OSC Newsletter, Spring 2006 OSC vision for the UK
The OSC is developing a strong vision for the future of commercial OSS
in the UK. We would like to see a strong commercial sector with far more
people able to earn a living from Open Source in the UK. We believe that
this will not only help revitalise our home-grown IT industry but also
greatly benefit the public sector and economy as a whole.
Bridgend win
Congratulations to OSC member EMC who won a contract to build three CMSs
for Bridgend Council. The OSC acted as broker, with two members (EMC and
Zedcore) putting in separate bids under the OSC banner. Both made it to
the shortlist with EMC pipping Zedcore at the post.
OSC as marketplace
The model of the OSC as a marketplace or broker is one we're seeing
increasing interest in from the public sector. Local authorities looking
for an open source tender can come to the OSC. We'll pass it onto our
members, co-ordinate things and, of course, apply the OSC guarantee
where appropriate. The customer gets one or more bids from OSC
mini-consortia, backed by the OSC so they know the risk is low.
Becta consultation
The OSC, along with SchoolForge UK and OFE, will be attending a
consultation event with Becta at the end of May, to develop thinking on
how to increase the use of Open Source Software in education.
Scottish Executive
Part of OSC's purpose is to inform and advocate Public Sector
organisations. The Scottish Executive is the latest to take advantage of
this service from the OSC. The OSC is in regular contact with a growing
number of public sector bodies around the UK to develop the use of Open
Source.
SOCITM
The Open Source Consortium continues its long-standing and fruitful
association with SOCITM (the society of public sector IT managers). We
sit on their OSS committee, with different OSC members having the
opportunity to attend meetings. Our involvement with SOCITM gives the
OSC a much better understanding of the status of open source in the UK
public sector.
OSC Provided expert-level input into Socitm's response to the Gower
Report. Thanks to our lobbying, Socitm took a completely anti-software
patent position in its response paper. As a result of our and other
groups (including our partners FFII) lobbying, the Gower Report appears
to be taking a noticibly anti-software position:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/05/05/patent_warning/
NCC partnership
OSC is working with the NCC and the IT Hub to make available details of
F/L/OSS Suppliers willing and able to work with the Voluntary Sector.
Regions
The OSC has long wished to develop the regions, to give a strong
presence right across the country and get a wide spread of people
contributing. To help this, we decided that each region should organise
itself and select a representative to sit on the OSC Executive Council.
New Executive Council elected
On 26th April the members of the OSC elected five OSC Executive Council
members for a one-year stint. Founder of the OSC Mark Taylor is our
President with Iain Roberts taking over the role of Chief Executive.
Antony Stone, Alex Hudson and Malcolm Macsween are elected Council
members. The current Executive Council additionally has director of OSC
Ltd Roger Spurling and regional reps Bernard Giltrap and John Cooper.
Other regions are expected to appoint their representatives shortly.
Join the OSC
If OSS is part of your company's business or you want to support the
objectives of the OSC, we'd like you to join the OSC and help us grow
OSS as a sector in the UK. Visit www.opensourceconsortium.org to join.
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