Aktivitäten

Seit ihrer Gründung im Jahr 2001 arbeitet die FSFE jeden Tag daran, Freie Software in Europa und darüber hinaus zu fördern. Mit unseren konkreten Aktivitäten, basierend auf den drei Säulen unserer Arbeit, konzentrieren wir uns auf den Schutz und die Erweiterung der Nutzerrechte. Einige unserer Aktionen laufen über viele Jahre, manche zielen auf kurzfristige Entwicklungen, aber alle sind Teil unserer Mission: Nutzer im selbstbestimmten Umgang mit Technik zu unterstüzten.

Ein weiterer großer Teil unserer Arbeit besteht aus kontinuierlichem Engagement und Hintergrundarbeit. Wir sind pro Jahr auf dutzenden Konferenzen präsent, unterstützen und pflegen eine exzellente Community und versorgen diese mit hilfreichen Ressourcen. Darüber hinaus sind wir eine prominente Anlaufstelle für alle Fragen und Anfragen rund um Software-Freiheit und Nutzerrechte.

  • Public Money? Public Code!

    Why is software created using taxpayers' money not released as Free Software? We want legislation requiring that publicly financed software developed for the public sector be made publicly available under a Free and Open Source Software licence. If it is public money, it should be public code as well. Code paid by the people should be available to the people!

  • Book "Ada & Zangemann"

    The illustrated book "Ada & Zangemann - a tale of software, skateboards, and raspberry ice cream" by the FSFE, tells the story of the famous inventor Zangemann and the girl Ada, a curious tinkerer. Ada begins to experiment with hardware and software, and in the process realises how crucial it is for her and others to control technology.

  • Youth Hacking 4 Freedom

    Young people, from all over Europe, compete in Youth Hacking 4 Freedom to win cash prizes by creating programs of their choice licensed as Free Software. The six winners will be invited to the Award ceremony weekend. Youth Hacking for Freedom inspires people to learn programming and to collaborate.

  • REUSE Software

    The FSFE is running a project to make licensing easy for humans and machines alike. It solves a fundamental issue that Free Software licensing has at the very source: what license is a file licensed under, and who owns the copyright? REUSE provides easy recommendations in three steps that help users, developers and legal professionals.

  • I Love Free Software

    We often underestimate the power of a simple Thank You. Free Software contributors do important work for our society and the "I Love Free Software Day" on 14 February is the perfect opportunity for you to express your special gratitude. Since 2010, we have celebrated this wonderful annual event with an ever-growing and diverse community. ♥ ♥ ♥

  • Device Neutrality

    Although digital devices are ubiquitous today, the number of devices on which users cannot run Free Software is exponentially increasing. The consequence is an increased loss of control over users’ technology. Device Neutrality aims to enable end-users to bypass gatekeepers to have a non-discriminatory use of Free Software on their devices.

  • Digital Markets Act

    Device Neutrality is the policy concept to regulate monopoly over devices and re-establish end-user control over their digital equipment. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulates the economic activity of large digital platforms and introduces Device Neutrality in the EU legislation, fostering access to Free Sofware in Devices.

  • Router Freedom

    Although we should be free to choose the technical devices we use in our private lives, some European Internet Service Providers are dictating which device their customers have to use to connect to the Internet, or discriminating against owners of alternative devices. This undermines our basic freedom of choice.

  • Free Your Android

    Android is a mostly free operating system but unfortunately the drivers for most devices and most applications in the built-in store are not Free Software. This initiative helps you to regain control of your Android device and your data. We collect information about running an Android system as freely as possible and try to coordinate the efforts in this area.

  • Next Generation Internet

    The FSFE is a partner organisation of NGI, a coalition of non-profit organisations from across Europe. Funded by the EC, it provides grants to work on new ideas and technologies that contribute to the establishment of the Next Generation Internet. The FSFE provides legal support for these projects.

  • Licence Questions

    The FSFE’s Licence Questions mailing list is our group of volunteers dedicated to provide help with Free Software licences and compliance. If you need advice on what Free Software licence you should use, or if you want to know more about what rights you have over a piece of Free Software, you can contact us.

  • The ZOOOM Initiative

    The FSFE is part of these European consortium to promote and raise awareness about the importance of Free Software, Open Data, and Open Hardware among academia, business, industry, and innovation supporting organizations. As a big part of our work, we are promoting the REUSE specification as an important element for licensing compliance.

