  Open data for all New Yorkers is the tagline on New York City's open data
website. Open government is being promoted at most countries of the western
world. Government transparency levels are being measured by the amount of data
they share through their online public repositories. Additionally, open source
software is promoted at governments, academia, and the industry. This is the
new digital story of this century, and the new testament between the Gods of
technology and there users. Data and software openness will redefine the path
forward and aim to rekindle our collective intelligence. Data and software
openness can redefine Data Democracy and be the catalyst for its progress. This
chapter provides a historical insight into data and software openness, the
beginnings, the heroes, prospects for the future, and all things we cannot
afford to negotiate or lose.
