Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure
Encyclopedia
The Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure or FFII is a non-profit organisation based in Munich, Germany, dedicated to establishing a free market in information technology
, by the removal of barriers to competition. The FFII played a key organisational role and was very active in the campaign which resulted in the rejection of the EU software patent directive
in July 2005.
CNET
awarded the FFII the Outstanding contribution to software development award for this work, which was the result of years of research, policy, and action. After the July 2005 victory, FFII has continued to defend a free and competitive software market by working towards adequate patent systems and open standards. Currently the FFII fights against software patent
s lobbies, not only in Europe but also in other parts of the world.
FFII has been active on this front since 2000 when, according to the FFII, an attempt to change the European Patent Convention
to legitimise software patents failed. In 2003, it strongly but indirectly lobbied the European Parliament against the proposed Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions
.
FFII is the leading European NGO on this issue. Through its partnership with many other European organisations with the same goal, it has a reach across all nations of the EU.
The EuroLinux
anti-software-patent petition, supported and promoted by FFII, was signed by more than 1,500 SMEs, many thousand software developer
s, tens of thousands of software users system administrator
s as well as a number of scientist
s, academics and economist
s for a total of 400,000 signatories.
FFII organises conferences about the topic, usually in Brussels
, such as the conference which took place on April 14, 2004 together with a demonstration of more than 400 people against software patents the one on November 9-10, 2004. In Karlsruhe
, FFII organised a demonstration of about 1,000 people against software patents.
has contributed regularly, as have Red Hat
, and Stichting NLnet. The historical list of donors from 1999 to 2005 can be found on the FFII web site.
The FFII exists as a mother organisation with more or less formal chapters in many countries. The national FFII chapters (such as FFII France) handle national membership, media and lobbying, while the mother organisation operates at the EU level and in countries where there is no formal FFII organisation.
As of December 2010, the FFII board consists of Benjamin Henrion (President), Rene Mages (Vice president), Stephan Uhlmann (Treasurer), André Rebentisch (Secretary), Hartmut Pilch.
enforcements, such as working to improve Copyright Regulation by providing technical analysis, amendments and voting recommendations that may influence the European Parliament.
, EFFI
, ABUL, AFUL, FSF Europe, Vrijschrift
, SKOSI among others.
Free Information Infrastructure
Free Information Infrastructure is a term used primarily in Europe mirroring the official US term National Information Infrastructure, introduced in early nineties by a U.S. Patent Office paper...
, by the removal of barriers to competition. The FFII played a key organisational role and was very active in the campaign which resulted in the rejection of the EU software patent directive
Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions
The Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions , procedure number 2002/0047 was a proposal for a European Union directive aimed to harmonise national patent laws and practices concerning the granting of patents...
in July 2005.
CNET
CNET
CNET is a tech media website that publishes news articles, blogs, and podcasts on technology and consumer electronics. Originally founded in 1994 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie, it was the flagship brand of CNET Networks and became a brand of CBS Interactive through CNET Networks' acquisition...
awarded the FFII the Outstanding contribution to software development award for this work, which was the result of years of research, policy, and action. After the July 2005 victory, FFII has continued to defend a free and competitive software market by working towards adequate patent systems and open standards. Currently the FFII fights against software patent
Software patent
Software patent does not have a universally accepted definition. One definition suggested by the Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure is that a software patent is a "patent on any performance of a computer realised by means of a computer program".In 2005, the European Patent Office...
s lobbies, not only in Europe but also in other parts of the world.
Views
FFII's view is that software patents present a burden, not a benefit to society. It backs this position up citing extensive studies.FFII has been active on this front since 2000 when, according to the FFII, an attempt to change the European Patent Convention
European Patent Convention
The Convention on the Grant of European Patents of 5 October 1973, commonly known as the European Patent Convention , is a multilateral treaty instituting the European Patent Organisation and providing an autonomous legal system according to which European patents are granted...
to legitimise software patents failed. In 2003, it strongly but indirectly lobbied the European Parliament against the proposed Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions
Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions
The Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions , procedure number 2002/0047 was a proposal for a European Union directive aimed to harmonise national patent laws and practices concerning the granting of patents...
.
FFII is the leading European NGO on this issue. Through its partnership with many other European organisations with the same goal, it has a reach across all nations of the EU.
