European Commission Report Declares Open Source Software and Hardware to be a "Public Good" - AB Open
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A team in the Future Networks arm of the European Commission has released a report on the impact of open source software and hardware on a series of areas

“The objective of the study was to investigate and quantify the economic impact of OSS and OSH [Open Source Software and Open Source Hardware] on the European economy,” the study’s authors, working for the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology at the European Commission, explain.

“The study also identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges of open source in relevant ICT policies, such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), digitising European industry, the connected car, high performance computing, big data, distributed ledger technologies, and more.

“The main breakthrough of the study,” its authors note, “is the identification of open source as a public good. This shows a change of paradigm from the previous irreconcilable difference between closed and open source, and points to a new era in which digital businesses are built using open source assets. This information is essential to develop policy actions in the field. The study also values the economic impact of open source commitments on the EU economy.”

See https://abopen.com/news/european-commission-report-declares-open-source-software-and-hardware-to-be-a-public-good/

#technology #EU #opensource #government #economy

    • Ferk
      9·
      3 years ago

      If done well it could also boost the local economy. A lot of money in the Software industry goes to huge multinational companies outside of the EU or residing in tax havens.

      I wish one day the EU wakes up and starts building its own Google equivalent but based on Free Software. I’m afraid it won’t happen in my lifetime, though.

        • Tmpod
          3·
          3 years ago

          I had never heard of that project, it indeed sounds interesting. Can you provide more info on the project itself and on what makes you say that last paragraph? Would love to read more on this

    • GadgeteerZAOP
      6·
      3 years ago

      Yes I was also thinking there could be some sort of funding incentive for top voted contributors or something.

  • Vegafjord eo
    6·
    3 years ago

    This evaluation is not based on whether it benefits people. It is based on whether it benefits the EU economy.

    “The study identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges of open source in relevant ICT policies, such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), digitising European industry, the connected car, high performance computing, big data, distributed ledger technologies, and more."

    By public good, they actually mean good for the global north.

    • GadgeteerZAOP
      1·
      3 years ago

      Yes, but nothing stops other countries approving the same in their regions and also benefitting, so the global south can benefit country by country…