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{{Short description|Open-source software organization}}
{{multiple issues|
{{underlinked|date=November 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{prose|date=November 2012}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox organization
{{sections|date=November 2012}}
| name = OFE
| full_name =
| native_name = OpenForum Europe
| logo =
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| image = OFE logo 2018 full cropped.png
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| abbreviation =
|established = 2002
| founders =
Graham Taylor, Basil Cousins, Robert Blatchford
| founding_location =
| type = Non-profit Think Tank
| status = <!-- legal status or description (company, charity, foundation, etc.) -->
|focus = Open source software, European Digital policy
| professional_title = <!-- for professional associations -->
| headquarters = Brussels, Belgium
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| membership_year = <!-- year to which membership numbers/data apply -->
| language = <!-- or |languages = --><!-- any official language or languages used -->
| leader_title = Chairperson
| leader_name = [[Sachiko Muto]]
| leader_title2 = Executive Director
| leader_name2 = Astor Nummelin Carlberg
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| website = {{url|http://www.openforumeurope.org}}
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}}
}}
'''OpenForum Europe''' ('''OFE''') is a European [[Open-source software|open source]] software and [[open standard]] not-for-profit [[think tank]]. Its key objective is to contribute to achieve an open and competitive [[digital ecosystem]] in Europe. Based in [[Brussels]], it launched its operations in 2002 and currently conducts research on topics such as [[Open source|Open Source]], [[Open standard|Open standards]], Digital Government, [[Government procurement in the European Union|public procurement, ⁣]] [[Intellectual property|Intellectual Property]], [[cloud computing]] and Internet policy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=administrator |title=About OFE |url=https://openforumeurope.org/about-ofe/ |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=OpenForum Europe |language=en-US}}</ref> Founded by Graham Taylor, Basil Cousins and Robert Blatchford,<ref>{{Cite web |last=administrator |title=Team |url=https://openforumeurope.org/team/ |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=OpenForum Europe |language=en-US}}</ref> the current executive director is Astor Nummelin Carlberg.


==Activities==
'''OpenForum Europe''' or OFE is a [[Europe]]an open source software [[advocacy group]]. Founded in 2002 it seeks to encourage the use of [[open source software]] among businesses, [[consumer]]s and governments. OFE's role has since evolved and its primary role now is to promote the use of [[open standards]] in [[Information and communications technology|ICT]] as a means of achieving full openness and [[interoperability]] of computer systems throughout Europe. It continues to promote open source software, as well as openness more generally as part of a vision to facilitate open, competitive choice for IT users.
OFE is a registered interest group with the [[European Commission]] and the [[European Parliament]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/transparencyregister/public/consultation/displaylobbyist.do?id=2702114689-05|title=European Transparency Register}}</ref> OFE advises European policymakers and legislators on the merits of openness in computing and provides technical analysis and explanation. OFE promotes open source software, as well as openness more generally, as part of a vision to facilitate open, competitive choice for technology users.


OFE works closely with the [[European Commission]], [[European Parliament]], national and local governments both directly and via its national partners. It follows five openness objectives to help direct its work : User centricity, Competition, Flexibility, Sustainability, and Community.<ref>{{Cite web |last=administrator |title=Vision |url=https://openforumeurope.org/our-vision/ |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=OpenForum Europe |language=en-US}}</ref>
OFE is a registered interest group with the [[European Commission]] that devotes much of its time to explaining the merits of openness in computing to [[politician]]s and [[legislator]]s across Europe.