  • Legal Network

    The Legal Network is a neutral, non-partisan, group of experts involved in Free Software legal issues with currently several hundreds of participants from different legal systems, academic backgrounds and affiliations. The aim of the Legal Network is to promote discussion and foster better knowledge of the legal constructs that back Free Software.

Weitere Aktivitäten

  • Fiduciary Programme

    The Fiduciary License Agreement (FLA) allows software projects to assign and consolidate copyrights to a named fiduciary, for the effective management of their copyright status by this fiduciary. This permits developers to focus on making great applications, rather than spending their time dealing with legal administration. While the FSFE no longer accepts new projects under the Fiduciary Programme, we continue to offer customisable versions of the Fiduciary License Agreement (FLA) for your use.

  • Upcycling AndroidAbgeschlossen

    Keep using your phone with Free Software. Upcycling Android explains the issue of software obsolescence in the Android world and helps people flashing their phones with Free Software operating systems.

  • 20 Years FSFEAbgeschlossen

    In 2021, the Free Software Foundation Europe turns 20. Throughout this time we have empowered users to use, study, share, and improve software. In 20 Years FSFE, we thank everyone who helped us along the way. Here you will find interviews discussing the FSFE progress as well as technological issues. You are welcome to celebrate with us!

  • Radio Lockdown Directive

    An EU regulation may make it impossible to install a custom piece of software on most radio devices like WiFi routers, smartphones, and embedded devices. It requires hardware manufacturers to implement a barrier that disallows users to install any software which has not been certified by them. We are working to avoid the expected negative implications on user rights and Free Software, security, fair competition, the environment, and charitable community initiatives.

  • Electoral Activities

    What better time is there to ask politicians about their stance on Free Software and Open Standards than in the time before an election? We believe that we can and should make these topics an issue in all elections, be it on a European, national, regional, or local level. Depending on the electoral system and culture, there are different strategies and tools we use: Ask Your Candidates a set of questions, the Digital-O-Mat online tool, the Freedomvote online platform, and the Let's Promise pledges.

  • Software Patents in Europe

    We are working towards a world where software does what software users want it to do. For this, software users must be able to participate in the development and distribution of the software. Software patents block this goal by adding legal and financial risks to software development and distribution and by giving the patent holders legal power to completely prohibit software developers from using the patented ideas.

  • Learn like a pro

    An initiative aiming to bring Free Software in Education. Goal of the campaign is to increase the digital sovereignty and competence of the students, but also of the teachers. Created by the local group Zurich, Lernen wie die profis ("learning like the professionals"), has been awarded the DINAcon Award. The activity is in German.

  • PDFreaders

    With the PDFreaders campaign we turn the spotlight on government organisations who advertise proprietary PDF readers, exposing how frequent such advertisements for non-free software are. With the help of activists across Europe, we contacted these organisations and explained to them how to improve their websites so that they respect our freedom. On pdfreaders.org we present Free Software PDF readers for all major operating systems.

  • DRM.info

    DRM.info ist eine von der FSFE initiierte gemeinschaftliche Plattform, um über die Gefahren von Digitalem Restriktionsmanagement zu informieren und um die Bedenken verschiedener Gruppen auszudrücken. Zu den Unterstützern von DRM.info gehören Organisationen für digitale Freiheit, Verbraucherschützer, Netz-Aktivisten und Bibliotheksorganisationen.

  • Microsoft vs. EU Antitrust CaseAbgeschlossen

    In 2001 the European Union started investigating Microsoft's dominant position in the market for desktop operating systems. The FSFE played two key roles in this case. First, we represented the interests of Free Software developers. Second, we are a public interest organisation who cannot be bought off. Thanks to the excellent work by all involved parties, the case has been won in all rulings up to the European Court of Justice in 2012.

  • Reports about conferences, events, and booths

    The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) regularly participates in various conferences across Europe. These events feature talks and workshops aimed at discussing the diverse activities conducted by the FSFE. Here, you will find a compilation of the latest reports from these engaging events.

