Open Directory - Computers: Data Formats: Open Standards
See also: This category in other languages: - Explains the risks of exchanging data in non-public format and suggests the main alternatives. - Short document with instructions to MS-Word users on alternatives they can use for document exchange. - Campaign for replacing the (formerly) patent-encumbered GIF format by open standard graphics. Since the GIF formats has become patent-free, the site advocates against software patents. - Article on formats interoperability in audio and video content. - Investigates the effects of patent proliferation and criticizes reasonable and non-discriminatory license terms (RAND) for patented technologies. - Aims to educate the public about the importance of Free Document Formats and Open Standards in general. Coordinates activities that happen on last Wednesday of March, celebrated as the Document Freedom Day. - The goal of the Linux Standard Base (LSB) is to develop and promote a set of standards that will increase compatibility among Linux distributions and enable software applications to run on any compliant Linux system. - Why not use proprietary formats and what are the main open alternatives. - Initiative aiming to convince software companies to release data format documentation and to pass laws that governments can only store user data in open format. Presents its manifesto, forum, news, links to institutional resolutions. - An association of CAD customers and vendors committed to promoting open, industry-standard formats for the exchange of CAD data. History, members, FAQs, and published papers. - Draws a distinction between open source advocacies and the promotion of public standards, warning against the confusion of these two initiatives. - What is a standard, what is an open standard, and why use open standards on the Internet. - Archive of standards relevant to the Open Source community, including licenses, public standards, protocols, RFCs. - A not-for-profit organization connecting people to open standards and the bodies that build and foster their growth. - Collaborative documentation projects on why use public standards and open formats and why avoid proprietary formats in data exchange. - A discussion of the problems of MSWord as a document exchange format and what alternatives are available. Suitable for a non-technical audience. - Essay by Erik Fair explaining how open standards may help mitigate or prevent "customer lock-in" strategies. - Benefits of the development of open specifications for audio and video formats. By Rich Mavrogeanes. - Ken Krechmer analyzes the distinct issues behind advocacy for non-proprietary formats. - Governs the handling of patents in the process of producing Web standards. The goal of this policy is to assure that Recommendations produced under this policy can be implemented on a Royalty-Free (RF) basis. - Richard Stallman's arguments against the use of proprietary formats in document exchange. - Advocates against the use of image formats that are protected by patents. Presents a brief history of the GIF format as well as its open alternatives. - Paper investigating economical issues related to the diffusion of public standards. (May 09, 2002) - Internet technologies and the economical challenge of open protocols. (May 01, 2001)
