Which is More Important? Open File Format or Free Software? | Linux Today

Which is More Important? Open File Format or Free Software?

Written By
Web Webster
Web Webster
Dec 8, 2008

[ Thanks to Chao-Kuei
Hung
for this link. ]

“This title sounds like a silly question. Open file
formats serve everybody (except the monopolist), free software
users and proprietary software users alike. Free software typically
supports open file formats by default, and then maybe also some
popular proprietary file format by necessity. Is there ever a
situation where supporting/writing free software hurts open file
format?

“Indeed there might just be one very interesting example: the
docx plugin for firefox. I will leave the debate as to whether MS
PL counts as a free software licnese to the lawyers (or
philosophers). What I would like to point out is, whether this
license is free enough, this particular piece of software is
hurting us.”

Complete
Story

Web Webster

Web Webster

Web Webster has more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience in the tech sector. He’s written and edited news, demand generation, user-focused, and thought leadership content for business software solutions, consumer tech, and Linux Today, he edits and writes for a portfolio of tech industry news and analysis websites including webopedia.com, and DatabaseJournal.com.

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