The EuroLinux
EuroLinux
EuroLinux is a campaigning organisation that promotes open source software / free software in Europe, and that are opposed to the European Union's proposals to introduce laws on software patents...
anti-software-patent petition, supported and promoted by FFII, was signed by more than 1,500 SMEs, many thousand software developer
Software developer
A software developer is a person concerned with facets of the software development process. Their work includes researching, designing, developing, and testing software. A software developer may take part in design, computer programming, or software project management...
s, tens of thousands of software users system administrator
System administrator
A system administrator, IT systems administrator, systems administrator, or sysadmin is a person employed to maintain and operate a computer system and/or network...
s as well as a number of scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
s, academics and economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
s for a total of 400,000 signatories.
FFII organises conferences about the topic, usually in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, such as the conference which took place on April 14, 2004 together with a demonstration of more than 400 people against software patents the one on November 9-10, 2004. In Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe
The City of Karlsruhe is a city in the southwest of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located near the French-German border.Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states...
, FFII organised a demonstration of about 1,000 people against software patents.
Structure
The FFII was funded originally by donations from SuSE and Infomatec. The Open Society InstituteOpen Society Institute
The Open Society Institute , renamed in 2011 to Open Society Foundations, is a private operating and grantmaking foundation started by George Soros, aimed to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform...
has contributed regularly, as have Red Hat
Red Hat
Red Hat, Inc. is an S&P 500 company in the free and open source software sector, and a major Linux distribution vendor. Founded in 1993, Red Hat has its corporate headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina with satellite offices worldwide....
, and Stichting NLnet. The historical list of donors from 1999 to 2005 can be found on the FFII web site.
The FFII exists as a mother organisation with more or less formal chapters in many countries. The national FFII chapters (such as FFII France) handle national membership, media and lobbying, while the mother organisation operates at the EU level and in countries where there is no formal FFII organisation.
As of December 2010, the FFII board consists of Benjamin Henrion (President), Rene Mages (Vice president), Stephan Uhlmann (Treasurer), André Rebentisch (Secretary), Hartmut Pilch.
Campaigns
Besides software patents, FFII promotes various campaigns aimed at disencumbering computing and software development. These include supporting author's rights and InteroperabilityInteroperability
Interoperability is a property referring to the ability of diverse systems and organizations to work together . The term is often used in a technical systems engineering sense, or alternatively in a broad sense, taking into account social, political, and organizational factors that impact system to...
enforcements, such as working to improve Copyright Regulation by providing technical analysis, amendments and voting recommendations that may influence the European Parliament.
Partners in Europe
EuroLinuxEuroLinux
EuroLinux is a campaigning organisation that promotes open source software / free software in Europe, and that are opposed to the European Union's proposals to introduce laws on software patents...
, EFFI
Effi
Effi is C++ application development framework.- Overview :Effi is application development framework. It provides full range of development tools to create web-based C++ software applications with rich Windows-like GUI....
, ABUL, AFUL, FSF Europe, Vrijschrift
Vrijschrift
Vrijschrift is a Dutch organization concerned with freedom of information. From the objectives,: "Vrijschrift creates awareness about the economic and social meaning of free knowledge and culture for our society. Vrijschrift fulfills both a protecting and promoting role...
, SKOSI among others.
See also
- Software patent debateSoftware patent debateThe software patent debate is the argument dealing with the extent to which it should be possible to patent software and computer-implemented inventions as a matter of public policy. Policy debate on software patents has been active for years. The opponents to software patents have gained more...
- Software patentSoftware patentSoftware patent does not have a universally accepted definition. One definition suggested by the Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure is that a software patent is a "patent on any performance of a computer realised by means of a computer program".In 2005, the European Patent Office...
- EU Directive on the Patentability of Computer-Implemented Inventions
- Hartmut PilchHartmut PilchHartmut Pilch founded the Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure or FFII, and is a simultaneous conference interpreter, translator and software developer, who lives in Munich, Germany...
- European Information, Communications and Consumer Electronics Technology Industry AssociationsEuropean Information, Communications and Consumer Electronics Technology Industry AssociationsDIGITALEUROPE is European digital economy based in Brussels, Belgium. The association represents the interests of both national associations and corporate organisations operating in the information technology and consumer electronics sector in Europe towards The European parliament and the European...
(EICTA)
External links
- FFII main site
- FFII's example web shop with 20 examples of software patents
- FFII: Written submissions about the FTC/Doj report