Public Request For Microsoft To Release Deprecated File Formats

SgtChaireBourne writes "NLnet, a Dutch foundation for an open information society, has publicly called for Microsoft to release its deprecated formats into the public domain. The maker of Office has made large efforts during the last year to move against the OpenDocument Format (ISO/IEC 26300). These efforts have been producing a lot of commentary regarding the amount of data bound up in the Redmond-based company's proprietary specifications. It's a nasty situation to end up with files that cannot be read because the sole vendor with the documentation for the files has withdrawn permission. ODF is the way forward, or a step forward at the least, with new documents. But for the old documents in the legacy formats, they cannot be read without supporting software and that support requires full access to the specifications."

Re:What specifications?

[Jeng]

So basically Microsoft could probably greatly improve their file formats if they sat down and attempted to write out documentation for them?

Re:Inaccurate summary

[Gadget_Guy]

Can you please direct me to Microsoft's Linux versions of those viewers, so I can try them out? Thanks!

Here you go [winehq.org].

Re:Microsoft cant do that

[Ilan Volow]

If you're the world's largest and most profitable software company, there's probably some commercial value in not looking like a bunch of idiots who can't plan file formats.

Re:Microsoft cant do that

[psbrogna]

That ship, my friend, has sailed.

Re:Inaccurate summary

[nschubach]

MS is a for-profit company. It is not their job to serve you, provide you with public service...

I thought that was the point of business... I guess I have to re-evaluate my view on what running a business is. I mean, if the people don't matter, why would you need the people your providing a service to? Just kill a man and steal his money. Hell, we can start by exterminating everyone on the planet. Then you'd have the most successful business in the world. Total monopoly, no competition, no taxes, no salaries to pay and total domination!

Based on previous success

[Jim Hall]

Based on my previous successes in getting Microsoft to release the source code to the deprecated MS-DOS 4.x (i.e. before the MS-DOS 5.0 complete re-write) under a free / open-source license, I'm confident that Microsoft will be happy to release deprecated file formats under a similar license.

Oh, wait ...

Re:They might not have it...

[roystgnr]

I mean, think about it, if you write code to store a document, do you sit down and write the byte-layout of that file?

Yes, of course. Is there any other industry where this attitude would be accepted?

"Blueprints? No, we just hammer some wood together until we think it won't fall down, or until we run out of nails."