The US Department of Defense has issued a policy that
officially authorises the use of open-source software, as long as
it complies with its policies for commercial and government
off-the-shelf software and meets certain security
standards.
The policy is significant and sets an important precedent, said
Tony Stanco, director of the Center of Open Source & Government
and associate director of the Cyber Security Policy & Research
Institute at George Washington University in Washington DC.
"This is the first time the federal government in the US has
given an official policy towards open source," he said. "The policy
puts it at a level playing field with proprietary software and that
is exactly the way it should be. Open source before wasn't
discussed and that makes people wonder if they should use it."
Stanco heralded the policy as a victory for the open-source
movement and believed more government organisations worldwide would
now opt for open-source software.
Meanwhile, Microsoft said it was "committed to working with
the Department of Defense to deliver products that meet its
requirements and deliver cost effective, value-based
solutions".
Joris Evers writes for IDG News Service