[clug] Opensource legislation in ACT

[Anthony David]

On Tue, Sep 16, 2003 at 10:56:59AM +1000, Kim Holburn wrote:
> I just got this:
> >From: Jeremy Dawson <dawson at ilkd.uni-karlsruhe.de>
> >To: me
> >Subject: Microsoft vs Open Source
> >Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 15:22:11 +0200
> >
> >
> >Dear all,
> >
> >I hope this is of sufficient interest interest to justify broadcasting,
> >sorry if not.
> >
> >Welcome to the e-brief of Roslyn Dundas MLA, Leader of the ACT Democrats.
> >
> >
> >...
> >
> >Government Procurement (Principles) Guideline Amendment Bill 2003
> ><http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/b/db_6278/default.asp>
> >
> >Introduced by me, This amendment mirrors legislation introduced by Democrats
> >in parliaments across the country to force the Government to consider using
> >Open-Source software. If successful, this legislation will save the
> >government millions of dollars in software licenses and also help break the
> >near-monopoly of Microsoft.
> >
> >...
> >
> >Jeremy
> 
> 
> Now here is some text from the bill.  I'm a bit unhappy about the definition of proprietary software as "not open source" also slightly worried about the definition of open source software or maybe it's the emphasis on licensing rather than standards.  Lets leave the US spelling for now.

Hi All

Got a call from Roslyn Dundas as she is keen to take up
an invitation I gave her to come and talk on this issue if
there is interest at the next meeting onthe 25th of this month.

That week is a sitting week which means she can duck down during
the evening break. She can get there and 7:00 and needs to leave
at 7:45pm

If there is interest, in discussing the proposal,
I will confirm it with her.

Regards
Anthony

> 
> Section 4
> Government Procurement (Principles) Guideline
> Amendment Bill 2003
> Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel-also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au
> page 3
> 
> 
> (1) In the procurement of computer software, a Territory entity should,
> as far as practicable, prefer open source software to proprietary
> software.
> (2) This is in addition to the procurement principles to be applied under
> clause 6.
> (3) In this clause:
> distribute means distribute without charge or on payment of the
> reasonable costs of distribution.
> open source software means computer software that is the subject
> of a licence granting a person-
> (a) a right, without any limitation or restriction, to-
> (i) use the software for any purpose; and
> (ii) make copies of the software for any purpose; and
> (iii) access or modify the source code of the software for any
> purpose; and
> (b) a right, without payment of a royalty or other fee, to distribute
> copies of-
> (i) the software (including as part of a total distribution of
> computer software from several different sources); or
> (ii) a derived or modified form of the software.
> proprietary software means computer software that is not open
> source software.
> -- 
> --
> Worms, crashes, proprietary file formats, obfuscated communications
> protocols...and you paid how much?!?

-- 
Anthony David

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