Our work
EDRi is the biggest European network defending rights and freedoms online. We work to to challenge private and state actors who abuse their power to control or manipulate the public. We do so by advocating for robust and enforced laws, informing and mobilising people, promoting a healthy and accountable technology market, and building a movement of organisations and individuals committed to digital rights and freedoms in a connected world.
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Angry pro software patent company takes down FFII website
The long running legal fight between the German software company Nutzwerk (Leipzig) and the Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure (FFII, best known for its extensive lobby against software patents) has culminated in the takedown of the FFII.org website on 1 August 2005. Technically, the website itself wasn’t removed, but in a far more radical […]
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First Norwegian verdict on hyperlinks
On 27 January 2005 the Norwegian Supreme Court ruled on old case; the existence of the website napster.no, which Norwegian internet users could use in 2001 to find music files (not more than 170 in practice) on the Napster file-sharing system. The owner of the site is found guilty of accessory copyright infringement, for having […]
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German court outlaws wiretapping without court order
The German Constitutional Court has outlawed a special security law of the state of Niedersachsen that allowed police to wiretap telephone connections without any specific suspicion, as well as collect traffic data, GSM location data, e-mail and SMS traffic. The ruling also affects the state of Thuringen, with a similar law, and Bavaria, currently developing […]
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Romanian MPs propose wiretapping without court order
In Romania, 4 parliamentarians from the (opposition) Social Democrat Party (PSD) have initiated a draft law to drastically extend wiretapping powers in cases of defending national security. According to the draft law the interception of communications would be possible without a warrant from a judge in some cases. In special cases that involve the national […]
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New intellectual property legislation in Ireland
On 1 August 2005 the Irish Minister for Trade and Commerce, Mr. Michael Ahern, announced a package of new IP legislation to be presented to parliament before the end of the year. Ireland needs to bring the public lending right and the artists’ resale right into conformity with EU legislation and will simultaneously implement the […]
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Support EDRI!
European Digital Rights needs your help in upholding digital rights in the EU. Donations allow EDRI to hire part-time professional assistance in Brussels and invest in targeted campaigns. With the plans for mandatory data retention and the continuous erosion of digital civil rights, your donation could make a huge difference. If you wish to help […]
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EDRI launches petition against data retention
European Digital Rights, together with the Dutch ISPs XS4ALL and Bit, launched an international petition today against mandatory data retention. The petition is aimed at the European Commission and the members of the European Parliament. EDRI argues that retention of telecommunication traffic data is an invasive tool that interferes with the private life of all […]
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New IPR law proposed in Spain
The Spanish government has issued a press release announcing a new draft Intellectual Property law. The law aims to adopt the existing copyright and intellectual property rights to the context of IT and implement the European Copyright Directive (2001/29/EC). The main changes are: 1. The right to “interactive disposition” which regulates the way authors offer […]
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Open letter Italian companies on software patents
On 19 July 2005 a group of Italian small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) and business associations sent an open letter to the Minister of Innovation and Technologies, Mr. Lucio Stanca. In the letter, the businesses call for a thorough reform of the European Patent Office. The letter was sent after the European Parliament rejected […]
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FBI spies on US civil rights groups
The renowned US civil rights organisation ACLU has sent out an alarming press release about FBI-surveillance of their activities and of other renowned peaceful groups such as Greenpeace and United for Peace and Justice. The FBI has collected more than 1.100 pages of documents on the ACLU since 2001 and the ACLU is urging the […]
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New EDRI initiative on e-voting
European Digital Rights has opened a new open mailinglist on e-voting. Anybody interested in contributing knowledge on this matter is kindly invited to subscribe and share information with experts from all over Europe. The discussion is focussed on developments in Europe, and can be both political as well as technical. Subscribe to the EDRI-voting mailinglist […]
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Announcement EDRI general assembly
On Sunday 7 August 2005 European Digital Rights will hold a General Assembly in Berlin, Germany. EDRI is looking forward to welcome new members and discuss strategies. Interested digital civil rights organisations are warmly invited to apply for possible membership, by sending a letter of application to the EDRI board, accompanied by statutes (in English […]
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