== Economic Impact of Open Source Software ==
OFE works closely with the [[European Commission]], [[European Parliament]], national and local governments both directly and via its national partners. It fully supports the European Commission's [[Digital Agenda]], which aims to create a flourishing [[digital economy]] in Europe by 2020.
In 2021, OFE, in collaboration with [[Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI|Fraunhofer ISI]], conducted a study on the impact of open source software and hardware on technological independence, competitiveness, and innovation in Europe for the [[European Commission]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Study about the impact of open source software and hardware on technological independence, competitiveness and innovation in the EU economy {{!}} Shaping Europe's digital future |url=https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/study-about-impact-open-source-software-and-hardware-technological-independence-competitiveness-and |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu |date=2 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref>


== The EU Open Source Policy Summit ==
OFE maintains an ongoing dialogue with key decision makers. It participates actively in [[public consultation]]s that concern the industry and often serves as an [[Interlocutor (politics)|interlocutor]] between legislators and the wider open computing community. Once a year it hosts a Summit at which top European policymakers and thought leaders from the industry share their views about the importance of open computing. In 2010 Vice President [[Neelie Kroes]], [[European Commissioner]] for the Digital Agenda provided the keynote.
Started in 2015, OFE organises the EU Open Source Policy Summit <ref>{{Cite web |title=The EU Open Source Policy Summit – The only conference bringing Open Source and policy together. |url=https://summit.openforumeurope.org/ |access-date=2022-07-13 |language=en-US}}</ref>. Started as just a few people workshop, its 2022 edition gathered 600 participants and 38 speakers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grzegorzewska |first=Paula |date=2022-02-10 |title=Thank you for joining the EU Open Source Policy Summit 2022! |url=https://openforumeurope.org/thank-you-for-joining-the-eu-open-source-policy-summit-2022/ |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=OpenForum Europe |language=en-US}}</ref> Topics tackled during the sessions at the Summit included: public sector’s capacity in Open Source, Open Source Software security, Economics of Open Source and supporting the green transition through Open Source solutions.


== OpenForum Academy ==
OFE corporate members are [[Google]], [[IBM]], [[Oracle Corporation|Oracle]], [[Red Hat]] and [[Deloitte]]. OFE has national partners from across Europe, representing many tens of thousands of SMEs. It also has a partnership with the [[Free Software Foundation Europe]] (FSFE)and collaborates with the [[Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure]] (FFII). These are two of the leading free and open source software campaign groups in Europe. OFE also collaborates with the [[European Committee for Interoperable Systems]] (ECIS).
OpenForum Academy is an independent programme established by OpenForum Europe with the aim to create a link between academias and policymaker. In order to provide new input and insight into the key issues which impact the openness of the IT market, the programme gathers researchers from various countries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=administrator |title=About OFA |url=https://openforumeurope.org/about-ofa/ |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=OpenForum Europe |language=en-US}}</ref>

'''20 September 2007'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openforumeurope.org/press-room/press-releases/OFE%20release%20210907%20-3.pdf/view/ |title=OFE Press Release - 4th Ministerial eGovernment Conference - Lisbon — Open Forum Europe |publisher=Openforumeurope.org |date=2007-09-21 |accessdate=2012-11-16}}</ref> - Speaking at the 4th EU Ministerial eGovernment conference in Lisbon, OFE Chief Executive Graham Taylor presented the Open Community response to the Ministerial Declaration, unanimously approved by the Ministers responsible for eGovernment on 19 September 2007. Invited to speak in the concluding session of the event, Mr Taylor welcomed the broad commitment demonstrated by participants throughout the conference to the use of Open Standards in government, and offered the support of the Open Community in implementing the targets outlined in the Declaration.
This was the first time that the Open Community had been asked to respond formally to
the Ministerial declaration, showing clearly the growing interest by the public sector in the solutions presented by Open Source and Open Standards. The declaration,
cosigned by over 20 organisations representing the Open Source Community across the
EU, supports the targets highlighted in the Ministerial Declaration, in particular:
- Cross-border interoperability
- Reduction of administrative burdens
- Inclusive eGovernment
- Transparency and Democratic engagement.

'''10 January 2008''' - OpenForum Europe (OFE) welcomed<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openforumeurope.org/press-room/press-releases/press-release-becta-1101081.pdf/view/ |title=OFE Press Release - OFE welcomes BECTA Report promoting Open source and Open Standards and calls on UK Government for action — Open Forum Europe |publisher=Openforumeurope.org |date=2008-01-14 |accessdate=2012-11-16}}</ref> the publication by Becta, the education technology agency, of a major report on Microsoft Vista and Office 2007 and document interoperability. In the report, which analyses
the suitability of both software packages for adoption by schools and colleges, Becta urges schools and colleges to avoid rushing into upgrades while strongly supporting and recommending free-to-use products and the Open Document Format (ODF). OFE calls on the UK Government to recognise Becta's conclusions and provide evidence of leadership in this crucial area.

