Several European companies and organizations have made a joint statement in which they call to modify a new European directive. The legislation would endanger free software and users of radio equipment.
The statement on the website of the European Free Software Foundation explains that the new legislation to transpose Directive 2014/53 / EU is. This aims to harmonize regulations on radio equipment and to enhance the security of radio frequencies along with the protection of health and safety. According to the organizations, the definition of radio equipment is very broad and includes virtually all of the devices that are able to transmit a signal. This includes routers, laptops, Wi-Fi cards and phones.
Creating the organizations to agree with the general objectives of the Directive. However, there is an article that they see as a threat: Article 3 paragraph 3 sub i. It provides that the manufacturer of radio equipment must ensure that only software can be used on its devices whose satisfaction is demonstrated. Where could first determine the user if he could provide his router firmware, it is up to the manufacturer to provide first for compliance or to modify software impossible. In other words, a user may only continue in the manufacturer-approved software on the device
This puts the responsibility for any changes to the software to be the manufacturer rather than the user, find the bodies.. The latter was hitherto the case, and any other situation would be a threat to free software and the rights of users. There would also be in danger due to innovation and would be expected economic disadvantages for businesses.
An example of such software are DD-WRT and OpenWRT, which are often installed by users on routers. Also could include customized software for phones, such as custom ROM . A manufacturer would be impossible to verify the conformity of all the different combinations of its hardware with different software, with the result that users are limited in their choice.
In America, similar rules already introduced and this led, among other things that manufacturers of network TP-Link the choice made to ensure that users are not able to adapt more to the firmware of its routers. The organizations behind the wish to achieve joint statement that the EU institutions amend the Directive and make an exception for free software. They also ask the Member States to interpret the directive in such a way that there is no restriction. However, the Directive has been adopted in 2014 and must be transposed into national legislation June 12. In the Netherlands parliament in January approved the scheme, which is included in the Telecommunications Act.
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