> The custom-build software will also be published to the general public either as public domain, or as Free Software so others can improve and reuse the software.
> However, it is encouraged to be retroactively applicable for the existing custom-build software developed by agency employees in the course of their official duties.
As much as I love FOSS, anything produced by the government — including software — is public domain, right? The government is not eligible for copyright — including FOSS licensing. While I understand that the government sometimes contracts stuff out, and those third-parties seem to enjoy a weird exception to the rule, the article seems to be including stuff developed directly by the government for the government. How do they think they have any rights to it at all?
> However, it is encouraged to be retroactively applicable for the existing custom-build software developed by agency employees in the course of their official duties.
As much as I love FOSS, anything produced by the government — including software — is public domain, right? The government is not eligible for copyright — including FOSS licensing. While I understand that the government sometimes contracts stuff out, and those third-parties seem to enjoy a weird exception to the rule, the article seems to be including stuff developed directly by the government for the government. How do they think they have any rights to it at all?