This report synthesises insights from three workshops on the digital commons – shared public resources such as data, software, and cultural content – and includes the associated workshop papers. Strengthening and formally recognising these assets within government will improve their sustainability. Supporting them through procurement and policy settings will deliver cost efficiencies, ethical digital practice...

This report examines the economic and environmental sustainability of free, libre and open source software (FLOSS), its role in fostering sustainable production and evolving worker contributions. It highlights community rejection of restrictive licences as environmental incentives, critiques predatory information technology (IT) practices and details workplace obstacles to reducing environmental impacts.

This paper explores openness in artificial intelligence (AI), including relevant terminology and how different degrees of openness can exist. There is ongoing debate about the risks, benefits and trade-offs of making AI models publicly available. This paper seeks to support policy discussions on how to balance the openness of generative AI foundation models with responsible...

Adopting digital commons can save governments money, increase interoperability for public services and digital infrastructure, and enhance a nation’s digital sovereignty where technical decisions are based on local laws, norms and values. This guide aims to provide interested policymakers and public service officials with best practices to support digital commons projects.

Open-source software (OSS) development is a culture and set way of working that involves the free and open sharing of software projects for further study, modification, and use. In the past couple of years, decades-old OSS tradition has been challenged by the development of increasingly capable AI. This report reflects on areas of emerging consensus...