Founded in 1996, April is the main French advocacy association
devoted to promote and protect Free/Libre Software.
April,
made up of nearly 2 000 members (individuals, companies, and
organizations),
is a pioneer of Free Software in
France. Since 1996, it is a major player in the field of Free
Software. Its aim: making Free Software more accessible for the
general public, professionals and institutions, and thus more
widespread. It also acts as a watchdog on digital freedoms, warning
the public about the dangers of private interests keeping an exclusive
stranglehold on information and knowledge.
Its goals are to promote free software and open standards towards individuals, institutions and companies in the French-speaking space, to protect free software users and authors rights, and to favour knowledge sharing.
Its actions and campaigns are very diversified :
- relay information and actions towards written press, radio and television. April is now seen by journalists are a reference for questions related to free software and numeric freedoms, and is often asked to give its opinion about new
issues, or to answer interviews or write articles ;
- keep a constant vigilance about all decisions, articles concerning free software, and react appropriately ;
- inform elected persons and political representatives, promote a progressist legislation concerning information technology, patents and copyright, in order to protect the interests of free software authors and users, and to create a legislative environment favorable to free software ;
- raise awareness of the public of the dangers of DRM, patents, over-protection of copyright, and more generally of the dangers of an exclusive appropriation of knowledge and information ;
- give around thirty conferences each year, take part to around twenty events, in several program commitees, jurys, and take part in the organization of big events such as the Libre Software Meeting and Paris Capitale du Libre ;
- create parternship with institutions, non-governemental organizations. For example, April takes part of a new course dedicated to "Free Software Engineering" created in the University of Calais ;
- be present in commitees that influence the governement decisions (Forum of Internet Rights, Superior Council of Literary and Artistic Property) ;
- inform decision-makers and institution about the interests of switching to free software, and help them in their move.
Until 2004, the association activities were completely achivied by volunteers, but in the face of an increasing number of matters, an increasing complexity and an increasing need for highly-specizialed skills, the association decided to develop its human and financial means. In March 2005, the association engaged its first employee, as a full-time general delegate, Frédéric Couchet, one of the founder. Two years later, the association has three full-time employees, one general delegate, an administrative assistant, and a person in charge of institutional relations. However, even with three full-time employees, the volunteer work is still very important, and represented around 5,300 hours of work in 2006.
Fore more information please visit our web site a the following
address : http://www.april.org/, or contact us by email
contact@april.org or by phone at +33 11 46 49 25 15.
Votre adhésion fait la différence ! Nous avons
besoin de vous !
Une explication en 1 minute 30 secondes sur pourquoi et comment
soutenir l'April :
vidéo
(format Theora) - audio
(format OGG Vorbis)
Objectif : 5 000 adhérents fin 2008.
Rejoignez-nous maintenant.
#include "bar-progression.wml"
À la une
Députés/sénateurs et candidats aux élections locales 2008,
signez le Pacte du Logiciel
Libre
Pionnière du logiciel libre en
France, l'April, constituée de
#include "nombre-adherents.txt"
adhérents (individus, entreprises,
associations
et organisations),
est depuis 1996 un acteur majeur de la démocratisation et de la
diffusion du logiciel libre et des standards ouverts auprès du grand
public, des professionnels et des institutions dans l'espace
francophone. Elle veille aussi, dans l'ère numérique, à sensibiliser
l'opinion sur les dangers d'une appropriation exclusive de
l'information et du savoir par des intérêts privés.
L'April est le partenaire privilégié pour la promotion et la
défense du logiciel libre.
Pour toute demande d'information, contactez
nous (courriel, téléphone). Pour les contacts presse, consultez
d'abord notre espace
presse.
Vente subordonnée de logiciels : l'April soutient la pétition contre les
racketiciels.
Agenda des interventions de l'April
Pour l'agenda de tous les évènements du logiciel libre,
rendez-vous sur l'Agenda du
Libre. Voir également les conférences passées.
Nouvelles de l'April
Les cinq dernières nouvelles de l'April :
#include "serveur/news.html"
Je consulte les
nouvelles précédentes.
Je m'informe sur toutes les actions de
l'association. Pour suivre l'actualité de l'association je reste informé.
Partenaires
