--- title: Make your voice heard in the open standards debate description: If you’re a keen follower of all things open source, you might already know about the UK Government’s consultation on open software standards. In short, the Government wants to reduce its IT costs and improve interoperability across all its departments and agencies; sensible aims, indeed. It is therefore considering making the adoption of […] url: https://canonical.com/blog/make-your-voice-heard-in-the-open-standards-debate?format=md --- 1. [Blog](https://canonical.com/blog) 2. Article --- [Jane Silber](https://canonical.com/blog/author/silbs "More about Jane Silber") 20 April 2012 # Make your voice heard in the open standards debate [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/canonical) [Open source](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/open-source) --- Share the article If you’re a keen follower of all things open source, you might already know about the UK Government’s consultation on open software standards. In short, the Government wants to reduce its IT costs and improve interoperability across all its departments and agencies; sensible aims, indeed. It is therefore considering making the adoption of open standards mandatory. This represents a tremendous opportunity for open-source suppliers and any software vendor who builds to open standards because, in effect, it enables competition on a level playing field with some of the industry’s biggest players. There are large corporations with plenty to lose, however. So it’s no surprise that some parties are [already lobbying against the proposal](http://blogs.computerworlduk.com/open-enterprise/2012/04/how-microsoft-lobbied-against-true-open-standards-i/index.htm). As a company with a long commitment to open-source and open standards, Canonical is actively engaging in the debate. We are preparing a formal response to the consultation and we will be at the round table discussion in London on 27th April. This consultation is a public process in which anyone can get involved. If you’re interested in its outcome, whether from a business or philosophical standpoint, I urge you to go to [consultation.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/openstandards](http://consultation.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/openstandards) and make your case before the consultation closes, on 3rd May 2012. We certainly will. [Get in touch Interested in running Ubuntu in your organization?](https://ubuntu.com/about/contact-us/form) ## Sign up for our newsletter Get the latest Canonical news and updates in your inbox. Work email: \*I agree to receive information about Canonical's products and services. By submitting this form, I confirm that I have read and agree to [Canonical's Privacy Policy](https://canonical.com/legal/dataprivacy). Sign up ## Share on --- ## Related posts [### Canonical becomes Gold Sponsor of Trifecta Tech Foundation](https://canonical.com/blog/canonical-becomes-gold-sponsor-of-trifecta-tech-foundation) Canonical is pleased to announce it is now a Gold Sponsor of the Trifecta Tech Foundation, a non-profit that creates open source building blocks for critical infrastructure... [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical) 30 June 2026 [### Challenges designers face in open source (and how to fix them)](https://canonical.com/blog/challenges-designers-face-in-open-source-and-how-to-fix-them) Open source powers up to 90% of modern software, yet many projects lack usability. Canonical’s Design team surveyed 115 cross-functional professionals to uncover the 4 core... [Kola Ojoodide](https://canonical.com/blog/author/kola-ojoodide) 26 June 2026 [### The rhythm of reliability: inside Canonical’s operational cadence](https://canonical.com/blog/the-rhythm-of-reliability) At Canonical, time is fixed. Ubuntu releases never slip because we run on a strict rhythm: six-month cycles, two-week pulses, and in-person sprints. Every change is deliberate,... [Maksim Beliaev](https://canonical.com/blog/author/beliaev-maksim) 10 December 2025 [### The $8.8 trillion advantage: how open source software reduces IT costs](https://canonical.com/blog/the-8-8-trillion-advantage-how-open-source-software-reduces-it-costs) Open source software is known for its ability to lower IT costs. But in 2025, affordability is only part of the story. A new Linux Foundation report, The strategic evolution of... [Lidia Luna Puerta](https://canonical.com/blog/author/lidia-luna) 24 November 2025