Difference between revisions of "OSS:Government Policies"
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A noteworthy point is that purchasing decisions in the favour of OSS has not been recorded as policies, since they could have been made solely on the basis of price or product. Also note that US is among the 45 countries listed - both DoD and OMB has issued advisories about OSS's usage in the respective departments. | A noteworthy point is that purchasing decisions in the favour of OSS has not been recorded as policies, since they could have been made solely on the basis of price or product. Also note that US is among the 45 countries listed - both DoD and OMB has issued advisories about OSS's usage in the respective departments. | ||
| − | === | + | === Industrial Lobbying === |
| − | In response to the various governmental initiatives, companies including notably Microsoft and | + | In response to the various governmental initiatives, companies including notably Microsoft and Autodesk have funded the lobbying group [http://www.softwarechoice.org/ Initiative for Software Choice]. |
The companies believe that multiple software and hardware model should be allowed to compete on their own merits, without government mandates that automatically prefer one model to another. The group's stated principles urge governments to | The companies believe that multiple software and hardware model should be allowed to compete on their own merits, without government mandates that automatically prefer one model to another. The group's stated principles urge governments to | ||
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* Promote interoperability through platform-neutral standards | * Promote interoperability through platform-neutral standards | ||
* Maintain a choice of strong intellectual property protections | * Maintain a choice of strong intellectual property protections | ||
| + | |||
| + | === In the News === | ||
| + | |||
| + | [http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=04/10/11/173253 France and China sign open source/open standards deal] - Oct 11 2004 | ||
| + | |||
| + | [http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/memoranda/fy04/m04-16.html OMB issues memorandum urging agencies to consider TCO when acquiring software] - Jul 01 2004 | ||
Revision as of 08:22, 8 November 2004
Governments Considering OSS Policies
Table of Governments Considering OSS Policies & Legislation
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is one of the agencies exploring the policy implication of OSS in the Federal govenment. To develop recommendations, CSIS has tabulated an extensive chart of OSS software policies and legislation considered by national, regional and local government around the world. These policies include
- Mandating the use of OSS
- Expressing a preference for OSS
- Encouraging the use of OSS
- Commissioning research into OSS
Motivations for these initiatives include
- Displeasure with the US lead in the software industry
- Hope that OSS can spur an indigenous software industry
- Cost reduction for IT purchases
- Encouragement of IT adoption in society
A noteworthy point is that purchasing decisions in the favour of OSS has not been recorded as policies, since they could have been made solely on the basis of price or product. Also note that US is among the 45 countries listed - both DoD and OMB has issued advisories about OSS's usage in the respective departments.
Industrial Lobbying
In response to the various governmental initiatives, companies including notably Microsoft and Autodesk have funded the lobbying group Initiative for Software Choice.
The companies believe that multiple software and hardware model should be allowed to compete on their own merits, without government mandates that automatically prefer one model to another. The group's stated principles urge governments to
- Procure software and hardware on their merits, not through categorical preferences
- Promote broad availability of government funded research
- Promote interoperability through platform-neutral standards
- Maintain a choice of strong intellectual property protections
In the News
France and China sign open source/open standards deal - Oct 11 2004
OMB issues memorandum urging agencies to consider TCO when acquiring software - Jul 01 2004
