Difference between revisions of "proprietary format"
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| − | [[Category:Computer Terminology]][[Computing]]: [[closed format]]{{seed}}A [[ | + | =={{hide|Navbar}}== |
| + | [[Category:Computer Terminology]][[Computing]]: [[closed format]]{{seed}} | ||
| + | ==Overview== | ||
| + | A [[proprietary format]] ("closed" is sometimes used as a synonym for "proprietary") is a format (i.e. data structure, [[protocol]], or other data storage/transfer standard) which is considered to be [[intellectual property]] and may not be used without the consent of the format's owner (usually given in the form of a license). This often prevents or severely hampers efforts to be able to read or write data stored in those formats in [[FOSS|free software]] due to a number of factors, including licensing requirements typically imposed by owners of such formats. | ||
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| + | Examples of closed formats include: [[MP3]], [[WMA]], [[Microsoft Word]] .doc format, [[Microsoft Excel]] .xls format (both of the latter are in fact readable by a number of free software programs; the main problem there is the poor documentation of the format, not licensing restrictions). | ||
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| + | ==Related articles== | ||
| + | * [[open format]] | ||
==Opinion== | ==Opinion== | ||
| − | * '''2002-01''' [http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html We Can Put an End to Word Attachments] | + | * '''2002-01''' [http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html We Can Put an End to Word Attachments] by RIchard M. Stallman |
Latest revision as of 01:05, 20 November 2007
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Overview
A proprietary format ("closed" is sometimes used as a synonym for "proprietary") is a format (i.e. data structure, protocol, or other data storage/transfer standard) which is considered to be intellectual property and may not be used without the consent of the format's owner (usually given in the form of a license). This often prevents or severely hampers efforts to be able to read or write data stored in those formats in free software due to a number of factors, including licensing requirements typically imposed by owners of such formats.
Examples of closed formats include: MP3, WMA, Microsoft Word .doc format, Microsoft Excel .xls format (both of the latter are in fact readable by a number of free software programs; the main problem there is the poor documentation of the format, not licensing restrictions).
Related articles
Opinion
- 2002-01 We Can Put an End to Word Attachments by RIchard M. Stallman