If Microsoft can actually be forced to document file formats and interfaces, then most of their unfair advantage would disappear - because it would be possible to build software that is compatible with their formats and is not behind by a version or two. Some projects have done truly impressive work decoding and using Microsoft formats (abiword, koffice, gnumeric) but Microsoft still makes format changes solely for the purpose of making life difficult.
On Friday 06 September 2002 00:53, Simon Hobson wrote: > Ian Simcock wrote: > >> > On an equally ironic note, there is a story today in the business > >> > section > >> > >>of > >> > >> > the New York Times about how Microsoft is complaining that, in > >> > Europe, > >> > >>Linux > >> > >> > and other open source software has an "unfair advantage". > >> > > >> > I'm not making this up. > > > >What exactly are they complaining about? Is the story available on the web > >somewhere? I'd love to see it. > > Some countries governments are waking up to the threat of MSs > practices are are calling for "open source only" clauses in > government software contracts - I can see why MS think this is unfair > even though they have brought it upon themselves ! > > Others are being a little less hard and are calling for all > government contracts to require "open and documented" file formats > and interfaces - so proprietry software isn't out of the running but > it MUST be open in file formats. This is more to do with making sure > that they can still use their data when the software has moved on > than in protecting the world against monopolistic practices. > > Simon -- ----------------------------------- Seth Kurtzberg M. I. S. Corp. 1-480-661-1849 _______________________________________________ VNC-List mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.realvnc.com/mailman/listinfo/vnc-list
