Denmark urges govt support for open source

Subject: [bytesforall_readers] Denmark urges govt support for open source
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2003 00:35:07 +0000
From: Sunil Abraham <sunil@mahiti.org>
Organization: Mahiti Infotech Pvt. Ltd.
To: Bytesforall Readers <bytesforall_readers@yahoogroups.com>

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/linuxunix/0,39020390,39117341,00.htm

Open-source software and open standards are vital for any attempt at
e-government, argues a new report from Denmark

Open source software represents a serious alternative to proprietary
products, and should be used as a tool to open up software markets to
more competition, according to a report carried out under the auspices
of the Danish government.

The report, which stirred up controversy when it was published in
Denmark earlier this month, was released in English this week by the
Danish Board of Technology. While a number of governments in Europe and
elsewhere are eyeing open source software as a way of cutting costs and
stimulating localised software development, the Danish study goes a step
further, arguing that public sector support for open-source and open
standards may be necessary for there to be any real competition in the
software market.

"Open-source software represents a serious technical and economic
alternative to proprietary software -- even where there are proprietary
industry standards," the report said. Open-source software licences
allow anyone to modify and redistribute the source code of the
applications, meaning no one organisation controls the software's
development.

The study recommended that governments take an active role in promoting
standardised file formats and alternatives to dominant proprietary
applications in order to help break a "de facto monopoly". "The ordinary
market conditions for standard software will tend towards a very small
number of suppliers or a monopoly," the Board of Technology stated in
the report. "It will only be possible to achieve competition in such a
situation by taking political decisions that assist new market
participants in entering the market."

Proprietary standards
The Board was particularly critical of closed, proprietary standards
such as Microsoft's Word format, arguing they go against the principles
of e-government by requiring citizens to use particular software and
reinforcing monopolies.

"A strategy for e-government should not be based on a closed,
proprietary standard in a key technology," the report said. "There is no
genuine competition at present in the desktop (office software) area,
largely due to the fact that Microsoft formats also represent de facto
standards for electronic document exchange."

The Board recommended that the Danish government take an active role in
promoting an open, XML-based alternative for file formats, either by
switching to OpenOffice's XML format or launching an EU-wide project to
develop a new format.

However, the report recognised that establishing a existing alternative
or a new format would be an uphill battle, given that Microsoft Office
cannot read OpenOffice documents or other formats. The Board recommended
that Denmark begin a series of trials to test the feasibility of
introducing open-source software such as OpenOffice.

E-government
Open source could also help make public sector software procurement more
cost-effective by introducing real competition, the report said.
"Proprietary systems entail a strong tie to a single supplier, and in
reality this precludes competition," it argued. "User-owned systems are
more expensive in actual development, but provide an opportunity for
greater competition in continued development, and are therefore cheaper
in the long run."

A coordinated plan for using open source could also give governments a
stronger hand when the time comes to renegotiate contracts with
Microsoft, the study said.

The Danish Board of Technology urged the government to take action,
dismissing the lukewarm approach of other European countries: "It is...
not sufficient for us in Denmark to follow Britain and Germany, for
example, in merely recommending that open source should be 'considered'.
A more active decision must be taken in those areas where there is a de
facto monopoly.

--
Sunil Abraham, sunil@mahiti.org http://www.mahiti.org
MAHITI Infotech Pvt. Ltd.'Reducing the cost and complexity of ICTs'
314/1, 7th Cross, Domlur Bangalore - 560 071 Karnataka, INDIA
Ph/Fax: +91 80 4150580. Mobile: 98455 12611
"If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange apples
then you and I will still each have one apple.
But if you have an idea and I have one idea and we exchange these ideas,
then each of us will have two ideas" George B. Shaw

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