El uso del software libre en las administraciones públicas de la UE

38more. However, there are at least three stages (acquisition, maintenance andtransition) where using open source systems provides clear advantages (19).Pero la parte más interesante del informe son los tres escenariosposibles de intervención pública que plantea, sea de la ComisiónEuropea o de los gobiernos, y su efecto en el futuro del FLOSS. En elprimer escenario, no existe acción pública alguna y se mantiene así lasituación existente hasta el momento, en la que el propio movimientose autosostiene con la colaboración de particulares y empresas.Probably open source software will be used as a standard part of the infrastructure bymost governments, without the need of any specific endorsement. Instead of buyingsome proprietary systems, some government offices will decide to buy open sourcesystems and servers. In fact, this trend is already starting to take shape in severalcountries (at least in Europe). Open source will be preferred in many situationssimply on economic or technical grounds, as a lower cost or technically betteralternative to proprietary systems. In this case no specific benefit will be reaped bygovernments, or by the societies they serve, except for the direct cost savings onlicences ( 24).En el segundo escenario se da una ayuda limitada por parte de laComisión y los gobiernos en función de sus propias áreas de interés,identificando sectores concretos en los que el uso del FLOSS puedeser interesante tanto a nivel tecnológico como a nivel social.In the long term, this will give results, especially in the form of greater acceptance ofopen source software in society in general, because of the amplifier effect that its usein governments has on society. If they finally recognize the benefits of the opensource model, probably they will also help to overcome the future problems(specially those related to the legal framework) that have been described. The recentcase of the German government funding the development of GPG (GNU PrivacyGuard) because it is found to be of great benefit for society shows how this scenariomay develop in the short to medium term ( 24).En el tercer escenario se supone una ayuda pública decidida,agresiva, en favor del FLOSS, que ha de tener en cuenta el marcolegislativo existente y que puede proporcionar beneficios mutuos alsector público y a la comunidad.We are completely unable to predict what exactly ‘aggressive’ may mean, becauselegislation may preclude some specific kinds of action, and because what today mayseem ‘aggressive’, tomorrow can be considered as just common sense and normalbusiness practice. As an example, we can think of legislative actions on the part ofthe European Commission and the national governments to give preference to opensource solutions whenever they are technically feasible. Another interesting actioncould be the active promotion (by direct or indirect funding) of the development ofopen source alternatives to proprietary systems in those areas where it is identifiedthat this is convenient (because of strategic, social or economic reasons). This wouldcreate an enormous market for open source consulting and solutions, improve