Re: [Bug-gnupedia]Submissions in Word Format

[Imran Ghory]

On 28 Jan 2001, at 13:24, Alexander Braun wrote:

>  Unisys does not intend (as far as I
> know) to destroy and attack freedom actively. But the format is
> patented, though.

More specifically the LZW compression algorithm is patented, 
which is used in creating compressed GIF. The format of the GIF 
file isn't patented.

>  It's non-free. And you won't find any gif on the
> fsf site for exactly this reason. On the other hand Microsoft is not
> very peacefully. According to the Halloween-Documents they intend to
> attack the OpenSource and the FreeSource movements, because they feel
> threatened by Linux. They intend to pollute everything that is free,
> so they can earn money with it and - finally wipe it away. The
> Halloween-Docs were about 2 and a half years ago. But I think Corel is
> one of the visible beginnings of this battle.

The policy of GNE should be to created an open encyclopedia, not 
fight the Linux/Windows war.

> So if you allow .doc then you let them in. Then you open the door
> explicitly for the most aggressive company at this time. And you open
> the door very wide. Because then you have to allow Excel-Sheets,
> Powerpoint Presentations, everything the Office packets offer, just
> because such a vast majority of people uses them. 

No, we should allow any format which is easily convertible to 
whatever format we use.

This should not be a Linux/Windows war, nor a GPL versus 
Microsoft licencing. This is intended to be an open encyclopedia 
lets not loose focus of our target.

Imran