Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

This article begins by explaining the concepts of proprietary and open source software technology, which are now competing in the marketplace. A review of recent individual and cooperative technology development and public policy advocacy efforts, by both proponents of open source software and advocates of proprietary software, subsequently follows, with supporting positions articulated. This is followed by an analysis of the results of a recent draft of a Center for Strategic & International Studies global study of government initiatives to incorporate open source software as an option in their institutional operations. The article concludes with analysis and recommendations on public policies for appropriate software technology assessment policy. For governments, the encouragement of neutral standards (i.e., not favoring one software business model), open competition for research funding of software development, and nondiscrimination in computer software procurement policies will result in the most effective and efficient procurement decisions.

Keywords

free software general public license government policies intellectual property Linux

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Broersma, M. (2002). Group campaigns against open source.Retrieved January 5, 2005, from http://news.com.com/Group+campaigns+against+open+source/2100-1001_3-949635.html

Business Software Alliance . (n.d.). Principles for software innovation. Retrieved January 6, 2005, from http://www.bsa.org/resources/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&pageid=1621&hitboxdone=yes

Center for Strategic & International Studies . (2004). Government open source policies (Draft). Retrieved December 13, 2004, from http://www.csis.org/tech/OpenSource/0408_ospolicies.pdf

Computing Technology Industry Association . (2004). About the initiative for software choice. Retrieved January 6, 2005, from http://www.softwarechoice.org/about.aspx

Davis, S. (1998, April 3). Linux: Software with a license to use. Wall Street Journal, p. B7F.

Elias, S. R. (2003). Patent, copyright & trademark: An intellectual property desk reference (6th ed.). Berkeley, CA: Nolo Press.

Free Software Foundation . (2004). The free software definition. Retrieved December 31, 2004, from http://www.fsf.org/philosophy/free-sw.html

Gates, B. (2002). Remarks by Bill Gates, Government Leaders’ Conference, Seattle, Washington, April 17. Retrieved December 31, 2004, from the Microsoft Corporation Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/billgates/speeches/2002/04-17glc.asp

International Institute of Infonomics . (2002, June). Free libre and open source software: Survey and study. Maastricht, the Netherlands: University of Maastricht, International Institute of Infonomics. Retrieved January 8, 2005, http://www.infonomics.nl/FLOSS/report/index.htm

10.

Microsoft at the power point: Governments like open-source software, but Microsoft does not. (2003, September 11). The Economist. Retrieved December 29, 2004, from http://www.economist.com/business/PrinterFriendly.cfm?Story_ID=2054746

11.

Moody, G. (2001). Rebel code: Linux and the open source revolution. New York: Perseus.

12.

Open Source Software Institute . (2004). Home page. Retrieved December 31, 2004, from http://oss-institute.org

13.

Open Source Software Institute . (2005). OSSI mission and bylaws, OSSI mission statement. Retrieved September 20, 2005, from http://www.oss-institute.org/index.php?option=content&task=blocategory&id=18&Itemid=41

14.

Perens, B. (1997). The open source definition (Version 1.9). Retrieved December 31, 2004, from the Open Source Initiative Web site: http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php

15.

Ricketson, S. (1991). New wine into old bottles: Technological change and intellectual property rights. Prometheus, 10(1), 53-82.

16.

Wheeler, D. (2003, July 23). Why open source software/free software (OSS/FS)? Look at the numbers! Retrieved January 2, 2005, from http://www.dwheeler.com/oss_fs_why.html

Government Technology Acquisition Policy: The Case of Proprietary Versus Open Source Software

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References