open source standards --- @Eduardo. I too am not an expert in open source vs proprietary software but I am venturing to give an input on your feed. Open source standards (if you deem it a standard) is not as open as one believes. These are software experts who are just as knowledgeable as the "established" software experts but they have come together to develop a software for the use of all concerend without cost to users. It is called "open" because though it can be sued by all and sundry, only subject-matter experts are qualified to make upgrades or changes in the best interest of the code and users. so essentially there is a standard of use. Proprietary software of course as the name implies, has standards and you pay for the use of the software with support charges for maintenance Open source also has maintenance support but its freely provided by the developers for the common good. However, these changes and modifications of the open source software by the developers/programmers are done for all other developers to see - all in the interest of users

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm