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PLAMADISO Talk by Lucas Lasota (Free Software Foundation Europe & Weizenbaum Institute) – 27 May 2025 || Organized by the Research Group “Digital Economy, Internet Ecosystem & Internet Policy” @Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society
Title: “Is Interoperability cool again? Entangling the DMA, FOSS and the Telecom Sector”
Abstract
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) relies on interoperability as one of its regulatory tool in Art. 6(7). Gatekeepers have proposed diverse approaches to comply with their interoperability obligations regarding APIs. Apple has introduced a request-based approach for granting software and hardware interoperability. This contrasts with the industry practices adopted by Free and Open Source Software projects (FOSS). This talk portrays the diverse challenges FOSS services and products face in requesting interoperability with software features controlled by iOS and iPadOS. Besides, to illustrate how interoperability has been regulated in the EU, this talk concludes with lessons learned from regulatory activity over interconnection of routers and modems). Telecom regulators in the EU have recurred to interoperability to open up infrastructure subjected to gatekeeper control.
Short Bio
Dr. Lucas Lasota, MA, PhD, is a researcher, lecturer, qualified lawyer (Brazil) and project manager in the field of IT, telecommunications and contract law. His research focuses on regulatory measures of digital technologies and their impact on individual and collective rights, as well as on internet governance, telecommunications and international contract law. He is Associate Researcher at the Weizenbaum Institute and at Halle-Wittenberg University. He also works as Legal Programme Manager at the Free Software Foundation Europe.
Note
At approximately 32:30 minutes, the speaker uses the term "interoperability-by-default". The intended and correct term is "interoperability-by-design”.
More info about Lucas Lasota:
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