||
<tags>
|
||
<tag key="front-page"/>
|
||
<tag key="annual-report">Annual report</tag>
|
||
<tag key="fsfe20">20 Years FSFE</tag>
|
||
<tag key="community">Community</tag>
|
||
<tag key="legal">Legal Licensing Workshop</tag>
|
||
<tag key="pmpc">Public Money? Public Code!</tag>
|
||
<tag key="reuse">REUSE</tag>
|
||
<tag key="routers">Router Freedom</tag>
|
||
<tag key="podcast">Software Freedom Podcast</tag>
|
||
<tag key="sustainability">Sustainable Development Goals</tag>
|
||
<tag key="translations">Translators Team</tag>
|
||
</tags>
|
||
|
||
<image url="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/53aeebdafa0a0c83324dcafc1e4bef1c.png"/>
|
||
<translator/>
|
||
</html>
|
||
|