In Brazil, the adoption of free software in the public sector continues its unparalleled expansion. In the state of Paraná, the IT institution that maintains all of the state’s computer systems (CELEPAR), has developed a free software Ombudsman: OUV. The system manages incoming correspondence from the citizens of Paraná: suggestions, requests, complaints, compliments and general feedback about the government’s actions. It also handles responses and referrals released by the State Ombudsman. “This allows better monitoring of requests made by citizens and a direct communication with the listeners registered with the system,” explained the chairman of CELEPAR, Vanderlei Iensen.

Because the software is free, OUV is now being used by the State University of Londrina (UEL). It is also used by CELEPAR itself, the Government of Santa Catarina, the Court of Accounts from Paraná and the state of Santa Catarina, the City Hall of Almirante Tamandaré, the Assembly of Cascavel and many other government institutions and companies. To use the software, organizations sign an agreement in which the software is distributed for free (in both meanings of the word: it doesn’t cost anything and the source code is included) and the signee agrees to notify CELEPAR of any changes they make to the code so it can be incorporated into future releases.

OUV is one of many software applications developed and released by CELEPAR. While Brazil’s government is saving millions of taxpayer dollars using free software and cultivating a digital community that encourages citizen participation, Microsoft is kind enough to offer US taxpayers some volume discounts for government organizations.

Tax payers in the United States paid at least $75 million to Microsoft in FY2008, with at least $71 million of that money being granted in non-competitive bids. And that’s just to Microsoft, one of many companies selling proprietary, closed source software to US taxpayers.