Hello cluster denizens,
My colleagues and I (on the Opensourcenz email list) intend to send the
message below to the NZ Minister of Science and Technology, the Right
Honourable Pete Hodgson. We feel, especially the wake of the "knowledge
wave conference," that those of us at the IT coal face (so to speak) must
make a constructive effort to bring about a positive change. We feel that
our message is a step in that direction.
We would be very appreciative of your support (as co-signers) if you feel
that the issue we raise is in line with your own views. You are welcome to
forward this *selectively* to other individuals whom you believe might also
want to participate.
I would like to send this message to the Minister on this Thursday, 13
September, so please, if you would like to be listed as a co-signer, send me
a quick email with your details as you would like me to list them. Also,
feel free to join the Opensourcenz email list (just send a empty message to
[EMAIL PROTECTED])!
Thanks very much for your time. The message to the Minister is below.
Kind regards,
David Lane
--
** David Lane, Director ** Egressive Limited (Chch) **
** [EMAIL PROTECTED] ** PO Box 24162, Christchurch, NZ **
** www.egressive.com ** Open Source: software for the discerning palate **
** Join the Open Source NZ list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] **
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Dear Minister,
My collegues and I would like you and the NZ government to consider an
official position favouring "open source" software (OSS) for computing in the
government and in business. We believe OSS presents a much better option for
New Zealand than the current situation - nationwide dependence on the
software sold by a single foreign vendor, a convicted monopolist.
Given that many governments worldwide are considering similar pro-OSS
legislation, NZ taking the lead by adopting of such a position would carry a
positive weight in the global IT marketplace comparable to our Nuclear-Free
stance. Moreover, we believe such a move would find considerable support
from local IT vendors in addition to committed international OSS supporters
like IBM, Intel, Sun, and HP/Compaq.
The Big Picture
You are probably aware that more than 90% of computers in New Zealand run a
version of the Microsoft(tm) Windows(r) operating system. The New Zealand
government and most of our businesses are dependent on a closed-source
(proprietary) software product developed by a single foreign vendor. In
addition to sending hundreds of millions of dollars in license fees to the
US, we stifle our domestic IT industry, which can only participate on the
fringes of a market wholly controlled by a single player whom the US
government has found guilty of maintaining and exploiting an illegal
monopoly(1).
We, a group of New Zealand IT professionals, would like you and the
government to consider a compelling alternative: "open source" software
(OSS)(2) which is enjoying growing support within the IT community both
domestically and internationally. We are prepared to present to you its
capabilities, as well as our ability to support it. We would also like to
discuss ways in which the government can encourage its use by means including
legislation, tax incentives, and government funded initiatives.
At minimum, we would like a commitment from the government that all
government funded publically accessible software projects, like the current
"e-government initiative" (see note at bottom), be built to open standards
that allow full access to anyone using an OSS-based computing platform.
What is OSS?
The Linux operating system and other OSS has the potential to level the
playing field. Unlike the closely guarded source code of proprietary
software,
anyone can freely access the inner workings of OSS, making domination by a
single vendor impossible. In fact, neither Linux nor any other OSS is owned
by any one company. It is the work of programmers worldwide, both paid and
voluntary, who collaborate through the Internet, contributing working
software code which is reviewed by their peers. Instead of selling software
licenses, local vendors can and already do build profitable businesses
on selling software installation, support, and customisation services based
on OSS.
Built on Open Standards
OSS has the huge benefit that it is built to conform to open standards, i.e.
developed by non-partisan international standards bodies. This makes it
possible for various types of open source and proprietary software
applications to interoperate and exchange data. When a single company can
dictate standards by leveraging its overwhelming marketshare, the potential
for integration with competing products is effectively destroyed. It is
worthwhile to note that the Internet itself, a collection of computers which
can talk to one another via a standard called TCP/IP, owes its existence to
OSS and would cease to be viable without it.
