[Linux-aus] Request for Grant under the Linux Australia Grants Program: UK Open Standards Consultation

[Brendan Scott]

On 05/10/2012 09:23 AM, Chris Neugebauer wrote:
> On Thu, May 10, 2012 at 9:17 AM, Tim Ansell <mithro at mithis.com> wrote:
>> Can I ask what the impact on Australia would be? This seems to be focused on
>> the UK?
>>
> 
> Is this line in the grant application insufficient?
> 
> "A favourable definition from the UK will be of benefit to the open
> source community generally as it will lower barriers to acquisition of
> open source applications.  Australian and other governments (eg EU)
> will look to the UK when revising their own position on open data."

Yes.

Unfortunately, Australian Governments tend not to want to be the first at doing anything, particularly in this area.  If you ever go to a parliamentary inquiry they will always ask you what the rest of the world has done.  It is somewhat frustrating when, for example you've established "A implies B and A" they won't accept " therefore B" unless some other government has, but that just seems to be the way it is.   

The UK proposal is, I think, well on the way to being acceptable from an open source perspective:
http://consultation.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/openstandards/chapter-1/

However, it's under attack at the moment (google  Glyn Moody's recent articles).  
Now, compare the UK proposal with the current AU position which specifically states that OOXML is an open standard (and the proposed definition would also capture H.264/ the MPEG family as open standards) (?!) See my recent blog posts and links to AUSGoal site:

http://brendanscott.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/more-on-ausgoal-lack-of-understanding-of-formats/
http://brendanscott.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/australian-government-and-open-data-they-just-dont-get-it/

So, any requirement that AU Governments support "open standards" is of no practical effect. 

Should anyone ask, I have already contacted them and they will accept submissions from non-UK residents eg LA/me. 

Thanks


Brendan