Ecma International Approves Office Open XML as Worldwide Industry Standard

Posted Dec 9, 2006 10:02 UTC (Sat) by drag (guest, #31333)
In reply to: Ecma International Approves Office Open XML as Worldwide Industry Standard by frankie
Parent article: Ecma International Approves Office Open XML as Worldwide Industry Standard

Yes, but that's not how people think.

I bet that there is some bureaucrat somewere who is _right_now_ drafting requirements that certain types of documents have to be done in DRM'd OpenXML formats to help prevent information leakage. For example: documents dealing with patient information, or with accounts or such.

And you absolutely know this is probably true.

When Microsoft does stuff like this, this big, is only becuase they absolutely beleive that people will use this. "Give the customers enough rope to hang themselves" sort of thing. It has to be made very attractive for people to volentarially lock themselves into a format.

Go up to anybody who is in business and is somewhat technical. Explain to them exactly how Microsoft presents this stuff.. that you can use it to restrict data from allowing other people to see it, but not copy it or give it to other people.

Then ask them what do they think it would be usefull for. Don't bother explaining them the downsides or the failability of such thing. I bet then they will tell you all the things it is usefull for.

Then after that explain to them the downsides and such. Just to be nice. :-)