J
jim
Imagine a world where great software is cheap, where software is truly
innovative and software companies compete based entirely on how well their
software serves your needs and increases your productivity. Wouldn't that
be great?
Unfortunately, we don't have that now. We have a world where your data (in
the format that you created it) is not always yours to do with as you
please. In many instances, you cannot easily take most data (from large
software vendors) to another application that may have better features or a
simpler UI or just be a better value for your money.
Simply put...your data isn't always yours when its trapped in a proprietary
data format. The reason your data gets stuck in a single vendor's
application is the use of proprietary data formats.
For instance, when you design a widget using one CAD application, you may
not be able take it to another CAD application and open or modify it. When
you want to move from one accounting application to another, it is nearly
impossible to transfer all of your data from company A's software to company
B's software. Even when you want to open an Excel spreadsheet in
OpenOffice - you'll hit hard times if you placed macros in the original
Excel spreadsheet.
It is my position that a person's data is just that - their data. They
should be able to take it wherever they want and use it in any application
that they want. People should not have their data held hostage and be
forced to continue supporting companies that charge excessive fees for
software, fail to innovate or are moving away from the customers' goals.
There is a simple fix. There is a simple way to allow small software firms
to enter established markets and compete with larger, established software
companies. There is a cost effective way to do this so that businesse and
individuals can enjoy the benefits of lower cost, higher quality software in
a more competitive marketplace.
That simple fix is Open Data Format legislation. Simply put, Open Data
Format legislation would require anyome distributing software to openly
publish the data format that the users' data is stored in 30 days prior to
software distribution. This would apply to new releases as well as any
software updates or patches that changed the data format. In the case of
emergency patches, the new data format should be sent along with the
emergency patch.
What would Open Data Format legislation accomplish that is not available
now? Open Data Format legislation would level the software playing field
for bright, innovative software engineers and small companies to compete
with larger established companies based on the quality of the software
product. Open Data Format legislation would encourage more software
competition and would lower prices for such things as office applications.
Open Data Format legislation would mandate a new era of data sharing that
not even the OOXML could touch as Open Data Format legislation would require
the publication of all data formats before or at release - making it easy
for one company to import data written using any other software product.
Using different apps - or even OSs would be a matter of choice rather than a
matter of being trapped. And, Open Data Format legislation would make it
just as easy to return to your old software if you didn't like the new stuff
as it was to leave - assuming that your old software imports the new
software's data format.
Can companies do this on their own? Sure. Software companies can reverse
engineer one another's data formats. But this process takes months for some
formats and many small software companies simply cannot afford to reverse
engineer all of their competitors' proprietary data formats in a timely
manner. This hurts consumers as much as it hurts the small software
developer.
Open Data Format legislation measn lower software prices, greater choice and
data that is really yours.
What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of Open Data Format
legislation?
Your opoinions on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
jim
innovative and software companies compete based entirely on how well their
software serves your needs and increases your productivity. Wouldn't that
be great?
Unfortunately, we don't have that now. We have a world where your data (in
the format that you created it) is not always yours to do with as you
please. In many instances, you cannot easily take most data (from large
software vendors) to another application that may have better features or a
simpler UI or just be a better value for your money.
Simply put...your data isn't always yours when its trapped in a proprietary
data format. The reason your data gets stuck in a single vendor's
application is the use of proprietary data formats.
For instance, when you design a widget using one CAD application, you may
not be able take it to another CAD application and open or modify it. When
you want to move from one accounting application to another, it is nearly
impossible to transfer all of your data from company A's software to company
B's software. Even when you want to open an Excel spreadsheet in
OpenOffice - you'll hit hard times if you placed macros in the original
Excel spreadsheet.
It is my position that a person's data is just that - their data. They
should be able to take it wherever they want and use it in any application
that they want. People should not have their data held hostage and be
forced to continue supporting companies that charge excessive fees for
software, fail to innovate or are moving away from the customers' goals.
There is a simple fix. There is a simple way to allow small software firms
to enter established markets and compete with larger, established software
companies. There is a cost effective way to do this so that businesse and
individuals can enjoy the benefits of lower cost, higher quality software in
a more competitive marketplace.
That simple fix is Open Data Format legislation. Simply put, Open Data
Format legislation would require anyome distributing software to openly
publish the data format that the users' data is stored in 30 days prior to
software distribution. This would apply to new releases as well as any
software updates or patches that changed the data format. In the case of
emergency patches, the new data format should be sent along with the
emergency patch.
What would Open Data Format legislation accomplish that is not available
now? Open Data Format legislation would level the software playing field
for bright, innovative software engineers and small companies to compete
with larger established companies based on the quality of the software
product. Open Data Format legislation would encourage more software
competition and would lower prices for such things as office applications.
Open Data Format legislation would mandate a new era of data sharing that
not even the OOXML could touch as Open Data Format legislation would require
the publication of all data formats before or at release - making it easy
for one company to import data written using any other software product.
Using different apps - or even OSs would be a matter of choice rather than a
matter of being trapped. And, Open Data Format legislation would make it
just as easy to return to your old software if you didn't like the new stuff
as it was to leave - assuming that your old software imports the new
software's data format.
Can companies do this on their own? Sure. Software companies can reverse
engineer one another's data formats. But this process takes months for some
formats and many small software companies simply cannot afford to reverse
engineer all of their competitors' proprietary data formats in a timely
manner. This hurts consumers as much as it hurts the small software
developer.
Open Data Format legislation measn lower software prices, greater choice and
data that is really yours.
What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of Open Data Format
legislation?
Your opoinions on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
jim