Google Sponsors Freedom Training Task Force

Shane Coughlan, FTF Coordinator, Free Software Foundation Europe

My name's Shane Coughlan and I'm a coordinator at Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE), the European sister of the United States based Free Software Foundation. The FSFE is involved in a whole range of activities, ranging from organizing grassroots meetings to representing the case for software freedom before the World Intellectual Property Organization and the Internet Governance Forum.

I manage the Freedom Task Force, a project inside the FSFE that provides Free Software licence education, training and consultancy. Among other activities, the FTF manages a pan-European network of legal experts and works extensively with gpl-violations.org to resolve licensing issues. In a nutshell, it's our job to build infrastructure that encourages free software adoption and fair use.

Recently Google made a contribution to help us deliver training courses, attend conferences and translate documentation into more languages. Like all NGOs we have limited resources and Google's assistance makes a significant difference. I'd like to thank the Open Source Programs Office for believing in what we do and for making it possible for us to continue this work.

If you would like to learn more about the FTF please drop us a line or visit our website. You can also keep an eye open for me at conferences. I'm always glad to have a chat and, catering tent permitting, a coffee with chocolate biscuits.