Michael P. Gerlek <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [080514]: > I'm not looking to start a debate, but... > > >> We call on all governments to: > >> > >> 1. Procure only information technology that implements free and > open standards; > >> 2. Deliver e-government services based exclusively on free and open > standards; > >> 3. Use only free and open digital standards in their own > activities. > >> > > I'm certainly sympathetic to the desires this declaration seems to > express, but this seems to go too far by using words like "only" and > "exclusively". > > There are undoubtedly cases where extant open standards are not as > mature, stable, featureful, mission-safe, etc, as the relevant > proprietary solutions, and so as a pragmatic matter governments must > rely on the proprietary works in those cases.
And force its citizens to buy a copy of proprietary software, or to use special software. When it comes to contact with citizens, governments could exclude participation of their own citizens just by using proprietary standards. -- Benjamin Henrion <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> FFII Brussels - +32-484-566109 - +32-2-4148403 _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
