 |
||||||
|
Dear colleagues and friends, I am delighted to invite you to an event I am hosting with the European Parliament Free Software User Group to discuss the wonderful news that DG ITEC has announced it will share the source code for the Parliament's Automatic Tool for AMendments with the world!
As you all know, AT4AM is a key tool in our daily work in the Parliament. But on which terms should its source code be shared? At the meeting we will explore the opportunities this decision will create for citizens and also discuss the practical legal aspects of free software licenses that should be taken into consideration to make the best choice for AT4AM. Many models exist, but which one will best serve both the institution and the free software community? Finally, at the end of the meeting, my colleague MEP Amelia Andersdotter will give a short overview of what EPFSUG is planning after the summer break. Please be warmly welcome on 11 July! Marie-Christine Vergiat |
| Agenda for EPFSUG meeting 11 July 2012 11h00-13h00 in room P1C051 |
|||
| WELCOME | Marie-Christine Vergiat, MEP |
|
|
| SOFTWARE, FREEDOM AND DEMO- CRACY |
What does free software have to do with democracy? | ||
| Karsten Gerloff, FSFE President | |||
| Karsten Gerloff, President of the Free Software Foundation Europe, will explain why software freedom is essential to democracy and necessary for transparency. The Parliament has a central role in society and its processes must be as transparent as possible. Allowing the public to review, share and improve the tools that the Parliament uses in its work is an important step towards a more participative society where citizens are in control. | |||
| SOFTWARE LICENSING IN THE EU |
Which software licenses can serve both the free software community and the Parliament? | ||
| Carlo Piana, FSFE General Counsel | |||
| Carlo Piana, one of Europe's foremost software lawyers, will discuss the best approach to licensing AT4AM as free software. He will analyse how the Parliament, other public bodies, and Europe's citizens will benefit from releasing this application under licenses that guarantee software freedom in perpetuity. | |||
| EPFSUG MATTERS |
What's up and coming? | ||
| Amelia Andersdotter, EPFSUG Patron | |||
| The European Parliament Free Software User Group currently has two patrons, MEPs Indrek Tarand and Amelia Andersdotter. Together they are supporting users of free software who work in the Parliament and are willing to explore ways of incorporating free software in their work routines as far as rules and regulations of the House permit. Amelia Andersdotter will give a short overview of what EPFSUG is planning after the summer break in terms of meetings, applications and reach out. | |||