Re: Reiter, nicht Breiter

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Re: Reiter, nicht Breiter
by Erik Janssen on Wednesday 01/Sep/2004, @10:16

Transparency: Mailing list, decision process, election

"A yearly budget of ~50,000 EUR is near nothing. You can't expect them to make high jumps/wide leaps with so little money to spend. [..] I guess you've already written several letters to your representatives (in your country's government and in the European government) telling them how you feel about software patents. If not, then don't blame it on the FSFE if software patents are legalized in Europe."

Letters don't count, you have to talk to them, personally. What persons feel is irrelevant, Decision makers have to be triggered with good prepared arguments and facts, what is needed is training for lobbying. FFII's approach is too broad as they try to get involved in everything. And Greve missed many chances to do something substancial on software patents and DRM. Instead he makes himself rare and arrives in time for the press photo. I don't see a substancial contribution of FSFE in the software patents or DRM debate or even a operational approach. What was the FSF directive proposal for Sept 23? What did FSF do against the IPR Enforcement directive?

"don't blame it on the FSFE if software patents are legalized in Europe"

It is the lack of organisation of our interests in the political field. I am not responsible for the FSFE's failure in fundraising. Perhaps it only gets 50 000 Euro because of work which most people think is irrelevant for them. Who cares whether a UN-talkshop invites Greve when we face problems with DRM devices and patents. Perhaps it is the kind of hermetic organisation that does not let you particiapte on the efforts. Perhaps it is the result of the "Greve takes it all" principle.

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Re: Reiter, nicht Breiter
by Tom on Wednesday 01/Sep/2004, @10:25

On the issue of software patents, you couldn't be more wrong. The FSFE, both in its own name and through helping its associated national members, has been doing *a lot* on the issue.

George Greve, Bernhard Reiter and others have made regular trips to Brussels and Strasbourg. They've held many meetings with high-ranking officials, and have even been in the group of German representatives to events like World Summit on Information Society.

They may not have saved free software - money is very much the issue here... with more they could hire people like Bernhard full time and massively improve their influence - but to paint the FSFE as a good-for-nothing waste of time, and as an unjustified media hog, is completely inaccurate.

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Re: Reiter, nicht Breiter
by Erik Janssen on Wednesday 01/Sep/2004, @10:33

Eastern Europe is an example. The FSFE could do a lot in Eastern Europe for swpat lobbying. I just see what RMS does and what the FSFE does.

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Re: Reiter, nicht Breiter
by Tom on Wednesday 01/Sep/2004, @11:22

Well again, how do you propose that a group of volunteers do more in Eastern Europe without additional funding? They don't even have the time to properly lobby in the Western European nations (though they do a very good job with the time they have) so how are they supposed to do lots in Eastern Europe as well?

I assume you are referring to RMS' recent tour of Europe, which included some speeches in Eastern Europe. He has the time to do that because the FSF can cover the work needed in North America, and because it is but a few visits. I'm sure that if George Greve were invited there he would go; in fact I'm fairly sure he already has.

Really, unless you personally have committed a substantial amount more of your time than the FSFE volunteers to Eastern Europe, or unless you have donated a substantial amount of money that you thought was misused, you can't go criticising the FSFE for inaction.

Rather than attacking them here, your time would be better spent helping them!

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Re: Reiter, nicht Breiter
by Jan on Thursday 02/Sep/2004, @02:32

Hope somebody from fsfe will be in Markelo,NL at the Vrijschrift Patent meeting
17-20 Sept, can RMs be brought to the event, this would be great

http://wiki.vrijschrift.nl/MarkeloEvent0409

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Re: Reiter, nicht Breiter
by anocomm on Thursday 02/Sep/2004, @05:37

Did you get in touch with them to ask? Did you invite them?

I think email might be a much more suitable medium than posting in fora. :)

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Re: Reiter, nicht Breiter
by anonymous on Thursday 02/Sep/2004, @02:08

> Perhaps it is the result of the "Greve takes it all" principle.

You don't seem to know much about the principles of the FSFE.

Anyone who cares to find out about its history will easily discover that FSFE started by Greve initiating it, taking a personal credit from the bank to start working full-time and afterwards working insane hours for dirt payment. Maybe "Greve gives it all" would be a more adequate description.

But in fact the FSFE is not revolving around Greve and if you cared to do something else than attacking those who do get active in unfair ways, you could get involved with them and find out for yourself.

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