[SWLUG] Open government IT projects

[Steve Hill]

I've created a petition on the E-petitions website, promoting the idea 
that the tax payer should have access to the source code of IT projects we 
have paid for:
     http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Open-IT-projects/

Please sign it if you agree with the principle (obviously there are 
exceptions where projects cannot be open, such as defense, etc).

"Software written using public funds should have it's source code 
published under a distribution licence that has been declared Free by the 
Free Software Foundation, rather than remaining a closed secret.

This would allow for more of the public to benefit from the development of 
the software since the code would be available for anyone to use and 
improve. Furthermore, compatibility with other Free licences (such as the 
GPL) would promote rapid development and reduced costs through the reuse 
of existing code.

An open development model would also allow the public to be more informed 
of the progress and quality of these projects, which so frequently seem to 
end up severely over budget."

-- 

  - Steve
    xmpp:steve at nexusuk.org   sip:steve at nexusuk.org   http://www.nexusuk.org/

      Servatis a periculum, servatis a maleficum - Whisper, Evanescence