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If MS is going to be forced to use ODF
to be in compliance with the standards set forth by certain governing bodies, then they SHOULD join the ODF group. They will want to make sure the format can handle what their program requires a data format to handle.

Now, will they try to "hijack" the format? Well, the group should have already put in a clause requiring that any ODF document must exactly follow a specific set of standards and not go outside that set of standards to qualify as ODF (much like what Adobe does with PDF). If they haven't, then it's their own fault if MS creates a fork. I can easily see a future story about MS resigning in a huff because the ODF group was not going in the direction they want, but I can't think of any better publicity for the ODF than if that were to happen. It would prove its solidity in its openness.

So I don't think it matters whether or not MS has good or bad intentions. The worst that can happen is MS brings nothing to the table, and the best that can happen is MS does bring something useful to the table. Anything that promotes better interoperability between the office suites and more common functionality can only be good news.
Posted by: Michael Kelly   Posted on: 03/27/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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M$ tries to embrace and estinguish  Linux Geek | 03/27/06
Hold on now  OhMyGosh | 03/27/06
Microsoft is not into Nice!  georgep_z | 03/27/06
Everybody Sing...  nucrash | 03/27/06
You are trying to tell me...  Loverock Davidson | 03/27/06
WARNNING! ODF CODE HIJACK IN PROGRESS! OPENDOCS IN PERIL!  Mr. Roboto | 03/27/06
You mean...  dragosani | 03/27/06
Oh come on.  mobrien_12@... | 03/27/06
Fox in the Henhouse  TBBrick | 03/27/06
Its not all roses at Microsoft these days ...  George Mitchell | 03/27/06
If MS is going to be forced to use ODF  Michael Kelly | 03/27/06
Right, MS is preparing for the worst in Europe and elsewhere, not much they  DonnieBoy | 03/27/06
They were a member of the OpenGL board as well...  jinko | 03/27/06
And, as I remember MS has a few OpenGL related patents that everybody was  DonnieBoy | 03/27/06
MS and OpenGL  mobrien_12@... | 03/27/06
Wrong committee  Yagotta B. Kidding | 03/27/06
Really, Microsoft probably can't do much here, this is a sign that they  DonnieBoy | 03/27/06
why the hell ODG accept M$ on the table  toxicfreak | 03/27/06
They have to be neutral and let MS join. Otherwise it is NOT an open  DonnieBoy | 03/27/06
Hey DonnieB  toxicfreak | 03/27/06
Everyone know what MS intentions are, but we don't want to give them any  DonnieBoy | 03/27/06
"We"??? What part of "we" are you?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/27/06
Think he is referring to the IT industry: Can the tiger change its stripes  Plain Logic | 03/27/06
We = those in favor of free and open standards. Those people do NOT want to  DonnieBoy | 03/27/06
CLUE!!!!  Yagotta B. Kidding | 03/27/06
ABM field day  Boot_Agnostic | 03/27/06
Their contribution is/will be security.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/27/06
well NO_ax ODF can live without M$  toxicfreak | 03/27/06
Wanna bet?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/27/06
i dont gamble money  toxicfreak | 03/27/06
What exactly is the bet?  nomorems | 03/27/06
Clueless as usual  Yagotta B. Kidding | 03/27/06
Sure I know how the process works...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/27/06
How the process works  Yagotta B. Kidding | 03/27/06
Interesting  zkiwi | 03/27/06
No royalties, just a license  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/27/06
They'll never be happy  Mark Miller | 03/27/06
ONE MORE FREAKING TIME  Yagotta B. Kidding | 03/27/06
Okay, so I don't know my committees  Mark Miller | 03/28/06
Sooner than later MS will realize that it will indeed have to start  michael_t | 03/27/06
Many in IT doubt MS will EVER change . . .  Plain Logic | 03/27/06
But...  rapson | 03/28/06
for their argument  Boot_Agnostic | 03/28/06
What does Mike's rep have to say about this ??? (nt)  Plain Logic | 03/27/06

What do you think?

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