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Government Open Source Policies Summary (August 2007)

Core Content

This document presents an analysis of open source software (OSS) policy initiatives from around the world as of August 2007. It outlines the types of policies, their regional distribution, and the status of their implementation. The focus is on how governments are integrating OSS into their operations, emphasizing cost savings, innovation, and standards-based development.

Main Categories of Policies

The policies are categorized into four types:

• Research (R&D): Initiatives aimed at studying or developing OSS.
• Mandates: Policies that require the use of OSS.
• Preferences: Policies that give preference to OSS in procurement decisions.
• Advisory: Policies that permit the use of OSS but do not enforce it.

Key Observations

• Mandates: Only 6 out of 268 initiatives (3.4%) mandated the use of open source software.
• Preferences: 56 out of 268 (31.6%) required a preference for OSS in government acquisition decisions.
• Research: The majority of approved initiatives in Europe and Asia involve research programs.
• Advisory: National-level authorities were more likely to approve advisory policies, while regional or local authorities were more likely to approve preference policies.

Regional Distribution

• Europe had the highest number of approved initiatives, with a significant focus on research and advisory policies.
• Asia also had a substantial number of initiatives, with a mix of research and preference policies.
• Latin America primarily focused on preference policies for OSS in government acquisitions.
• North America, Africa, and Middle East had fewer initiatives, with most being advisory or proposed.

Policy Status

• Completed: 72% of the 268 initiatives (193) had final action taken.
• Approved: 177 initiatives.
• Rejected: 16 initiatives.
• Pending: The remaining initiatives were still under consideration.

Trends and Business Models

• The software industry's shift towards blended business models involving both proprietary and open source software has influenced open source policy.
• Open standards are emphasized as a basis for collaboration and innovation, though there is less consensus on what qualifies as open.
• Most open standards initiatives are not counted unless they de facto require the use of open source software.

Notable Policies

Argentina

• National Information Technology Office & National Information Office: Promote Linux in public administration due to cost, employment, and security.
• Legislative: Proposed bill to mandate OSS in all government offices and state-owned enterprises.

Australia

• Tax Office: Consider OSS alongside proprietary solutions.
• Information Management Office: R&D initiative for OSS options, based on standard criteria.
• Legislative: Proposed amendment to prefer OSS where practicable.

Belgium

• Council of Ministers: Mandate for open standards and OSS in new ICT systems.
• Federal Parliament: Advisory policy on open source software and open standards.
• Parliamentary Committee: R&D initiative on open standards for federal parliament.

Brazil

• Executive / National Institute of IT: Advisory policy to promote OSS and evaluate IT benefits.
• Executive: Preference policy for OSS in government acquisitions.
• Ministry of Science and Technology: R&D initiative to encourage OSS development.
• Executive: Launched PC Conectado, aiming to sell 1 million low-cost computers using OSS.

China

• Beijing Science and Technology Commission: Advisory policy to endorse Linux for improving the software industry.
• Ministry of Information Industry: Established Open Source Alliance and promoted OSS development.
• EU Commission: Launched the "Three Roses Initiative" to fund OSS in e-government and e-business.

Denmark

• Executive: Advisory policy promoting OSS for cost savings and interoperability.
• Board of Technology: R&D report showing potential savings of 500 million Euros.
• Legislative: Approved policy to use Open Document Format (ODF) and Microsoft's Open XML in government agencies.

EU

• DG XIII, Info Society: Advisory policy to use OSS in research programs.
• Directorate Info Society: Advisory policy to support open source in the EU's interoperability framework.
• EU Commission: Advisory policy on e-government and e-business solutions using OSS.
• EU Parliament: Resolution on promoting European encryption software and open source projects.
• Green Party: Proposed directive on open standards and interoperability.

Finland

• Ministry of Finance: Advisory policy to consider OSS alternatives.
• Joint Venture: R&D initiative on OS applications.
• Legislative: Failed non-binding bill for migration to Linux.

France

• Ministry of Defense: R&D initiative for secure Linux-based systems.
• Ministry of Culture and Communication: Preference policy for full migration to FOSS by 2005.
• ADEA: R&D and advisory policies on OSS migration and open standards.
• Commissariat General du Plan: R&D report recommending promotion of free software platforms.

Germany

• Bundestag: Advisory policies promoting FOSS for cost savings.
• Federal Court of Auditors: Approved report on the benefits of OSS and its potential cost savings.
• Ministry of Economy: Advisory policy to strengthen competition between free and open source software.

Conclusion

The open source policy landscape in 2007 was characterized by a mix of advisory, preference, and research initiatives, with mandates being rare. While Europe and Asia had the most active policies, Latin America showed a strong preference for OSS in government acquisitions. The integration of open standards and the blending of open and proprietary models were key trends, with a focus on cost efficiency, innovation, and national development.