Benefits of OSS
Governments all over the world(3) are considering legislation encouraging the
use of OSS for economic and security reasons. It can cut costs, smooth
interdepartmental integration, and increase capabilities. Its diversity
makes it largely impervious to viruses in contrast to the computing
"monoculture" of Microsoft Windows(4). Its openness ensures that it has been
thoroughly scrutinised for security vulnerabilities(5). It fosters local
industries because it is easy to access and modify(6). It is a boon for
educational institutions because it is reliable, cheap to administer, secure
and yet is open to the curious who want to "look under the bonnet" and learn
how it works(7).
Support for OSS
Corporates like SAP, Sun, Intel, IBM, and Hewlett-Packard/Compaq are
committed to using OSS as a core part of their business and are investing
significantly in enhancing its already impressive capabilities(8). Countries
like Mexico, Brazil, France, and China are already considering legislation to
favour OSS
deployment in government institutions(9), schools, and in business(10). Many
of us have built our businesses around OSS and see a huge potential for
New Zealand to "catch the knowledge wave" by legislating support for open
standards and software diversity(11) - it may be our only opportunity to
demonstrate to ourselves and everyone else that as a nation of innovators we
can stand with the best.
Yours faithfully,
David Lane, Director, Egressive Ltd. (Chch)
Co-signers:
1. David McNab, former Senior Project Engineer, JNA Telecommunications Ltd.
(Sydney). Presently developing OSS for human rights projects abroad (Wgtn)
2. Julian Carver, Director, Seradigm Ltd. (Chch)
3. Richard Waid, Director, iOpen Technologies Ltd. (Chch)
4. Brian Chatterton, Director, iOpen Technologies Ltd. (Chch)
5. Michael Doerner (Tauranga)
6. Hayden Glass, Consultant (journeyman, currently touring Siberia, formerly
Auck)
7. Andrew Groom, Aphid Net Technologies (Chch)
8. Greg Driver, Director, Technology Benefits Ltd. (Wgtn)
9. Robert Sherlock, Director, SmartWork Systems Ltd. (Chch)
10. Carl Cerecke, Assistant Lecturer, Dept. of Computer Science, University
of Canterbury (Chch)
11. David Pugh, Director, Bootstrap IT Ltd. (ChCh)
12. Terry Paddy, Director, Bootstrap IT Ltd. (ChCh)
13. Dr. Paul Gorman, Consultant (Auck)
14. Josh Campbell, Director, Zype - Graphical Interface Design (Chch)
15. Dr. Phil Driver, Director, Technology Link Ltd. (Chch)
16. Patrick Milne, Consultant, Southern Cypresses (Kaiapoi)
17. Mark Collister, BLVD Web Systems (Chch)
18. Rob Connell, Director, CH Flood Modelling (Chch)
Notes:
(1) "The Land of Monopolies" - sourced from the New York Times, see:
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/01/weekinreview/01SCHW.html
(2) For the official definition of "open source," please see:
http://www.opensource.org
(3) For a list of countries considering legislation to support OSS see:
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-6996393.html?tag=dd.ne.dtx.nl-sty.0
(4) For a report on the impact of viruses on business and world economies,
see: http://cnnfn.cnn.com/2001/08/31/technology/wires/virus_re/
(5) A version of Linux has been developed by the NSA as the new platform for
the storage of secret data in the US: http://www.nsa.gov/selinux/
(6) "New Economy" based on OSS - sourced from New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/04/technology/04NECO.html
(7) For a good article on why OSS should be used in schools, please see:
http://edge-op.org/grouch/schools.html
(8) Major corporate support for Linux and OSS:
http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/sep2001/pi2001096_399.htm
(9) Government institutions are already seeing significant benefits from
using OSS: http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=01/08/10/1441239
(10) Because it needs security and reliability, the financial sector is
taking a lead in adopting OSS:
http://www.zdnet.com/eweek/stories/general/0,11011,2805343,00.html
(11) For a compelling article on NZ's potential to benefit from the use of
open source technologies, please see this article from the New Zealand Herald
(on one line):
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=207470&thesection=technology&thesubsection=general
Further reference:
Tony Blair's Labour government in the UK learned the hard way what happens
when a monopolistic vendor is allowed to develop the government's public
interface on the Internet (please consider this with regard to NZ's
"e-government" initiative!):
(a) before - http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/19239.html
(b) after - http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/19659.html
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