[odf-discuss] Microsoft and Novell cooperate on document formats

[Lars D. Noodén]

On Thu, 2 Nov 2006, marbux wrote:
[snip]
> Another major fly is the fact that the deal expires in five years. I can't
> imagine many enterprises would be all that interested in buying into a
> scheme that gives Microsoft the ability to force them back to MS Office (and
> Windows) in five years when the deal (and hence its patent protection)
> expire.
[snip]

So it's likely that the intented purpose of the deal is something that can 
be accomplished or dismissed in less than that amount of time.  Such as 
showing a standards body that work "has begun" in supporting MOOX on more 
than one platform.  If MOOX is then approved, then that work can be 
dropped like a rock because of "lack of market demand".

-Lars
Lars Noodén
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