Open format

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An open format is a published specification for storing digital data, usually maintained by a standards organization, which basically can be used and implemented by anyone. For example, an open format can be implementable by both proprietary and free and open source software, using the typical licenses used by each. In contrast to open formats, proprietary formats are controlled and defined by private interests.

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[edit] Specific definitions

[edit] Sun Microsystems

Sun Microsystems defines the criteria for open formats as follows:[1]

  • The format is based on an underlying open standard
  • The format is developed through a publicly visible, community driven process
  • The format is affirmed and maintained by a vendor-independent standards organization
  • The format is fully documented and publicly available
  • The format does not contain proprietary extensions

[edit] State of Minnesota

The State of Minnesota defines the criteria for open, XML-based file formats as follows:[2]

  • The format is interoperable among diverse internal and external platforms and applications
  • The format is fully published and available royalty-free
  • The format is implemented by multiple vendors
  • The format is controlled by an open industry organization with a well-defined inclusive process for evolution of the standard

[edit] Commonwealth of Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts "defines open formats as specifications for data file formats that are based on an underlying open standard, developed by an open community, affirmed and maintained by a standards body and are fully documented and publicly available."[3]

The Enterprise Technical Reference Model (ETRM) classifies four formats as "Open Formats":

  1. OASIS Open Document Format For Office Applications (OpenDocument) v. 1.1
  2. Ecma-376 Office Open XML Formats (Open XML)
  3. Hypertext Document Format v. 4.01
  4. Plain Text Format

[edit] The Linux Information Project

According to the The Linux Information Project, the term open format should refer to "any format that is published for anyone to read and study but which may or may not be encumbered by patents, copyrights or other restrictions on use".[4]

[edit] Examples of open formats

[edit] Multimedia

  • JPEG 2000 (an image format standardized by ISO/IEC)
  • PNG (a raster image format standardized by ISO/IEC)
  • SVG (a vector image format standardized by W3C)
  • VRML/X3D (realtime 3D data formats standardized by ISO/IEC)
  • Ogg, container for Vorbis, FLAC, Speex (audio formats) & Theora (a video format)

[edit] Text

[edit] Other

  • XML (a markup language standardized by W3C)

[edit] See also

Wikibooks
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[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.xml.gov/presentations/sun/odf.pdf
  2. ^ http://www.consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/article.php?story=20070206155518882
  3. ^ http://xml.coverpages.org/ni2007-07-03-a.html
  4. ^ "Free File Format Definition". LINFO.org (February 11, 2007).

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_format"
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