Commentator: In academic scholarship, sources are always cited, and methodology and theoretical assumptions are set out
as to allow critical study, replication, and expansion of scholarship. In open-source software, the code in which the program is written can be viewed and modified by individual users for their purposes without getting permission from the producer or paying a fee. In contrast, the code of proprietary software is kept secret, and modifications can be made only by the producer, for a fee. This shows that open-source software better matches the values embodied in academic scholarship, and since scholarship is central to the mission of universities, universities should use only open-source software.
A university should not pursue any activity that would block the achievement of the goals of academic scholarship at that university.