| California may mandate ODF for all state offices |
Mar. 08, 2007
California may become the second U.S. state to mandate an open format for all government documents. A bill filed this week by state Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) would require the transition to open, XML-based document formats by 2008.
In September 2005, Massachusetts became the first state to commit to using only nonproprietary document formats, including ODF (Open Document Format). ODF documents can be created by such office suites as OpenOffice.org, KOffice, GNOME Office, and others. Similar legislation is pending in Texas and Minnesota.
If passed, Leno's bill would be a major blow to Microsoft, whose software now is being used by most state offices. A four-state slide could spell disaster. The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant attempted a compromise with its proprietary Office Open XML (OOXML) document format, available in Office 2007. OOXML is still not a true open format, however; so it would not satisfy the proposals if adopted.
A spokesperson for Leno in Sacramento, Calif., told DesktopLinux.com that it will be several weeks before the bill makes its way to the floor for a vote, but that Leno is "optimistic" that it will succeed.
ODF was recognized as a global standard by the International Standards Organization in May 2006.
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