63 行
2.4 KiB
HTML
63 行
2.4 KiB
HTML
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
|
|
|
|
<html newsdate="2012-06-01">
|
|
<version>1</version>
|
|
|
|
<head>
|
|
<title>FSFE responds to UK Open Standards Consultation</title>
|
|
</head>
|
|
<body>
|
|
|
|
<h1>FSFE responds to UK Open Standards Consultation</h1>
|
|
|
|
<p> FSFE has submitted its <a href="/freesoftware/standards/FSFE-response.questionnaire.pdf">response</a>
|
|
[pdf] to a
|
|
public <a href="http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/open-standards-open-opportunities-flexibility-and-efficiency-government-it">consultation</a>
|
|
by the UK Government, concerning a definition of Open Standards and a
|
|
policy for increasing their use in the UK's public sector. If the
|
|
policy is applied boldly and proactively, the UK stands to greatly
|
|
gain from increased competition in the software market, with much
|
|
greater opportunities for small companies. On the other hand, even
|
|
minor lapses in implementation could derail the policy entirely.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
While we take a generally positive view of the proposed policy, there
|
|
are several areas of concern. First, the proposal seems to limit
|
|
application of the policy to a small number of central government
|
|
bodies. This would not be enough to break the widespread lock-in to
|
|
proprietary formats from which the UK public sector is suffering.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
Second, the definition of what constitutes an Open Standard needs to
|
|
be carefully crafted. Even small mistakes here risk rendering the
|
|
policy entirely ineffective in practice.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
Third, in order for the policy to be effective, the UK government will
|
|
have to help those who are supposed to implement it in
|
|
practice. Procurement and IT staff will require training. Incentives
|
|
should be in place for those who adhere to the policy,
|
|
e.g. recognition via a system of peer evaluation. We encourage the UK
|
|
government to learn from the experience of other countries in Europe
|
|
and beyond.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
FSFE
|
|
has <a href="/news/2012/news-20120528-01.html">called
|
|
upon</a> companies and individuals doing business with Free Software
|
|
in the UK to answer to the consultation. We have
|
|
provided <a href="/freesoftware/standards/uk-standards-consultation.html">supporting
|
|
materials</a>,
|
|
and <a href="/news/2012/news-20120426-01.html">remarked
|
|
upon</a> the incompatibility with Free Software of FRAND patent
|
|
licensing in standards.
|
|
</p>
|
|
</body>
|
|
<tags>
|
|
<tag key="front-page"/>
|
|
<tag key="gb"/>
|
|
<tag key="openstandards"/>
|
|
<tag key="policy"/>
|
|
</tags>
|
|
</html>
|