Westminster eForum to discuss open source software

Leaders from the open source community are meeting senior government officials at the Westminster eForum on 12 September, to discuss open source software and the economy.

Alan Cox, developer of the Linux kernel, and Mark Taylor, president of the Open Source Consortium (OSC), will contrast the popularity of open source software in industry with its limited use by the public sector.

The two open source representatives are expected to present open source as a good alternative to proprietary software for the public sector, which has a track record of failed IT projects.

Features of open source that would be attractive to the public sector are its affordability and the fact that there is no lock-in.

IT executives from retailer Specsavers and hotel chain Malmaison, will present actual case studies of open source technologies already in action in the private sector.

To provide a balanced view, a representative from Microsoft will present the advantages of proprietary software in the public sector and explain why it should continue to be used by public sector bodies.

The eForum will be held on 12 September at the Palace of Westminster.