New DoD Memo On Open Source Software

Posted by kdawson on Tuesday October 27, 2009 @10:55AM from the rules-of-engagement dept.

dwheeler writes "The US Department of Defense has just released a new official memo on open source software: 'Clarifying Guidance Regarding Open Source Software (OSS).' (The memo should be up shortly on this DoD site.) This memo is important for anyone who works with the DoD, including contractors, on software and systems that include software; it may influence many other organizations as well. The DoD had released a memo back in 2003, but 'misconceptions and misinterpretations... have hampered effective DoD use and development of OSS.' The new memo tries to counter those misconceptions and misinterpretations, and is very positive about OSS. In particular, it lists a number of potential advantages of OSS, and recommends that in certain cases the DoD release software as OSS."

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Re:This is very odd... by pilgrim23 · 2009-10-27 11:03 · Score: 5, Insightful

a 2009 memo to clarify a 2003 memo. ...and acting at speed of light too!

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- Minutus cantorum, minutus balorum, minutus carborata descendum pantorum.
Re:This is very odd... by wizardforce · 2009-10-27 11:20 · Score: 5, Insightful

The government has always acted in its own interests. Perhaps they have realised that releasing software as OSS suits their purposes.

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Sigs are too short to say anything truly profound so read the above post instead.