Pentagon is preparing guidelines for open-source adoption

Given the widespread adoption of open-source software within the US federal government, including the US Department of Defense, it's perhaps not surprising that the regulation-heavy federal government is finally getting around to issuing guidelines for open-source adoption within the US Department of Defense: One of the primary issues to be addressed is if open source software is a form of commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS)....The memo should also dispel lingering ideas that open source software may not be used because it is a form of shareware or freeware....The memo will also confirm that it is acceptable for an agency to contribute source code back into a public open source project....In addition to defining the relationship open source has with COTS, shareware and copyright, the memo may also articulate some of the... [read full story]