'''25 February 2008''' - in Geneva OpenForum Europe issued the following Declaration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openforumeurope.org/press-room/press-releases/standards-and-the-future-of-the-internet/ |title=Open Forum Europe |publisher=Open Forum Europe |date= |accessdate=2012-11-16}}</ref> As members of the European Open Community participating in or supporting the OpenForum Europe Conference we pledge to maintain the openness and integrity of the Internet as enjoyed today. Furthermore we agree to continue to work to ensure that the role, definition, and application of Open Standards is not mitigated or limited by proprietary pressure. We believe it essential that these steps are matched by Government, through active support for such standards though appropriate frameworks, procurement policies and organisational remit.

'''6 March 2008'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openforumeurope.org/press-room/press-releases/ep_petition_release.pdf/view/ |title=OFE Press Release - New petition calls for open standards in the European Parliament — Open Forum Europe |publisher=Openforumeurope.org |date= |accessdate=2012-11-16}}</ref> - At a time when the EU Commission investigates the anti-competitive behaviour of a market-dominant player, the European Parliament (EP) still imposes that same specific software choice on both the European Union's citizens and its own MEPs. OpenForum Europe, The European Software Market Association, and the Free
Software Foundation Europe today launched a petition to call on the EP to use open standards so that all citizens can participate in the democratic process.

'''10 June 2008''' - Commissioner Neelie Kroes speaks at OFE breakfast seminar on "Being open about standards"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/08/317/ |title=EUROPA - PRESS RELEASES - Press Release - Neelie Kroes European Commissioner for Competition PolicyBeing open about standards OpenForum Europe - Breakfast seminarBrussels, 10th June 2008 |publisher=Europa.eu |date= |accessdate=2012-11-16}}</ref> in her opening remarks she stated "Credible competition policy requires competition law enforcement. Cartel cases,
merger cases, abuse of dominance cases.
But competition policy is not only about cases.
It is about putting in place the conditions for companies to deliver better goods and
services to consumers. So it must be informed by more than the individual cases.
If markets are not delivering as they should, then I want to understand the problems,
and find solutions. That may mean enforcement, advocacy, or specific Commission
or national government policy initiatives.
In technology markets, I think it means all three."

'''22 October 2008''' - OpenForum Europe called on EU to crack down on public procurement practise for IT software.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openforumeurope.org/press-room/press-releases/procurement-study-release.pdf/view/ |title=OFE Press Release - OFE Calls on EU to Crack Down on Public Procurement Practice for IT Software — Open Forum Europe |publisher=Openforumeurope.org |date=2008-10-22 |accessdate=2012-11-16}}</ref> OFE monitored public procurement notices for computer software published on Tenders Electronic Daily. 136 contact notices were scanned for trademarks in the period from February 1 to April 25, 2008. OFE's monitoring exercise shows that in 34 tender notices out of 136 (25 percent), company brand names were mentioned in procurement documents effectively preventing competition from alternative products.

'''16 December 2009''' - EC Settlement<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openforumeurope.org/press-room/press-releases/ofe-release-161209.pdf/view/ |title=OFE Release - The EC Settlement Sends an Unambiguous Message to the Market – Lock-In is Dead — Open Forum Europe |publisher=Openforumeurope.org |date=2009-12-16 |accessdate=2012-11-16}}</ref> sends an Unambiguous Message to the Market – Lock-In is Dead. All in all, we should be pleased with today's achievements, which we expect to create real consumer benefits. But we must remain vigilant to continuing practices which might still undermine this "settlement" . We urge close surveillance of the present browser choice commitment and interoperability undertaking, but hope that Microsoft will now act proactively to remove other continuing concerns, such as those in respect of patents threats and office data formats.

