On 1/2/06, Ian Lynch <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > An MSO format that has patent or license restrictions that could be > invoked at some time in the future is never going to be open no matter > how much gasping you do. An XML text based format that has no binaries > in it and no undocumented elements and no requirements to be compatible > with specific legacy closed formats is always going to be the most open, > particularly if anyone is free to implement it freely in any > circumstances.
Okay, I understand that, Ian. In the next sentence (the one you deleted) I said I don't think that DOC is a better or more open format - but Google's better implementation tends to make it look that way. But, you're right, I should have left out the gasp. Sorry about that. > > An end to lock-in will over time lead to a decline and an end to the use > of proprietary formats but it will take a while. After all some people > still use typewriters. Okay, but what I was asking was how does this instance demonstrate that. I've heard Sam's answer, so I've got it now. It's not the final nail in the coffin - it's just a little glimpse of what life after MSO lock-in would be like. Thanks for your input, Ian. -- - Chad Smith http://www.gimpshop.net/ Because everyone loves free software! --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
