1 / 8

Open Source and Open Standards in the Portuguese Business and Academic Environments

Open Source and Open Standards in the Portuguese Business and Academic Environments. António José Coutinho Universidade do Minho Eurotux – Informática, SA. Proprietary Software. Under the manufacturer's control Customer pays “user licenses” No access to the source code

beck-head
Download Presentation

Open Source and Open Standards in the Portuguese Business and Academic Environments

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Open Source and Open Standards in the Portuguese Business and Academic Environments António José Coutinho Universidade do Minho Eurotux – Informática, SA

  2. Proprietary Software • Under the manufacturer's control • Customer pays “user licenses” • No access to the source code • Can't be copied or distributed • Natural tendency for monopolies • Extremely costly to develop • Marginal price is small, for each copy

  3. Free / Open Source Software • Main characteristics • Freedom to use, copy, modify and distribute • Free access to the source code • Developed by large number of volunteers • Respects standards and interoperability • Fast validation and error correction • Dependability and durability • Lower costs

  4. Free/Open Source Software • Software as a service, not a product • Empowers the customer • Strengthens professional qualifications • Creates opportunities for small and medium technological companies • Reduces costs

  5. Main Threats • Technological / market power threats • Limited interoperability • Closed protocols and formats • Legal / political threats • Software patents • I.P. Protection “collateral damage” • Vendor-biased procurement/education policies

  6. Portuguese Environment • Small software industry • Mostly in country specific areas (accounting...) • Almost no mass-market software • Most companies simply resell software • Low value-added services • High barriers of entry • Small market size • Language

  7. F/OSS Opportunities • Customers shift reliance from distant large companies to small local companies • Opportunities for service-based companies • Allows programmers to contribute to global f/oss software • Creates scope for specific projects (e.g. Linux Caixa Mágica) • A chance for Portugal to overcome its lag

  8. Case Studies (personal experience) • University of Minho • Early adopter • Flexibility / empowerment • Eurotux SA • Linux-related services and consulting • AEIOU, SA • Final user

More Related