'''28 January 2010''' - Updated Government Action Plan for Open Source,Open Standards and Software Re-Use, part of the overall Government ICT Strategy. This is an essential next step in the implementation of Government Policy in this vital area. This Action Plan now requires suppliers to show they have considered Open Source and implements new accounting requirements to highlight the future costs of lock in.
Graham Taylor, CEO, OpenForum Europe says:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openforumeurope.org/press-room/press-releases/ofe-release-27012010.pdf/view/ |title=OFE Press Release - Government Action Plan for Open Source, Open Standards and Software Re-Use - Updated — Open Forum Europe |publisher=Openforumeurope.org |date=2010-01-27 |accessdate=2012-11-16}}</ref> “ We welcome the important clarifications
that have been made to this Action Plan. OpenForum Europe will seek to support
Government in achieving the objectives set out.

'''19 April 2010''' - OpenForum Europe Congratulates<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openforumeurope.org/press-room/press-releases/min-dec-rel-190410-final.pdf/view/ |title=OFE Press Release - Ministerial Declaration on the Digital Agenda — Open Forum Europe |publisher=Openforumeurope.org |date=2010-04-19 |accessdate=2012-11-16}}</ref> EU Ministers on Progressive Plan for Digital Agenda, Calls for Further Endorsement of Open Public Procurements. As an organisation focussed on supporting an open, competitive choice for the IT user, OpenForum Europe endorses the emphasis in the Declaration on 'openness'. “Europe will be best served if it spends less time looking backwards on preserving the status quo and current business practice, and more time on
encouraging new opportunity and innovation”, stated Graham Taylor, OFE's CEO.
The Declaration identifies a number of areas where strong leadership will be required. The need to protect a strong internet, with open access for all, will be fundamental to Europe's progress, as will embracement of new opportunities such as cloud computing. Equally the need for Europe to actively participate in standards
setting within international fora, is strongly supported.

'''19 May 2010''' - OpenForum Europe welcomes<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openforumeurope.org/press-room/press-releases/press-release-2010-05-19-v1-0.pdf/view/ |title=(OFE) welcomes the European Commission's Digital Agenda, and commends Vice President Neelie Kroes for her determined effort to build an open, competitive and innovative ICT market for the benefit of citizens and businesses in Europe. — Open Forum Europe |publisher=Openforum Europe |date=2010-05-19 |accessdate=2012-11-16}}</ref> the European Commission's Digital Agenda, and commends Vice President Neelie Kroes for her determined effort to build an open, competitive and innovative ICT market for the benefit of citizens and businesses in Europe. The Digital Agenda rightly focuses significant effort on fostering interoperability and openness, and on the development
of the standardisation process. "The Commission is right to see the reform of information and communication technology (ICT) standardisation as an
essential and urgent requirement," said OFE Chief Executive, Graham Taylor.
Consumers, as well as the ICT industry will benefit from the plan to allow a wider range of organisations, including industry fora and consortia to decide what innovative technologies should be recognised as industry standards.

OFE is supported by major IT suppliers and works closely with the European Commission and National Governments both direct and via National Associates.

The organisation is actively involved in the discussion about the development of Open Document Format (ODF), an ISO standard for electronic documents.

OFE cooperates with Free Software Foundation Europe, the Linux Professional Institute LPI<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lpi.org// |title=Linux Professional Institute |publisher=LPI |date= |accessdate=2012-11-16}}</ref> as well as Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure (FFII) and the ODF Alliance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.odfalliance.org/ |title=OpenDocument Format Alliance |publisher=Odfalliance.org |date= |accessdate=2012-11-16}}</ref>

