Core Concepts
Switzerland has passed a new law (EMBAG) mandating that all source code developed by public administration must be open-sourced, following the lead of Bulgaria and promoting transparency and collaboration.
Abstract
The content discusses Switzerland's decision to open-source public service source codes, data, and APIs. Key points:
Seven years ago, Bulgaria became the first European country to open-source public service source codes.
This year, Switzerland has passed a new law called EMBAG (EN) that mandates the open-sourcing of all source code developed by public administration.
The law has only a few exceptions, where the open-sourcing cannot infringe on third-party rights or pose security risks.
The open-source licenses used must permit free use, development, and distribution of the code.
This move is seen as an important step towards greater transparency and potential for collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Switzerland is known for its democratic processes, including frequent referendums on important changes, which likely contributed to this decision.
The event has been widely missed by the media, but it follows Bulgaria's lead and represents a significant shift towards open government in Switzerland.
Quotes
"The new law, called EMBAG (EN) madates that every source code developed by public administration should be open sourced."
"The code has to be published on a licence that permits using, developing and distributing it free of charge. It's quite permissive and can open new ways for cooperation between public…"