Open Source and Formal Standardisation: How to Achieve a Win-Win Situation

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us of the importance of (highly efficient and reliable) connectivity. Despite not being able to travel, we have continued most of the activities related to education and work, while keeping in touch with our loving ones. Even in the face of lockdowns, we are free of physical boundaries thanks to standards. Standards allow products and services to be compatible and to inter-operate with each other. In particular formal (or de jure) standards are set and developed in a joint collaborative effort of companies willing to share with others cutting-edge technologies resulting from costly R&D investments under the umbrella of Standard Development Organisations (SDOs). In SDOs, stakeholders typically develop standards following principles established for international standardisation, i.e., transparency, openness, impartiality and consensus, effectiveness and relevance, coherence, and consideration to countries’ interest. In this context open should be in open stands for the accessibility of all interested parties to the standardization process (including the decision-making).

Keywords: formal standardization, COVID-19, standard development organisations, SDOs