Computerworld.NZ: Government Talks to MS about Source Code Offer

[ Thanks to Jason Greenwood for this link. ]

"The New Zealand government has started discussions with Microsoft about gaining access to the source code of its Windows products as part of a new programme aimed at easing country-level concerns about the software's security...

"Unlike open source software, however, governments don't gain the ability to alter Microsoft's source code.

"The move is seen by some as an attempt to mitigate the interest being shown in Linux and open source software by governments around the world. Giving central governments access to source code may help quell the debate over whether open source code has a security advantage over closed code..."

Complete Story

Related Stories:

• ZDNet UK: Microsoft Opens Windows for UK(Feb 03, 2003)
• Two on Microsoft's Government/Open Source Plan(Jan 16, 2003)
• CNET News: Governments to See Windows Code(Jan 15, 2003)