  • Software Freedom Podcast

    Learn more about Free Software and the people working for software freedom with our Software Freedom Podcast! Tune in to our episodes and be inspired by the remarkable individuals from the Free Software community. Each episode takes you on an exciting adventure, exploring a unique topic related to software freedom

  • FOSS4SMEsAbgeschlossen

    FOSS4SMEs was a two years collaborative Erasmus+ project. The FSFE worked together with five organisations with different geographical and work backgrounds to spread and extend the knowledge about Free Software. To reach this objective, the project developed free online educational resources for managers and staff of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

  • 15 Years AnniversaryAbgeschlossen

    Since its foundation in 2001 we have achieved many things. The FSFE has been instrumental in a successful antitrust-case, maintained software patents unenforceable in Europe, avoiding a veritable apocalypse for small and medium-sized tech companies, and set ground-breaking legal precedents for the whole of the EU. It's time to celebrate the last 15 years!

  • EURA Slovakia caseAbgeschlossen

    The Slovak company EURA Slovakia has been facing EUR 5600 in fines because it did not buy and use the Microsoft Windows operating system for submitting electronic tax reports. Slovak tax administration gave EURA only two options: either to buy and use Microsoft Windows or face the fines. The FSFE assisted in this case to advocate for platform-neutral solutions for such procedures instead. Unfortunately, the court decided against Free Software and Open Standards, but we were able to raise awareness about these wrongdoings in Slovakia and beyond.

  • Unlock Education in the NetherlandsAbgeschlossen

    We want to enable all citizens to have free access to education and all other public institutions, both online and offline. We wish to achieve this by pushing for a mandatory use of Open Standards and guaranteed platform-independent access to all materials required in the public educational system. This allows students and parents to use Free Software, enabling them to tap into their potential for personal growth and development, without being made dependent of a company. This activity was specifically aimed at the Dutch education sector.

  • AVM GPL violationAbgeschlossen

    Can a company modify GPL-licensed software on a third-party device? The router manufacturer AVM accused Cybits of copyright infringement and trademark claims because they modify the original router firmware which is largely based on the Linux kernel. Together with gpl-violations.org we successfully convinced the court that the provisions in the GPL license are binding: software under this license can be freely modified and installed even if it is shipped as part of an embedded device's firmware.

  • 7th EC Framework Programme (FP7)Abgeschlossen

    The European Commission funds research and development through official framework programmes (FP for short). From 2007 these framework programmes were used to select projects for support until 2013. The FSFE played a central role in supported projects related to Free Software.

  • STACSAbgeschlossen

    STACS (Science, technology and civil society) ist ein Projekt, dass darauf abzielt, die Zivilgesellschaft mit der Forschung zusammen zu bringen um die gesellschaftlichen Relevanz der Forschung zu verbessern. Dieses Ziel soll durch die Weiterbildung zivilgesellschaftlicher Organisationen und Wissenschaftlern erreicht werden, um gemeinsame Projekte zu finden, in denen in Zukunft zusammengearbeitet werden kann.

  • Internet Governance Forum (IGF)Abgeschlossen

    Das Internet Governance Forum (IGF) ist ein globales Richtlinien-Diskussionsforum der Vereinten Nationen, das als ein Ableger des Weltgipfels der Vereinten Nationen zur Informationsgesellschaft (WSIS) entstanden ist. Die FSFE verfolgte das IGF um sicher zu stellen, dass die diskutierten Richtlinien digitale Freiheit im Allgemeinen und Freie Software im Speziellen nicht gefährden.

  • SELFAbgeschlossen

    Das SELF Projekt (Wissenschaft, Erziehung und Bildung in Freiheit), hat das erstellen einer Quelle von Bildungsmaterial über Freie Software und Offenen Standards zum Ziel. Dies wird durch das zur Verfügung stellen einer Plattform für gemeinschaftliche Entwicklung von Bildungsmaterial, sowie durch Engagement in die Entwicklung von heute in diesem Bereich fehlendes Bildungsmaterial erreicht.

  • MS-OOXMLAbgeschlossen

    Since the very beginning of the standardisation process for Microsoft's Office Open XML - OOXML (hereinafter MS-OOXML), the FSFE has expressed serious doubts about whether MS-OOXML could be considered as open, if even as a standard at all. The FSFE first raised the issue in the community and led the movement against the standardisation of MS-OOXML, following closely over the years the relevant developments.

  • IPRED2Abgeschlossen

    Die Europäischen Kommission hat eine zweite Richtlinie zur Durchsetzung "geistiger Eigentums Rechte" vorgeschlagen. Das Ziel dieser Richtlinie ist die Kriminalisierung aller "vorsätzlichen, kommerziellen" Rechtsverletzungen und die Teilhabe der Rechteinhaber an den Untersuchungen. Die FSFE zeigte den EU Institutionen auf, wie solche Gesetze den Mißbrauch des Rechtssystems fördern und eine abschreckende Wirkung auf gesetzestreue Tätigkeiten haben.

  • GPLv3Abgeschlossen

    Im Jahr 2006 findet die einjährige Beratungsphase zum Entwurf der GNU General Public License Version 3 statt. Diese Lizenz, gewöhnlich "Die GPL" genannt, ist die bei weitem meistgenutzte Lizenz für Freie Software. Die Free Software Foundation Europe unterstützt diesen Prozess indem sie das allgemeine Verständnis über die GPL verbessert, anderen hilft an diesem Prozess teilzunehmen, Informationen veröffentlicht und Konferenzen organisiert.

  • World Intellectual Property OrganizationAbgeschlossen

    Die World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) ist eine von 16 spezialisierten Agenturen des Systems der Vereinten Nationen. Ihre Rolle ist die Verwaltung von 23 internationalen Verträgen zu verschiedenen Aspekten begrenzter Monopole auf Wissen. Als Beobachter der WIPO und gemeinsam mit einer globalen Koalition anderer Teilnehmer mit ähnlichen Zielen, arbeitete die FSFE daran, sie zur "Weltorganisation für geistigen Reichtum" umzugestalten.

  • World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)Abgeschlossen

    The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was a two-summit UN conference organised by the ITU at which important cornerstones for the information and knowledge society were proposed to be laid. The FSFE participated along with other civil societies to make sure that the principles of the digital age would protect digital freedom, sharing of knowledge, access to information, and Free Software.

  • Brave GNU WorldAbgeschlossen

    The Brave GNU World was a monthly column issued from 1999 to 2004 that addressed technical and non-technical readers alike. Its aim was to provide insights into current projects and developments based upon the philosophy of Free Software. The Brave GNU World was translated into nine languages, possibly making it the farthest-spread monthly column worldwide.

  • 6th EC Framework Programme (FP6)Abgeschlossen

    Funding of research and development by the European Commission is usually done within the "framework programmes" (FPs). These last for four years and FP6 started officially on December 17th, 2002. The FSFE sought to help with Free Software related activities in FP6.

  • GNU Business NetworkAbgeschlossen

    The GNU Business Network had the vision to network all companies, developers and users in and around Free Software in a way that the potential synergies are encouraged and informed decisions become possible.

  • Classification of Free Software as a World Cultural HeritageAbgeschlossen

    The objectives were to have Free Software classified as an intangible world cultural heritage by UNESCO, and registered in the World Memory Register (another UNESCO project). The Free Software community and UNESCO share the same values of freedom, equality, and fraternity. Such a recognition would be a great promotion of Free Software.

  • AGNULA: A GNU/Linux Audio distributionAbgeschlossen

    The AGNULA project aimed at the creation of a fully functional, entirely Free Software GNU/Linux distribution for professional audio users. It is a project run by key players in the audio field with funding by the European Commission. The FSFE as a partner of this project is taking care of the legal issues, the long-term aspects and also making sure the Free Software community interests are heard.

  • EUCD - Copyright extensions that harmAbgeschlossen

    The European Copyright Directive (EUCD) was the European equivalent of the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). These laws not only lead to the creation of monopolies and cartels, they also provide serious impediments to the Freedoms of speech and press, as they provide means for digital censorship. The FSFE was actively involved in the resistance against such harmful legislation.

  • TUX&GNU@school columnAbgeschlossen

    The TUX&GNU@school column was a regular column about Free Software in education written by by Mario Fux. It informed about educational Free Software, useful web sites on the topic and other interesting topics for teachers, students and all software freedom advocates.

  • We speak about Free SoftwareAbgeschlossen

    Free Software is often referred to as "Open Source". But we are convinced that Free Software is the better term: easier to understand, harder to abuse, well-defined, providing additional value, and offering freedom. We connected companies, organisations and even co-founders of the Open Source movement that prefer to use the term Free Software.