Document Foundation: "fake open-source" OnlyOffice

The Document Foundation (TDF) has been strongly opposing Microsoft's practices lately. It accuses the Windows maker that it uses absurdly complex XML schemas to trap users and even last year, it urged its customers to abandon Windows 10 for Linux distributions.

Now, it has turned its sights on a supposed ally, OnlyOffice, explicitly labeling the rival productivity suite as “ fake open-source .” According to TDF, OnlyOffice is partnering with Microsoft, defaulting to Microsoft file formats instead of supporting open standards.

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TDF believes we are currently witnessing a violent rerun of the old browser wars that directly map to document formats. In the era of Internet Explorer 6, Microsoft attempted to impose a proprietary format on the web.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) balked at Microsoft's demands, refusing to ratify its proposed changes because Internet Explorer wouldn't display websites properly. This defiance apparently saved HTML.

Unfortunately, according to The Document Foundation, the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) missed the mark when it came to Microsoft Office Open XML (OOXML). The ISO blindly recognized OOXML as a standard, while the format never worked as a standard. Now, users have to endure endless formatting errors if someone tries to read a DOCX, XLSX, or PPTX file outside of Microsoft software.

TDF insists that proprietary file wrappers act like digital handcuffs protecting a $30 billion business:

Using a proprietary format for documents has other disadvantages for users. In doing so, they entrust the keys to their content to someone they don't know, and whose interests differ from their own.

At best, content is shared and at worst, it is at risk, as the Prosecutor General of the International Court of Justice unfortunately learned when Microsoft closed his email account at the behest of the President of the United States.

For its part, OnlyOffice advertises its high compatibility with Microsoft Office formats as its main feature. The company offers a community version with an open source license and a proprietary version for businesses, a hybrid model that is not uncommon, but sometimes attracts attention from open source fans.

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Although the press releases will range from very select to rare, I said I'd pass...because sometimes the editors hide.