Discussion on:

Why there's no quick fix to get open source into government

The only licence the UK Government understands, is the one which says; "print more money". After all, it's only the morons we're governing that are going to pay.

Why does this article not surprise me?

If Europe isn't depressing enough, then I see this appalling waste of money. Even if each wasted licence is £1.00, that's £6m wasted. And you can bet your life, those licences are more than a £1 a piece!

Some of the leading civil servants are on six figure salaries and this is the best they can do?

Absolutely disgraceful.

the problem isn't limited to the U.K.

Yeah, I didn't really think that would help.

with systems based on a design that leads to a vendor lock in, it's hard to make small changes. However, the opportunity and options are there for them to start if some of the bureaucrats get off their rears and do something - which is another major issue of bureaucratic inertia.