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Dark Corners of the OpenXML Standard

Standard Disclaimer writes "Most here on Slashdot know that Microsoft released its OpenXML specification to counter ODF and to help preserve its market position, but most people probably aren't aware of all the interesting legacy code the OpenXML specification has brought to light. This article by Rob Weir details many of the crazy legacy features in the dark corners of OpenXML. As it concludes after analyzing specification requirements like suppressTopSpacingWP, 'so not only must an interoperable OOXML implementation first acquire and reverse-engineer a 14-year old version of Microsoft Word, it must also do the same thing with a 16-year old version of WordPerfect.'"

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  1. Re:MIcrosoft sucks. by NineNine · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    If you get to the point where you build up a company that can even consider garnering the term "monopoly", then get back to us. Until then, you have no idea what you're talking about, especially when quoting arbitrary and esoteric "federal laws". Call me nuts, but if you ever got to that point, you'd might even get a crazy idea in your head that those "federal laws" that you are so damned proud of, are about as fair and just as our drug laws. At that point, maybe, just maybe, you may come to thinking that you you earned what you got, and the government has no right to tell you how to run your business that you started in your teens, and proceeded to build to make it one of the most successful companies in the history of capitalism.

    Until you get to that point, I suggest that you those "federal laws" out your ass, Mr. Ashcroft.