*The most popular free software licence in the GNU General Public License (GNU GPL or simply GPL). Originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU project, the latest version of the license, version 2, was released in 1991.

Open Source Academy is a partnership of local authorities and organisations with experience in the open source world, funded under the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's e-Innovations programme. Members of the consortium include Birmingham City Council, Cheshire County Council, Bristol City Council, Shepway District Council, University of Kent, OpenForum Europe (OFE), National Computing Centre (NCC), Society of IT Management (SOCITM) and te of IT Training (IITT).

Open Forum Europe (OFE) was launched in March 2002 at the Financial Times London to accelerate, broaden and strengthen the use of OSS in business and government. OFE pursues the vision of an open, competitive European IT market by 2010 in line with the European Commission i2010 Strategy with the mission of facilitating open competitive choice in the IT Market Place.

OFE is supported by major IT suppliers and works closely with the European Commission and National Governments via its National Associates. It undertakes contracts designed to strengthen the development and use of OSS in Europe and has built a comprehensive portal focused on UK Local Government and SME’s in Denmark, Ireland and London.