Software advertising on public websites

24.11.2011

Question for written answer E-011374/2011
to the Commission
Rule 117
Jan Philipp Albrecht (Verts/ALE) , Françoise Castex (S&D) , Marietje Schaake (ALDE) , Christian Engström (Verts/ALE) and Francisco Sosa Wagner (NI)

Numerous EU public websites refer to proprietary software, like Acrobat Reader, as the only possible way of reading PDF files, and provide a download link. This is a case of direct advertising by public institutions, which creates a competitive advantage for one company to sell its products.

1. Currently, on how many of the Commission’s own web pages do such advertisements appear?

2. Could the Commission provide links to these pages, as well as names of EU institutions that have such advertising on their websites?

3. What are the Commission’s reasons (e.g. financial gain, lack of other functional software, etc.) for advertising this particular software as the only possible way of reading PDF files?

4. Have the institutions that have such advertising on their website explained whether they have tried other PDF readers before? Which software did they mention?

5. What steps is the Commission taking to resolve this problem regarding a) the Commission’s own website, and b) the websites of public institutions in Member States?

OJ C 180 E, 21/06/2012