[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message] Re: What is the data here?
On Sat, 2003-04-19 at 06:00, AndrewWatt2000@a... wrote: > The data in its data container whether that is a .doc or .xls or other file > format is something signficantly, but perhaps subtly, different from the > plain data on paper which latter is indisputably yours and only yours > (assuming you didn't steal the data or similar). > I see where you're going, and no I don't agree. In a text retrieval system or data warehouse perhaps. The whole is then greater than the sum of its parts. There's also the question of who did the work. Lexis-Nexis runs the computers and loads and backs up the data rather than just leasing the tools. A very different contribution to the job rather than just swapping a CD for cash. The vendor's software is giving you the capability to do things you couldn't otherwise do. In a word processor document all the value in the document is still the document. > It is that combination of data and its proprietary data container that I am > suggesting is de facto "jointly owned". Or 'held to ransom' as the case may be. Yes the de fscto situation exists. I fully understand why this is of benefit to the software vendors. It's equally obvious why cracking the situation is good for the people on this list. I continue to wait for you to give any reason that that situation can benefit end users/data owners. I accept that the proprietary situation can be _just as good_:[the one page announcement, printed copied read and forgotten, eg.] But you have yet to enunciate a scenario which is better for the users. I got into sgml as the resident geek for a small time legal CD publisher. That's end user. Proprietary file formats did me no good, and a lot of harm. What end user do they benefit? Frank
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