[FSF India] [NEWS] French Senators Ask Government to Support Open Source

Raj Singh fsf-india@gnu.org.in
Mon, 6 Aug 2001 15:04:52 +0530 (IST)


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French senators propose making open source compulsory

Posted 24/10/99 2:47pm by John Lettice

French senators Pierre Laffitte and Rene Tragout are proposing that
national and local government and administrative systems should only use
open source software. Arguing in favour of their proposed law number 495,
they say ease of communication and free access by citizens to information
can only be achieved if the administration is not dependent on the
goodwill of the publishers of the software.

"Open systems whose evolution can be guaranteed via the free availability
of source code are needed," they say. The two senators have set up a
discussion forum for the proposed law at the French Senate Web site, and
put forward the text, and their own explanation of why the move is needed.

They see the Internet as becoming the primary way for government and
citizens to communicate, and propose a period of transition prior to a
switchover to wholly electronic communications. According to Article 3 of
law 495, "State administration, local government and administrative
services... can only use software free of [IP] rights and whose source
code is available. A decree will fix the terms of transition from the
current situation."

In addition, the senators see the switch to open source by the state as
providing the engine to drive a far broader movement. Private companies
dealing with the state, in bidding for contracts, for example, will tend
to switch to open source to make it easier to do so electronically, while
those who supply the state with computer systems will have to redouble
their open source efforts.

Impressively, neither Windows nor Linux is mentioned in their proposed law
and its supporting documentation, but it's pretty clear what the effect
will be if it passes. Time for another Bill Gates visit to Lionel Jospin
and Jacques Chirac, we fear. We're not sure what law 495's chances are,
but perhaps a French reader can help us out with some further information.
And while they're about it, could they explain to us why it's only number
495? Whenever we've been in France we've got the impression that there are
a hell of a lot more than just 494 laws.