The International Open Source Network (IOSN)

The International Open Source Network (IOSN) promotes the adoption of free/open source software, open standards, and open content for sustainable human development in the Asia-Pacific region.

IOSN, initiated in 2003, is a network with a small secretariat based at the UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok and three centres of excellence – IOSN ASEAN+3, IOSN PIC (Pacific Island Countries), and IOSN South Asia, based in Manila, Suva and Chennai respectively. Together, these centres serve as a clearinghouse for information and they support research and development, networking, institutional strengthening, and training throughout the Asia-Pacific region on free/open source software, open standards and open content.

Free/Open Source Software

Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) is software that can be used, copied, studied, modified and redistributed without restriction. These freedoms that are for all – developers and users – are highly significant to the developing world as FOSS increases access, ownership and control of information and communication technologies. It provides a framework for the usage and sharing of intellectual capital in a way that is applicable to many areas of development. The adoption of FOSS presents opportunities for industry and capacity development, software piracy reduction, and localization and customization for diverse cultural and development needs.

Open Standards

Open standards ensure that products and services are of adequate quality and that they can interoperate and work together even though they may be from different parties or entities. Open standards ensure that the next purchase is not dictated by the last purchase, thus, increasing users’ choices, access to products, information and services, and opportunities for sharing and collaboration. In addition, open standards reduce training, and system and data conversion costs. IOSN is a member of the opendocument format alliance which aims to help ensure that government information records documents are accessible across platforms and applications even as technologies change.

Open Content

Open content describes any kind of creative work, including text, pictures, audio and video, that is published in a format that explicitly allows reproduction, redistribution and even modification of the work. Open content promotes learning and collaborative creation and dissemination of knowledge in different formats and languages. IOSN promotes the use of open content by releasing materials using the Creative Commons Attribution License whereby users may copy, distribute and display the original material and derivative works as long as the original copyright is cited. Find out more about IOSN at http://www.iosn.net or download IOSN brochure [PDF, 408kB]
Find out what people are saying about IOSN at http://www.apdip.net/about/accolades/iosn

IOSN is an initiative of APDIP and supported by the International Development Research Centre of Canada.

http://www.apdip.net/projects/2003/iosn