战略与国际研究中心-Global-Policies-On-Open-Source-Software_47页_616kb

Summary of Government Open Source Policies – April 2006

Core Content

This document provides an analysis of government open source policies as of April 2006, based on publicly reported initiatives. It outlines the types of policies (research, mandatory, preferential, advisory), their status (proposed, approved, failed), and the regions where they were implemented. The data reflects a shift in government policy from strong preference for open source to a more neutral stance, with a focus on research and advisory roles.

Key Findings

• Total Initiatives: There were 265 open source policy initiatives reported up to April 2006.
• Approved Policies: 154 policies were approved, 13 were rejected, and 98 were proposed.
• Policy Types:
  • Research: 68 initiatives (25.7% of total)
  • Advisory: 70 initiatives (26.4% of total)
  • Preference: 95 initiatives (35.9% of total)
  • Mandatory: 32 initiatives (12.1% of total)
• Regional Distribution:
  • Europe: 126 initiatives (47.7% of total)
  • Asia: 73 initiatives (27.7% of total)
  • Latin America: 40 initiatives (15.2% of total)
  • North America: 17 initiatives (6.4% of total)
  • Africa and Middle East: 4 initiatives each (1.5% of total)

Main Policy Trends

• Mandatory Policies: Only two policies were explicitly mandatory, marking a significant decrease from 2004, where 80% of approved policies favored open source.
• Preference Policies: Forty-seven policies required a preference for open source in acquisition decisions, though this number has decreased compared to 2004.
• Advisory and Research Initiatives: These are the most common types of policies, with advisory policies being slightly more prevalent than research initiatives.
• National vs. State/Local Level:
  • National-level initiatives are more often created by agencies and ministries.
  • State and local initiatives are more likely to be approved by councils or legislatures.
  • National authorities tend to favor advisory policies, while state/local authorities often favor preference policies.

Shift in Focus

• The discussion around open source has shifted towards open standards, which are publicly available specifications that allow software (proprietary or open) to interoperate.
• Open standards are seen as a complementary concept to open source, not a substitute. They are less polarizing and provide a more flexible framework for interoperability and cost reduction.
• The relationship between open source and open standards is described as weak, with open source software not necessarily adhering to open standards.

Business Model Exploration

• There is an increasing interest in hybrid business models that combine open and proprietary software.
• These models aim to maximize returns and ensure interoperability, suggesting that open standards may play a key role in future software development strategies.

Conclusion

• The open source debate is not over, but there is a growing interest in open standards and hybrid models.
• The data suggests a more cautious and neutral approach to open source policy in many governments, with a focus on research, advisory roles, and preference rather than strict mandates.
• Continued analysis and collaboration are needed to understand the long-term impact of open source and open standards on government IT practices.

Summary Tables

Notes

• The document does not include open standards initiatives unless they were tied to a de facto requirement to use open source software.
• The focus on open standards and hybrid models indicates a broader strategic shift in government IT policy.