An article on H-online reports that the Italian parliament has passed a law making open source software a very attractive option for public administrations. The article states:
from 12 August, public administrations looking for a new software solution must either use an application which they have already developed in-house, develop their own new program, use open source software, or any combination of these.
ICT attorney Simone Aliprandi notes that in future Italian agencies will be able to buy proprietary software only as an exception:
…if a technical and economic analysis demonstrates that neither software developed in-house nor an open source solution can meet the agency’s requirements at a lower price.
Several Italian regions including Piedmont, Apulia and Trentino have already passed similar laws. And look at this: