Software written using public funds should have it's source code
published under a distribution licence that has been declared Free by the
Free Software Foundation, rather than remaining a closed secret.This would allow for more of the public to benefit from the development of
the software since the code would be available for anyone to use and
improve. Furthermore, compatibility with other Free licences (such as the
GPL) would promote rapid development and reduced costs through the reuse
of existing code.An open development model would also allow the public to be more informed
of the progress and quality of these projects, which so frequently seem to
end up severely over budget.
It is a simple, common sense principle - public funds should fund public projects, which should remain public for the eternity. In my opinion it is a just cause. A free license or, if the creators/contractors wish so, public domain, a known practice in the USA, is the most logical, socially responsible demand a government can make.
