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April's English translation team is recruiting volunteers

Submitted by fcouchet on 11 June, 2013 - 10:07
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Founded in 1996, April is the main French advocacy association devoted to promoting and protecting Free/Libre Software. Most of the documents published by April are in French; more and more campaigns, however, need to be run at an international level. For example, in the fight against software patents in Europe, we set up the English-language Web site Unitary-Patent.eu. Furthermore, we wish to share our experience with readers from other countries.

French MPs adopt a government amendment which denies priority to free software in the future public service for digital education

Submitted by jtadeusz on 5 June, 2013 - 19:10
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Paris, 4 June 2013. Press release.

During the second reading of a draft law dealing with the reorganisation of state schools, French MPs voted in favor of a governmental amendment which denies priority to free software in the future public service for digital education. April denounces a political manoeuver which serves private interests at the cost of public interest.

The French government refuses to give priority to Free Software in the future "Public Service for Digital Education"

Submitted by fcouchet on 3 June, 2013 - 09:35
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June 4th, 2013. UPDATE: the amendment was adopted by the French National Assembly. The debate will continue in the Senate.

For French people : please read also our call for action (in French)

Paris, May 31st, 2013. Press release.

Education: the French Senate demands that the public service for digital education uses in priority free software and open formats

Submitted by jtadeusz on 23 May, 2013 - 22:09
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The French Senate examines a reoganisation of public schools ("refondation de l'école de la République", in French) bill this week. Among the provisions introduced by culture, education and communication committee, April particularly welcomes an amendment to Art. 101

Lescure report and DRM: good intentions nullified by three letters: CSA

Submitted by jtadeusz on 14 May, 2013 - 15:05
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Paris, May 13th, 2013. Press release.

Unitary Patent : ECJ lets the Council get away with the Enhanced Cooperation

Submitted by jtadeusz on 17 April, 2013 - 10:50
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On April 16th, 2013, the European Court of Justice finally gave its opinion on the appeal by Spain and Italy against the Council's decision to start an enhanced cooperation on the Unitary Patent. April regrets that the ECJ decided to blindly follow the Advocate General opinion by dismissing the action in full.

Open formats, what for?

Submitted by tboyer on 27 March, 2013 - 10:10
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To celebrate Document Freedom Day April has published a poster to explain to software users how opting for "open formats" to exchange and store their files in their interest.

Tell W3C: We don't want the Hollyweb

Submitted by fcouchet on 23 March, 2013 - 20:18
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Hollywood is at it again. Its latest ploy to take over the Web? Use its influence at the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to weave Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) into HTML5 — in other words, into the very fabric of the Web. The Free Software Foundation launched a petition "Tell W3C: We don't want the Hollyweb".

April has published an English translation of the Ayrault memorandum on the usage of Free Software in the French administration

Submitted by fcouchet on 20 March, 2013 - 11:57
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In September, 2012 was published a circular, signed by the French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, which presents "Orientations and Recommendations relative to the Use of Free Software in French Administration". This document is the result of an interdepartmental work carried out by the DISIC ("Direction interministérielle des systèmes d'information et de communication", Interdepartmental Direction Directorate of information systems and communication).

French Prime Minister instructions on the usage of Free Software in the French administration

Submitted by fcouchet on 20 March, 2013 - 11:57
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About the "Ayrault Memorandum" and this translation

The "Ayrault Memorandum"

The "Ayrault Memorandum" (circulaire Ayrault, in French) is a document, signed in September 2012 by the French Prime Minister, presenting guidelines and recommendations on the proper use of Free Software in the French administration. The document was mainly produced by the DISIC (the Department of Interministerial Systems Information and Communication) and the CIO of some departments.

Happy birthday to Richard Stallman

Submitted by tboyer on 16 March, 2013 - 10:56
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April published its annual report for 2012

Submitted by tboyer on 12 March, 2013 - 12:46
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Cover page of the report

Response toward Villeurbanne's city request for public-market proposals concerning the migration of computer stations to Microsoft software

Submitted by tboyer on 12 March, 2013 - 12:37
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The city of Villeurbanne recently put out a request for public-market proposals concerning the migration of computer stations to Microsoft software Windows Seven and MS Office 2010). This call for tender is problematic, since it requires a single proprietary solution and de facto excludes Free Software. April's members from the region have written to the mayor of Villeurbanne, to the general councilors, and to the municipal councilors to denounce the noncompliance with the principals of public procurement.

Software Patents: only Gandalf can protect Europe from the Unitary Patent

Submitted by jtadeusz on 25 February, 2013 - 16:47
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On February 25th, 2013, Gérald Sédrati-Dinet, volunteer expert on patents at April, published a text on the fight against the Unitary Patent. He writes about the reasons why it was essential to engage on the issue, its different stages, but also about the threat posed by software patents and about possible future actions.

Microsoft « Open Bar » Contract - April Writes to the French Government and Parliament

Submitted by april on 15 February, 2013 - 15:10
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Letters sent by April about the "open bar" contract

On 5 February 2013, PCINpact revealed an ongoing renegotiation around Microsoft's "Open Bar" offer to the French Ministry of Defence.

