Binary Document Formats to be made available under OSP
Brian Jones carries the news that Microsoft will make the Binary Formats (.doc; .xls; .ppt) directly available as a download on the Microsoft web site and, by February 15 2008, will include them under Microsoft's Open Specification Promise.
Microsoft already makes its .doc, .xls, .xlsb, and .ppt binary file format specifications available under a royalty-free covenant not to sue to anyone who wishes to implement all or part of these specifications in their products as described here.
Brian explains that "hundreds of companies, including IBM and SUN, as well as government institutions" already have access the these documents.