Brussels, 25 June, 2008 – The Business Software Alliance (BSA) today expressed strong concerns about the European Commission’s revised draft European Interoperability Framework (EIF v2.0). Specifically, BSA objects to the language in the EIF that incorrectly asserts that only intellectual property (IP)-free standards can be used to achieve interoperability in eGovernment services.
“BSA strongly supports the European Commission’s efforts to bring the benefits of eGovernment to European citizens. We are, however, concerned about EIF v2.0 continuing to focus on narrowly defined open standards to achieve interoperability,” said Benoît Müller, BSA’s Director Software Policy Europe. The EIF’s definition of ‘open standards’ excludes many well-established technologies that are implemented on the basis of accepted open standards.
“Regrettably, the EIF’s approach falls short of recognizing that most Member States’ policies are based on more inclusive approaches. The revised EIF is jeopardizing its very objective of promoting interoperability across Europe. Instead, it causes greater confusion among both public administrations and the marketplace,” said Müller.
The revised EIF is taking a step backwards from the more pragmatic and inclusive approach to advancing Europe’s interoperability challenges outlined in the Commission’s 2006 Communication on eGovernment Interoperability. By failing to recognize the important and beneficial roles of intellectual property and industry collaboration, including in the area of standardization, the EIF is also in conflict with the Commission’s standardization policy and a step away from Europe’s i2010 objectives of promoting innovation and competitiveness.
In 2007, the European Commission’s IDABC unit commissioned a study from Gartner. Gartner echoed comments from a broad range of industry stakeholders and standards organizations and called for the EIF to adopt a more pragmatic approach seeking to promote efficient eGovernment services and interoperability across Europe. ”Unfortunately, it appears that the Commission has ignored this important input, as the revised version continues to limit governments to a smaller subset of technology solutions currently available by excluding others through an erroneous view of open standards,” said Müller.
The current draft EIF includes a definition of “open standards” which incorrectly implies only IP-free standards can be used to achieve interoperability. The definition also includes overly strict requirements on a standard’s development and maintenance process. BSA has serious concerns that if the current EIF definition of “open standards” is adopted, policies of most leading international standards bodies would not qualify as open, and numerous standards that have been developed by these and other bodies and widely deployed in the marketplace could be rejected by European governments.
“The Commission’s legitimate goals would be better served with a more inclusive approach, encouraging Member States to use and support all relevant interoperability solutions”, remarked Müller. Ultimately, BSA believes governments must be free to exercise discretion in selecting among all available offerings technology products and interoperability solutions that best suit their needs. BSA will continue to promote a policy framework conducive to efficient eGovernment, interoperability and continued technological progress in Europe,” Müller concluded.
For more information contact:
Mónica Vicente Cristina
Blueprint Partners
Direct: + 32 2 289 0952
Mobile: +32 472 390 601
Monica.Cristina@BlueprintPartners.eu
About the Business Software Alliance:
The Business Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) is the voice of the world's software industry and its hardware partners before governments and in the international marketplace. With offices in Brussels, London, and Munich, BSA is active across the European Union and in more than seventy countries around the world. BSA programs foster technology innovation through education and policy initiatives that promote copyright protection, cyber security, trade and e-commerce. BSA members include: Acca Software, Adobe, Altium, Apple, Attachmate, Autodesk, Avid, Bentley Systems, Borland, CA, Cadence Design Systems, Centennial Software, Cisco Systems, CNC Software/Mastercam, Corel, Dell, EMC, Enteo, Graphisoft, HiT Internet Technologies, HP, IBM, Inaz, Intel, Intergraph, LMS International, Mamut, ManageSoft, Materialise Software, McAfee, Microsoft, Microstar, Mindjet, Monotype Imaging, Nemetschek, O&O Software, Panda Software, PTC, Quark, Quest Software, SAP, Scalable Software, SGS, Siemens PLM Software, SolidWorks, SP Grupo Sage, Softline Pastel, Staff & Line, Sybase, Symantec, Synopsys, Tekla, The MathWorks, and Trend Micro.
