[CARACAS] Public institutions, universities and nonprofit organizations in Venezuela financed with government resources should use free software, according to new Infogobierno Act, which took effect on August 17.
The law promises to boost ‘transparency in the public sector; promote the development of information technologies in the Free State and to ensure technological independence. “Guido
Ochoa, president of the Commission on Science and Technology of the National Assembly of Venezuela, told SciDev.Net that the legislation seeks to incorporate innovative local “to believe that free software can be used by our public institutions. This will strengthen the technological independence of Venezuela. “
Not less than two percent of the funds raised by the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation (LOCTI) through compulsory contribution that private companies will be used to finance the objectives of the Act Infogobierno, according to the official resolution.
“ At the University of the Andes use free software for several years. Among other benefits, saves a lot of money on licenses “
Guido Ochoa
This would mean about $ 300 million, according to public reports corresponding to 2012 year 2013 no official figures.
Congressman said he expects the transition to universities give fluently: “At the University of the Andes, for example, use free software for several years. Among other benefits, saves a lot of money on licenses. “
Ochoa also mentioned that several scientific research offices of Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), the state responsible for the extraction and marketing of domestic crude oil, have been working from 2013 with the free software “Guardian of the Dawn” operating system developed in conjunction with Cuban universities, which is not compatible with other existing on the market.
Marianne Díaz Hernández, a lawyer and representative digital rights Creative Commons in Venezuela, told SciDev.Net which is considered positive law, but rejected his presentation as a political project.
“For years we have tried to make believe that free software is left when it responds to the philosophy of individual freedom and collective construction of knowledge, “he said.
” Free software does not understand concepts such as ‘sovereignty’, because take a piece of software and make ‘copyleft’, you are allowing, and encouraging, that any person from any country not use, alter, make derivatives or do anything with it, even sell it. “
Díaz Hernández said Infogobierno Act requires that the software used in public institutions is also “copyleft”. “This is a very positive aspect of technological innovation, beneficial to the development and education,” he said.
According to the expert, the initial investment should be directed to “prepare teachers, students and public employees in the proper management of free software “and ensure that all work done with proprietary software, can be opened, modified and used in the new open source operating systems will work with the government and vice versa.
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