Daniel Carrera wrote:
Jamie Borg wrote:
Does this new announcement mean anything for OOo.org developers able
actually use the microsoft XML documentation to develop a 'lossless'
conversion?
Depends on the license. Never doubt Microsoft's willingness to spin the
word "open" to make it look like they're playing fair while still
locking out competitors. Sadly, the state of Massachusetts gave them
some fuel to make that claim by inventing a definition of "open formant"
which is not quite as "open" as an "open standard".
ewwww.... Microsoft even called the document type the Microsoft
"Office Open" XML format.
I expect they parse it as: "Microsoft Office" "Open XML format".
The term "open format" in the name seems to, again, refer back to MA's
new definition.
In any event, I can't answer your question. I don't know if they put any
legal barriers for us to use it. Well, I do know of one. The
documentation is in a format that can only be opened in a Windows
computer. So, for example, I couldn't make a filter because I can't even
read the specification.
We can take confort in the fact that MA also included the OpenDocument
format in the list of "open formats". And for this we have to thank our
very own Gary Edwards. I saw the discussions between Gary and the MA
rep, and I don't doubt that Gary's insight and knowledge was the
determing factor that allowed OD to make the list.
Cheers,
Daniel.
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If you want a good idea of how Microsoft views Open formats, look at
their response to the idea of including OASIS filters in Word. The
details are on the OASIS web site.
http://www.oasis-open.org/home/index.php
Basically they don't want to support OASIS but have people use their
version of XML. They may still be forced into supporting OASIS as it
becomes more standardized. :)
--
Robin Laing
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