Re: [OS:N:] (no subject)

On Thu, 2003-08-14 at 19:14, Les Bell wrote:
> 
> James Michael DuPont <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
> >>
> That is one of the things that it is increasingly hard to do. More and
> more universities require you to use non-free file formats for
> exchanging file formats with you teachers. They have published
> requirements for windows as the basic system requirements.
> 
> That is something that should be rooted out IMHO
> <<
> 
> Now that is something we can agree on. Back in the days when there was
> competition in the marketplace, there was an advantage to software vendors
> providing import/export in common file formats, whether it be WordStar
> document files, DCA/RFT, DIF or just CSV formats. Of course, the formats
> were so simple that reverse-engineering the proprietary formats wasn't
> difficult, and there were even books that documented them.
> 
> Now we have a monopoly in the business software market for which common or
> open file formats would be a competitive disadvantage.
This problem goes much deeper.  While I have never been a member of a
standards commitee I have helped advise representatives of the companies
I have worked for a couple of times.  Event if it is a standard it is
often patented by the company that proposed it.  It is also often
required the pay that company to use what is supposed to be a standard.

I consider this more than a bit of being a bad citizen in the software
world.  It is self centered piracy.  There are many issues this forum
should also be addressing.

> 
> I'm particularly supportive of efforts to legislate that government
> information systems must use open protocols. The idea that a government can
> require you to buy Microsoft (or any vendor's) software to communicate with
> it is obnoxious.
> 
> Best,
> 
> --- Les Bell, RHCE, CISSP
> [http://www.lesbell.com.au]
> 
> 
> 
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