Initiative for Software Choice

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The Initiative for Software Choice (ISC) is a lobby group founded [1] in May 2002 in response to widespread international government interest in open source software. [1] The ISC website characterizes its membership as "committed to advancing the concept that multiple competing software markets should be allowed to develop and flourish unimpeded by government preference or mandate". [2]

According to many Free Software advocates such as Bruce Perens, [3] Microsoft founded ISC in reaction to the call for the adoption of Free Software by politicians in many countries. [4]

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) chairs the Initiative.[ citation needed ]

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References

  1. 1 2 Lohr, Steve (2002-09-05). "An Alternative to Microsoft Gains Support in High Places" (PDF). The New York Times. p. 4. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2010-07-16. There are currently 66 government proposals, statements and studies promoting open source software in 25 countries, according to the Initiative for Software Choice.[...] 'It's growing, unfortunately, from our perspective,' said Mike Wendy, a spokesman for the software initiative, which was founded in May.
  2. "About the Initiative for Software Choice". softwarechoice.org. The Computing Technology Industry Association. 2004. Archived from the original on 2009-05-18. Retrieved 2010-07-16. The Initiative for Software Choice is a growing global coalition of large and small companies committed to advancing the concept that multiple competing software markets should be allowed to develop and flourish unimpeded by government preference or mandate. The Initiative actively educates policymakers and regulators worldwide about the benefits of this approach and its value to future innovations.
  3. Lohr, Steve (9 September 2002). "Champion of Open-Source Is Out at Hewlett-Packard". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  4. Perens, Bruce (9 August 2002). "MS 'Software Choice' scheme a clever fraud" . Retrieved 28 January 2019.