[odf-discuss] Fwd: Press release (please spread)

[Matthew Cruickshank]

Chris Puttick wrote:
> Microsoft should release deprecated file formats into public domain

The New Zealand comment NZ-0013 asks for something similar... for old 
binary format documentation (which already exist and are available from 
MS if you sign some forms) to be included in order to verify Microsoft's 
stated goal of being fully compatible with legacy formats. Ecma 
responded to that comment to say that Microsoft will release their 
legacy format documentation under the OSP by February 14th (outside the 
ISO/Ecma process -- presumably just by making it available on their site 
for direct download).

Of course -- like OOXML -- any lack of documentation or narrowing of 
scope in may result in a lack of coverage by the OSP, and the OSP itself 
may be a thorny issue for some.

If Microsoft were to file a terminal disclaimer (or something like that) 
they could release their patents into the public domain, but I imagine 
that many of these would cover OOXML/MOOXML too so it wouldn't be easy 
to separate these.


.Matthew Cruickshank
http://holloway.co.nz/
http://www.iso-vote.com/