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Microsoft Open Document Standard Not So Open

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the open-means-not-closed dept.

avik42 wrote to mention an EWeek article discussing Microsoft's attempts at an Open Document Standard. From the article: "According to a Microsoft representative, 'The covenant language is what was referred to as the updated license for the Open XML formats that will be submitted to ECMA International for the standardization process.' The only difference between Microsoft's November 2003 open and royalty-free license for the Office 2003 Reference Schemas and today's Office 2003 license, according to the company, is that 'Microsoft is offering a covenant not to sue for the Office 2003 Reference Schemas.'" We reported on this initiative when it was first announced.

6 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. In other news... by MaskedSlacker · · Score: 5, Funny

    Water is wet, and the sky is blue.

  2. It is what I say it is, darn it by Red+Flayer · · Score: 4, Funny

    From an AC developer in a linked article in TFA: "In English, that means if an open-source group agreed to use the license (never gonna happen) and built an application with it, they can NOT provide the source code for it with the license. If you write code with a license, you can NOT share that code with me unless I go get a license, too. Pretty much against everything open source is about," the developer said.

    MS: The ceiling is blue.
    Me: Obviously, it is not. It is chartreuse. You said you'd make it blue, but it is still chartreuse. Maybe a slightly different shade of chartreuse, but chartreuse.

    MS: No, it's blue. It says it right here in our marketing materials. That color you see is now called blue.
    Me: Screw this, I'm going outside, where the sky is really blue, and everyone calls it blue. Whatever you're selling isn't the same as what you're calling it.

    --
    "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
  3. Re:All hot and ready to check this out! by fishybell · · Score: 5, Funny
    I've found two programs that will solve your problem:

    this and this.

    Hope those help.

    --
    ><));>
  4. Re:Legal question by pilgrim23 · · Score: 4, Funny

    In the Middle Ages: "DUNK the WITCH!" If she floats, she IS a witch and we BURN HER! If she sinks and drowns, then she is not a witch, and we bury her in the full embrace of Church. As one can see, Microsoft draws on fairly well established and traditional legal presidents.

    --
    - Minutus cantorum, minutus balorum, minutus carborata descendum pantorum.
  5. Microsoft is doing us a favor with this. by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 4, Funny

    After all, the MS Office XML format is so hideous that I doubt any programmer would want to modify an application that dares touch the thing!

    Thank you, Microsoft! :)

  6. Ohhh, Microsoft by coastin · · Score: 5, Funny

    Lie to me, force me to write hot checks, but please, please Microsoft, respect me in the morning...

    --
    I lost my sig...