Joomla and the Open Website Alliance: Working together for open source software
The Open Website Alliance represents a remarkable collaboration initiated by Joomla and supported by other leading players in the field of open source content management systems (CMS), including Drupal, TYPO3 and WordPress. This alliance marks a significant step towards strengthened unity among the open source communities with the aim of promoting the use of open source software on a global scale and providing an alternative to proprietary software solutions. The creation of this alliance underlines the shared commitment to the principles of openness, collaboration and quality in the digital sector and emphasizes the importance of open source software as a driver for innovation and free exchange of information.
Representing at least 50% of the websites currently present on the Internet, the Open Website Alliance plays a significant role in the digital landscape. Their approach aims to increase collaboration between the various open source CMS projects and provide a platform for sharing best practices. This is intended to not only improve the quality and security of open source projects, but also increase their visibility and acceptance in the broader digital community.
The Alliance operates on a consensus-based decision-making model and has a rotating presidency to ensure an equal distribution of leadership and responsibility. This model promotes an inclusive and dynamic leadership structure that allows different perspectives and experiences to be taken into account within the alliance. The open invitation to other open source CMS communities to join reflects the commitment to creating a broad network of stakeholders committed to promoting and protecting open source software.
In parallel to these efforts, the Alliance has sent an open letter to the European Union to draw attention to the importance of open source software for the European innovation landscape and economy. The letter highlights how open source CMSs support and promote the European values of freedom, democracy and equality by providing a platform for free expression and cross-border collaboration. However, the alliance raises concerns about proposed regulations in the EU's Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), which could inadvertently hinder the development and distribution of open source software. The letter calls for dialogue with EU lawmakers to ensure that the new rules take into account and support the unique characteristics and contributions of open source software.
The creation of the Open Website Alliance and the letter to the EU demonstrate the open source community's commitment to defend and promote the principles of the free and open web. They underline the role of open source software as an essential part of a healthy, innovative and inclusive digital future. By advocating for the recognition and support of open source solutions at the policy level, Joomla and its partners are helping to lay the foundation for a digital ecosystem that prioritizes openness, collaboration and accessibility.
Further background and more information at:
https://www.joomla.org/announcements/general-news/5903-joomla-joins-forces-in-the-open-website-alliance.html
https://www.joomla.org/announcements/general-news/5891-open-letter-foss-cms-cyber-resilience-act.html