The Free Software Foundation Europe working with WIPO

This is an interesting bit of news: The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) has been granted observer status to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Here's what the FSFE has to say about its goals in working with WIPO:

For anyone involved in questions of freedom in a digital age, such as Free Software Foundation Europe, WIPO is often at the root of current threats, such as software patents, the European Copyright Directive (EUCD) and others. When these come to a European or national level, we often find that little room for change exists.

Instead of working to prevent the worst for these directives one by one, Free Software Foundation Europe is working to prevent harmful legislation at its root, the global level, in which WIPO is one key player. For that reason, FSFE has requested observer status to WIPO in 2003, which was granted during the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO from September 27 to October 5, 2004.

I'm not sure what an observer to WIPO can really accomplish, but if the FSFE can have any impact, it's bound to be a positive. Expect more on this topic in the weeks to come.