Pushing the government toward open source sd times. Open source refers to access to the source code, written in a programming language, that constitutes a working software. Achieving efficiency, transparency, and innovation through reusable and open source software. Efforts to push the government toward open source are not new.
This volume, commissioned by the aeibrookings joint center for regulatory studies, is one in a series that. Government policy toward open source software book. A nonprofit group has made it its mission to show government the benefits of opensource software at all levels continue reading. Government policy toward open source software robert w. But the cabinet office minister francis maude believes a significant proportion of that outlay could be cut by switching to software which can produce opensource files in the open. The survey tracks governmental policies on the use of open source software as reported in the press or other media. Uk government plans switch from microsoft office to open. Arguably more important, some governments have expressly tilted the playing field toward open source software, subsidizing its production and use. This chapter provides a brief overview of policy issues associated with open source software and offers an economic framework for thinking about these issues. The importance of open source security download whitepaper. How open source differs to open standards open source is a way of developing and distributing software. The phenomenon of governments formulating legislation and policies on open source software is a recent trend that seems to be gathering some momentum in. Heres a fun experiment if, like me, youre a huge nerd.
Main points open source software lets users change the code to suit their own needs. Can open source software software that is usually available without charge and that individuals are free to modify survive against the fierce. The mood in governments around the world has swung behind open source and open standards, but the shift is. This book examines the impact of government policy on open source software.
Open source software and the department of defense. With open source software, users and others can read the code and change it to suit their needs. Government policies on open source introduction open source software is a relatively recent phenomenon that has been steadily gaining in popularity. C aeibrookings joint center for regulatory studieshigh growth rates for open source in germanyopen source software. Deciding what you need technology to do, avoiding lockin, sharing software and choosing open source. The book addresses several issues related to open source software, including the role for government subsidies for research and development, government procurement policy, and patent policy. Those interested in recent government policy in the u. C aeibrookings joint center for regulatory studies. Hahn editor aeib rookings j oint c enter for r egulatory studies government policy toward open source software robert w.
How to write an open source policy that works in practice. This book addresses a host of issues raised by the rapid growth of open source software, including government subsidies for research and. This is the seventh update to the csis open source policy survey. This book addresses a host of issues raised by the rapid growth of open source software, including government subsidies for research and development, government procurement policy, and patent and policy.
The briefing begins with a definition of free open source software, i. Government policy toward open source software american. Open source software institute is a membershipbased, nonprofit 501 c6 organization established in 2001 that promotes the development and implementation of open source software solutions within us. Experts disagree about the best government policy toward open source software. Government policy toward open source software book, 2002. The full text of this book, plus reader comments, is available on the publishers website. Government policy toward open source software hahn, robert w. Historically the answer would have been a blind eye and deaf ear. Why software policies should read the same, whether open source or proprietary. Government policy toward open source software 2020ok.
Government policy toward open source software academics. Government open source policies center for strategic and. This book addresses a host of issues raised by the rapid growth of open source software, including government subsidies for research and development, government procurement policy, and patent and. Open source software has long been used by government agencies, and prospects for increased use have been greeted enthusiastically by knowledgeable government employees who understand open sources. More often than not, the open source policy is written by the information systems department and enforced blindly in letter, but not in spirit. His research interests include free open source software, intellectual property, and digital technology policy. The dod must overcome bureaucratic hurdles and embrace open source software as a critical element of its efforts to maintain military technical superiority in the 21st century. Us government now has an official open source software policy misuses of technology. Government policy toward open source software brookings. As with the previous efforts, we included only explicit statements of policy and did not count decisions by governments to use or purchase open source software. Icelandic government policy regarding free and opensource software 1. Software policies should read the same, whether open. California moves another step toward opensource government.
In fact, its a policy that should have been passed a long time ago, but its not quite what most of us mean. The pentagon is set to make a big push toward open source. Ministry is supporting the czech open source software alliance to provide consultation on oss projects and assist with representation in the eus idabc with. Policy on adoption of open source software for government of india there is a need to formulate a policy for the government organizations to adopt open source software. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This chapter provides a brief overview of policy issues as sociated with open. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves. It preferred pushing government agencies to refactor code into reusable modules, with a focus on what would be the most reusable. Government policy toward open source software by robert william hahn download book respecting the intellectual property of others is utmost important to us, we make every effort to make sure we.
Download citation government policy toward open source software can open source software software that is usually available without charge and that individuals are free to modify survive. Opensource governance also known as open politics is a political philosophy which advocates the application of the philosophies of the opensource and opencontent movements to democratic. Government policy toward open source software on jstor. Government policy toward open source software book description. Everyone is making it up as they go along while others guidelines can help an it manager create corporate opensource policies, theres no. Instead of choosing software based on its meritsreliability, security, ease of use, and so onthese governments favor open source as a matter of policy. Government policy toward open source software by robert. The us government and opensource software linux journal. The croatian government adopted an open source software policy and issued the following guidelines for developing and using open source software in the government institutions. Specifically, the order outlines requirements for implementing open source code produced by andor for the agency in accordance with omb memorandum m1621, federal source code policy. Sharing source code between different parts of the government makes a lot of sense. The paperback of the government policy toward open source software by robert w.
Youre not alone, so we compiled this handy guide chock full of best. Can open source softwaresoftware that is usually available without charge and that individuals are free to modifysurvive against the fierce competition of p. Open source refers to access to the source code, written in a programming language, that constitutes a working software program. Government policy toward open source software by robert w. Government policy toward open source software ebook, 2002. Us government now has an official open source software policy. Hahn t his chapter provides a brief overview of policy issues associated with open source software and offers an economic.
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