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1. PREAMBLE
The
software industry today generates yearly revenues in excess of
US$300 Billion (UNCTAD 2003 Development Report). Free and Open
Source Software (FOSS) offers viable and equitable models for
distribution and production of this wealth. FOSS makes its source
code public and allows perhaps even motivates users to change the
source code and re-distribute the derivative software. Liberating
the source code supports broad collaborative development in software
production, promotes innovation by users according to their needs,
better interoperability with other programs, and the customization
of software to meet different commercial, regulatory, cultural and
linguistic requirements.
Most
importantly, in particular for developing countries, FOSS is an
avenue for economic and technological empowerment, and allows todays
and tomorrows Information Technology (IT) experts and users to
acquire skills and advance their knowledge rapidly. Low entry costs
of FOSS technology enables developing countries to leapfrog to the
most advanced stages of research and development.
2. RECOMMENDATIONS
a. Policy Issues
i.
Raising awareness of FOSS and related Intellectual Property Rights
issues.
ii.
Promotion of FOSS as a global common good contributing to
development iii. Adoption of policies to ensure that FOSS is equally
considered in public procurement processes
iv.
Promotion of FOSS based business models
v.
Promotion of FOSS to End Users
vi.
Collection of statistics, indicators and best practices on FOSS to
measure development and utilisation at national, regional and
international levels
vii.
Adoption of FOSS as a basis for open standards in the public sector
viii.
Promotion of a patent-free regulatory system regarding standards,
software and algorithms
ix.
Enhancement of cooperation between countries on FOSS promotion,
development and use
x.
Creation of awareness on FOSS licensing and standardization issues
xi.
Taking advantage of FOSS to promote multilingualism, cultural
diversity and use of the different languages in Cyberspace
xii.
Making use of FOSS to promote the equitable participation in
Cyberspace: women and men, ethnic and indigenous groups, people with
special needs, etc.
xiii.
Integration of FOSS within the national e-strategies and ICT
policies of developing countries
xiv.
Mandating that all software developed using public funds be
distributed under FOSS licenses unless there are valid reasons to
the contrary.
b. Capacity Building
i.
Education:
FOSS and Open Standards to be introduced into ICT curricula
ii.
Certification in FOSS related areas
iii.
Research & Development
iv.
Match-making mechanisms to link entities pursuing FOSS
v.
FOSS human resources
development.
c. Business Development (Entrepreneurship)
i.
Address user needs
by sector
ii.
Business opportunities for FOSS
iii.
Encourage government agencies and public institutions to use FOSS
iv.
Allow FOSS to compete on equal terms with proprietary alternatives
in government software procurement
v.
Provide incentives for FOSS training and development
vi.
Encourage private sector
to set up FOSS resource and support centers
d. Content and Application Development
i.
Support
documentation, translation & localization of FOSS
ii.
Promote FOSS in education, research and development projects
financed by public funds
iii.
Establish national FOSS development initiatives that link developers
and users
iv.
Establish national capabilities for development, testing,
evaluation, verification and accreditation of FOSS
v.
Implement criteria
for evaluating FOSS and procedures for adopting and maintaining open
standards
e. International Cooperation
UNDP
and UNESCO should enhance cooperation with other international
organizations, civil society and private sector to develop a common
approach to support FOSS in developing countries with particular
emphasis in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
Such
international cooperation may start with initiatives such as,
i.
Analysis of software needs and usage patterns in developing
countries in order to obtain a priority list of generic FOSS
applications meriting international support.
ii.
Establishment of a coordination mechanism to develop a common agenda
and goals on FOSS including coordinated support for on-going
regional, national and local FOSS initiatives
iii.
Adoption of FOSS specific criteria to be used in the selection of
development project proposals and evaluation of project results
iv.
Sub-regional projects on implementing E-government using FOSS at
local levels
v.
Formulation and implementation by UNDP and UNESCO of FOSS strategies
for their own informatics systems and applications.
vi.
Development of a comprehensive training programme on FOSS
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