[odf-discuss] Info and comments needed for article on OpenDocument traps

[Ian Lynch]

On Thu, 2006-10-05 at 06:21 +0200, M. Fioretti wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I've been asked to write an article on an issue which I signalled here
> last spring: "Opendocument hidden traps"
> 
> By traps I mean that Microsoft *will* move to Opendocument eventually,
> but the standard seems open to ways for them to keep a monopoly even
> in an ODF world. For example, per the specs it seems legal to put
> images, macros and other stuff in proprietary formats inside odX
> files. So one would have a perfectly Free as in Freedom container full
> of patent-ridden components....
> 
> Of course, this is not a problem with the standard itself, which
> cannot and should not try to impose everything. It's a problem that
> must be solved in another way. I have already started to research this
> myself. What I would like to know from all list members is:
> 
> * any area or way for people to place proprietary stuff inside a
> perfectly "legal" (spec wise) ODx file, just in case I forget
> something: fonts, images, audio, what else?
> 
> * if you have already seen this happening: where, how, why...

May be some sort of icon or something for certified open - ie a document
with this icon is no encumbered with patents. Maybe just a green version
of the existing OD icon? Snag is people could just change icon colours
unilaterally to add mischief into the system.

> 
> Thank you in advance any feedback,
> 
> 	Marco
> 
> -- 
> The right way to make everybody love Free Standards and Free Software:
> http://digifreedom.net/node/73
> 
Ian
-- 
www.theINGOTS.org
www.schoolforge.org.uk
www.opendocumentfellowship.org


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