Software group wants role in EC MS case

Open sourcers line up to give MS a shoeing

By John Oates • Get more from this author

Posted in Financial News, 28th November 2005 12:47 GMT

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The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) has asked permission to get involved in the European Commission's ongoing court case against Microsoft.

The FSFE wants to provide evidence in Microsoft's appeal against part of the EC anti-trust ruling dealing with Microsoft's server APIs, according to IDG. Microsoft is appealing the anti-trust decision on two fronts - one relates to Windows media player and one to opening up access to its server APIs.

Georg Greve, president of FSFE, said recent events like EC directives on digital rights enforcement and Microsoft's rewriting of the Vienna Conclusions on ICT and Creativity to exclude discussion of open source software showed the importance of organisations like FSFE.

The EC ordered Microsoft to open up access to server APIs as part of the settlement agreement.

FSFE and the Samba team have filed "an application for leave to intervene in the antitrust suit against Microsoft." If accepted this would allow them to present written evidence, view other written evidence and take part in court hearings.

The FSFE is already involved in the first part of Microsoft's appeal which relates to the inclusion or bundling of Window's media player.