[SWLUG] Open government IT projects

[Bradley, Peter]

While we're on the subject of petitions, I'm trying to get the Open
University to use cross platform software for all their teaching and
learning tools.  I've started a petition at:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/xplatform/

If you are, or ever have been (as the American visa form used to say) a
student or teacher at the OU, it would be helpful if you could say so or
perhaps supply your OU identifier.

If you haven't had contact with the OU, but just want to give support by
signing the petition, it would help if you made that clear.

Thanks

(Oh, and yes, I did sign the OP's petition)

:)


Peter


-----Original Message-----
From: discuss-bounces at swlug.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at swlug.org] On
Behalf Of Steve Hill
Sent: 22 January 2007 12:35
To: discuss at swlug.org
Subject: [SWLUG] Open government IT projects


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

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