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On Tue, 2006-07-18 at 13:41 -0700, Ken North wrote: > "Patenting file formats allows companies to actually sue competitors when file > interchange is possible. The US is now in the situation where future word > processors may not be able to read each others files, regardless of user desire, > because patents are taken out on algorithms to read the file. This is not to the > benefit of society." I just have so many strong doubts that the future will end up like that. First we had Word 1.0, then 2.0, then 3.0. Then it Jumped to Windows and they resequenced. Then to 95, 98, 2000, 2003 blah blah. A whole running list of forgotten versions and file formats. The reality is that big companies want to lose old versions and sell new versions. In User land the opposite reality exists where there is an opposing force of people that don't want to spend (waste) the money to upgrade. The upgrade force always outweighs the not-upgrade force, only because there is a need to purchase a new car for the family. Not doing any upgrading jeopardises the right to a new car because without it the wife gets stroppy. Only exception to this is the xml process. Who fight upgrading tooth and nail. Once they have their version 1, they want to hold on to it for centuries. But they are my friends... so I will let them off the hook just this one time. Maybe they all just like vintage cars... I just don't know.. :-) Regards David
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