Hello Mike, Mike Cochrane wrote: > Microsoft have released the specifications for their binary file formats: > http://www.microsoft.com/interop/docs/officebinaryformats.mspx
Comments to this article on Microsoft's own Brian Jones' blog http://blogs.msdn.com/brian_jones/archive/2008/02/15/binary-documentation-doc-xls-ppt-and-translator-project-site-are-now-live.aspx indicate that this is an incomplete specification, i.e. insufficient for anyone to create actual interoperability with MS Office. Others refer to the OOXML "standard", which has now been discredited as being un-usable. Microsoft, themselves, say that they'll support ODF before they can support OOXML. http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/05/21/Microsoft-to-support-ODF-PDF-in-Office_1.html As I understand it, the specs that were released (extremely grudgingly) were only made available to fulfil penalty requirements by the European Union's finding against Microsoft regarding their anti-competitive business practices. > Which are covered by the Microsoft Open Specification Promise: > http://www.microsoft.com/interop/osp/default.mspx The Microsoft OSP is not considered suitable protection for developers. The big question: why didn't they simply use the already widely accepted GPL (General Public License)? That would've made everyone happy. The fact that they didn't is proof enough that they've got their own agenda (i.e. it's a scam). But don't just take my word for it: Another Reason Microsoft's OSP Isn't Good Enough - http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20080326151405938 Verdict In: Microsoft OSP Is No GPL http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/26000 Microsoft OSP is a pie crust promise http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=2125 Microsoft's Open Specification Promise: No Assurance for GPL http://www.softwarefreedom.org/resources/2008/osp-gpl.html Not exactly fringe opinions... Dave -- Dave Lane = Egressive Ltd = [EMAIL PROTECTED] = m: +64 21 229 8147 p: +64 3 9633733 = Linux: it just tastes better = nosoftwarepatents http://egressive.com ==== we only use open standards: http://w3.org Effusion Group Founding Member =========== http://effusiongroup.com --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ NZ PHP Users Group: http://groups.google.com/group/nzphpug To post, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