April demands the negociations between Microsoft and the French Ministry of Defence to be suspended and transparency to be made on this subject.

Submitted by jtadeusz on 7 February, 2013 - 10:28
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Paris, February 6th, 2013. Press release.

PCINpact revealed on Feb. 5th 2013 an ongoing renegotiation on Microsoft's « Open Bar » offer to the French Ministry of Defence. The initial contract has been concluded in 2009 without any call for tender and it seems to have neglecting many public procurement principles. April demands the suspension of this renegotiation and transparency about this issue.

Signature of the Free Sofware Foundation's statement against software installation restriction

Submitted by fcouchet on 4 February, 2013 - 13:48
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April has signed the Free Software Foundation's statement against restrictions on software installation on computers named "Secure Boot" (however, it is currently up for grabs whether this technology will live up to its name, or will instead earn the name "Restricted Boot").

This sytem is part of what we call "treacherous computing", whose purpose is to prevent users from controlling their computers for the benefit of a few monopolistic companies. This is one of the dangers threatening Free Software.

IPRED: the fake consultation of the European Commission

Submitted by jtadeusz on 1 February, 2013 - 16:23
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The European Commission launched in the end of 2012 a public consultation on IPRED, on which answers shoud be sent before March 30th, 2013.

Fleur Pellerin Announces the Need for a Legislative Framework Favorable to Free Software. What are her proposals?

Submitted by jtadeusz on 22 January, 2013 - 18:04
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On January 15th, 2013, the minister in charge of SMEs, innovation, and the digital economy, Fleur Pellerin, responded to a written question by the member of parliament Jean-Jacques Candelier.

Report of the workshop of the European Commission on FRAND and Free Software licenses (Brussels, 22 November 2012)

Submitted by fcouchet on 20 December, 2012 - 11:34
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On 22 November 2012, the European Commission organized a workshop, which April attended, on the FRAND licenses and open standards.

During that day, many people spoke out to remind those in attendance of the importance of truly open standards, be it for competition, for data continuity, or to avoid technological confinement. Even if the European Commission has already said that this day would not lead to legislative progress strictly speaking, April is pleased to note that most of the players in the field concur on the need to use open standards.

Unitary Patent: Keys for European Patent Office and Door to European Parliament

Submitted by jtadeusz on 11 December, 2012 - 15:59
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Paris, December 11th, 2012. Press Release.

On Tuesday December 11th, 2012, the European Parliament voted for the regulation on the unitary patent: Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have eventually accepted the text despite all legal, economic and political concerns over which we had warned them1.

Unitary patent: Poland could leave the vessel, the European institutions still in denial

Submitted by fcouchet on 8 December, 2012 - 16:20
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Only a few days before the debate and vote on the proposed unitary patent on December 10th and 11th, 2012, new information is still coming to reinforce further the project's lack of any viability:

Unitary Patent: Eva Lichtenberger sends an open letter to her fellow MEPs

Submitted by jtadeusz on 4 December, 2012 - 13:46
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Eva Lichtenberger, a Green/EFA Member of the European Parliament, sent on Tuesday, Dec 4th 2012 an open letter to all MEPs, warning them of the threat posed by the unitary patent and asking them to postpone the vote, in order to have a real debate and ensure the legality of the patent package.

Here is the text of her letter:

OPEN LETTER TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PARLIAMENT

Dear colleagues,

Unitary Patent: crazy schedule ahead, MEPs asked to take a step back and think it through

Submitted by jtadeusz on 4 December, 2012 - 13:10
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The plenary regarding the unitary patent is looming, with the deadline for amendements tabled in less than 24 hours, on Wednesday, Dec 5th 2012 at noon.

Power to the parliament and no software patents ! Call Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) before December 5th, 2012 at noon

Submitted by fcouchet on 3 December, 2012 - 10:00
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The European Parliament is about to vote for a regulation on the unitary patent, during its plenary session, on December 11th, 2012.

Unitary Patent: the legal services of the European Parliament confirms doubts about illegalities, MEPs plunge ahead

Submitted by jtadeusz on 27 November, 2012 - 16:46
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Paris, November 28th, 2012. Press release.

On Monday, November 26th, 2012, the legal affairs (JURI) Committee of the European Parliament held an exchange of views with the legal services1 on the legality of the Cypriot compromise on the unitary patent regulation. Once again, the illegalities of the project have been made obvious, but nonetheless the European Parliament seems decided to go forward. April calls for a re-examination of the text and the possibility to amend it, to ensure legal certainty.

Unitary patent - meeting of JURI Committee Monday November 26th with legal service of EP, contact MEPs to ask questions

Submitted by fcouchet on 26 November, 2012 - 10:54
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On Monday November 26th, 2012, the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) at 15.45 of the European Parliament holds an exchange of views about unitary patent package in the presence of the legal service of the European Parliament. This is an opportunity for MEPs to question the legality of the last compromise proposed by Cyprus Presidency of the Council, as well as long-standing legal flaws in the Commission's initial proposal.

Contact MEPs to ask questions