The Office of the e-Envoy has launched a consultation on
the adoption of open-source software (OSS) as part of its
continuing drive to put pressure on commercial software providers
to provide the best deals to the public sector.
The consultation document states that "open-source software is
not a hype bubble that will burst and UK government must take
cognisance of that fact".
Adoption of OSS is, so far, limited in the public sector. While
Dundee city council, for instance, has adopted a Linux-driven
mainframe solution in partnership with IBM, a high-profile Linux
trial at Newham borough council ended when Newham decided to stay
with Microsoft.
The Office of Government Commerce has initiated a series of
open-source trials in the public sector and is seeking to
renegotiate its licence terms with Microsoft.
The OSS consultation runs until 11 June, and users are asked to
comment on a series of recommendations. These include making it
standard policy for the government to consider OSS solutions
alongside proprietary ones in IT procurements.
It also spells out a commitment to using only products for
interoperability that support open standards, so the public sector
can avoid lock-ins to proprietary products.
The government may also consider obtaining full rights to
bespoke software code or customisations of commercial off-the-shelf
software it buys.
The draft policy says such measures will remove the reliance on
individual IT suppliers, and provide more flexibility in the
development, enhancement and integration of systems. It also points
out that OSS is more secure against internet attacks, unlike the
main applications available from Microsoft, for instance.
Open-source software: Use within the UK government
http://www.govtalk.gov.uk/policydocs/consult_subject_document.asp?docnum=861