The Netherlands Patent Office changes to open source software
The Netherlands Patent Office is the first government authority to implement the ‘Nederland Open in Connection’ action plan and to switch a large number of its ICT systems to what is known as open source software. As the first step, Frank Heemskerk, minister of Foreign Trade launched the new website of the Netherlands Patent Office today, which is based on open source software. By the end of 2009, the entire office environment, including desktop computer systems and the relationship management system will be running on the basis of open source software.
Open source software allows free access to its source code which means that it can be freely edited by users and there are no licensing costs. The open source pilot project at the Netherlands Patent Office is part of Heemskerk’s action plan ‘Nederland in Open Connection’, in which a number of specific measures are put forward to encourage the use of open standards and open source software in government authorities. “Wider use of open source software offers greater opportunities for new software companies. It also reduces the government’s dependency on fixed suppliers and ensures lower costs”, explains Heemskerk. According to the minister, the Netherlands Patent Office is an important front runner with its plans and serves as a good example to other government authorities that have yet to implement the action plan.
The Netherlands Patent Office changes to open source software.