[A2k] call to sign the Hague Declaration on free and open technology standards

[Vera Franz]

From: http://www.tectonic.co.za/?p=3D2417=0D
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The Digital Standards Organization <http://www.digistan.org/> (Digistan)=0D
and its supporters are calling on governments around the globe to use=0D
only free and open standards. The organisation, which was set up to=0D
defend and promote open digital standards, plans to adopt the Hague=0D
Declaration <http://www.digistan.org/hague-declaration:en> on May 21.=0D
Organisations and individuals supporting the effort are also being asked=0D
to sign the declaration.=0D
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The declaration says that while basic human freedoms such as freedom=0D
from discrimination, freedom of movement and equal access to public=0D
services are established by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,=0D
digital rights and freedoms are not similarly enshrined. Bob Jolliffe or=0D
Freedom to Innovate South Africa, a founder member of Digistan, says=0D
that the decision to establish the organisation was an extension of the=0D
OOXML standards battle. He says the attempt by Microsoft to have it=E2=80=
=99s=0D
own document format declared an ISO standard was not the first, =E2=80=9Cno=
r the=0D
last of these types of efforts we will see=E2=80=9D.=0D
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The Hague Declaration calls on governments to:=0D
1. Procure only information technology that implements free and open=0D
standards;=0D
2. Deliver e-government services based exclusively on free and open=0D
standards;=0D
3. Use only free and open digital standards in their own activities.=0D
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Andy Updegrove=0D
<http://www.consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/article.php?story=3D2008051214=
1838422>,=0D
one of the founders of Digistan, says the =E2=80=9Cbasic premise is that as=
 more=0D
and more of our basic freedoms (speech, assembly, interaction with=0D
government, and so on) move from the real to the virtual world, care=0D
must be taken to ensure that our ability to exercise these freedoms is=0D
not inadvertently eroded or lost.=0D
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=E2=80=9CIn order to achieve this end at the technical level, we need the t=
ype=0D
of free and open digital standards that can ensure adoption in many=0D
diffferent competing products, prevent vendor capture, and enable=0D
implementation in free and open source software as well as proprietary=0D
products. If we are successful in creating such standards and achieving=0D
their ubiquitous adoption, then we can assure lowest cost solutions and=0D
the greatest breadth of choice.=E2=80=9D=0D
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The declaration will be adopted on May 21 at the Hague. Supporters can=0D
sign the declaration here <http://www.digistan.org/hague-declaration:en>.=
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--=0D
Vera Franz=0D
Program Manager=0D
Information Program=0D
<www.soros.org/ip>=0D
Open Society Foundation=0D
100, Cambridge Grove=0D
London W6 0LE=0D
phone +44 20 7031 0219=0D
fax +44 20 7031 0247=0D
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