==Criticism==

The body has been criticised in 2003 by [[Bruce Perens]] for its stance on [[software patents]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/05/07/open_source_representative_calls/|title=Open Source ‘representative’ calls for software patents|publisher=Theregister.co.uk|accessdate=2012-11-16}}</ref> This was rejected by OFE.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/05/09/openforum_europe_rejects_perens_charges/|title=OpenForum Europe rejects Perens charges|publisher=Theregister.co.uk|accessdate=2012-11-16}}</ref> In 2010, [[Florian Müller]] accused OFE and its members of hypocrisy in connection with open standards, stating that they had been a "notorious fake representative of open source for many years."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.techeye.net/software/open-source-advocates-accused-of-hypocrisy |title=Open source "advocates" accused of hypocrisy - The Big Four have double standards |publisher=TechEye |date=2010-07-21 |accessdate=2012-11-16}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[OpenDocument]] (ODF)
*[[Free Software Foundation Europe]] (FSFE)
*[[Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure]] (FFII)
*[[European Committee for Interoperable Systems]] (ECIS)


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.openforumeurope.org/ OpenForum Europe]
*[http://www.openforumeurope.org/ OpenForum Europe]
*[http://www.openparliament.eu/ Open Parliament] - petition to use Open Standards in EU


[[Category:Organizations based in Europe]]
[[Category:Free and open-source software organizations]]
[[Category:Information technology organizations based in Europe]]
[[Category:Intellectual property activism]]
[[Category:Intellectual property activism]]
[[Category:Free and open-source software organizations]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2002]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2002]]

Revision as of 13:43, 26 March 2024

OFE
OpenForum Europe
Established2002
FoundersGraham Taylor, Basil Cousins, Robert Blatchford
TypeNon-profit Think Tank
FocusOpen source software, European Digital policy
HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
Chairperson
Sachiko Muto
Executive Director
Astor Nummelin Carlberg
Websitewww.openforumeurope.org

OpenForum Europe (OFE) is a European open source software and open standard not-for-profit think tank. Its key objective is to contribute to achieve an open and competitive digital ecosystem in Europe. Based in Brussels, it launched its operations in 2002 and currently conducts research on topics such as Open Source, Open standards, Digital Government, public procurement, ⁣ Intellectual Property, cloud computing and Internet policy.[1] Founded by Graham Taylor, Basil Cousins and Robert Blatchford,[2] the current executive director is Astor Nummelin Carlberg.

Activities

OFE is a registered interest group with the European Commission and the European Parliament.[3] OFE advises European policymakers and legislators on the merits of openness in computing and provides technical analysis and explanation. OFE promotes open source software, as well as openness more generally, as part of a vision to facilitate open, competitive choice for technology users.

OFE works closely with the European Commission, European Parliament, national and local governments both directly and via its national partners. It follows five openness objectives to help direct its work : User centricity, Competition, Flexibility, Sustainability, and Community.[4]

Economic Impact of Open Source Software

In 2021, OFE, in collaboration with Fraunhofer ISI, conducted a study on the impact of open source software and hardware on technological independence, competitiveness, and innovation in Europe for the European Commission.[5]

The EU Open Source Policy Summit

Started in 2015, OFE organises the EU Open Source Policy Summit [6]. Started as just a few people workshop, its 2022 edition gathered 600 participants and 38 speakers.[7] Topics tackled during the sessions at the Summit included: public sector’s capacity in Open Source, Open Source Software security, Economics of Open Source and supporting the green transition through Open Source solutions.

OpenForum Academy

OpenForum Academy is an independent programme established by OpenForum Europe with the aim to create a link between academias and policymaker. In order to provide new input and insight into the key issues which impact the openness of the IT market, the programme gathers researchers from various countries.[8]

References

  1. ^ administrator. "About OFE". OpenForum Europe. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  2. ^ administrator. "Team". OpenForum Europe. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  3. ^ "European Transparency Register".
  4. ^ administrator. "Vision". OpenForum Europe. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Study about the impact of open source software and hardware on technological independence, competitiveness and innovation in the EU economy | Shaping Europe's digital future". digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  6. ^ "The EU Open Source Policy Summit – The only conference bringing Open Source and policy together". Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  7. ^ Grzegorzewska, Paula (10 February 2022). "Thank you for joining the EU Open Source Policy Summit 2022!". OpenForum Europe. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  8. ^ administrator. "About OFA". OpenForum Europe. Retrieved 13 July 2022.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=OpenForum_Europe&oldid=1215669120"