Open format

An open format is a file format for storing digital data, defined by a published specification usually maintained by a standards organization, and which can be used and implemented by anyone. For example, an open format can be implemented by both proprietary and free and open-source software, using the typical software licenses used by each. In contrast to open formats, closed formats are considered trade secrets. Open formats are also called free file formats if they are not encumbered by any copyrights, patents, trademarks or other restrictions (for example, if they are in the public domain^[1]) so that anyone may use the format at no monetary cost for any desired purpose.^[2] However, the actual image used by an open format may still be copyrighted or trademarked.

Depending on the definition, the specification of an open format may require a fee to access or, very rarely, contain other restrictions.^[2] The range of meanings is similar to that of the term open standard.

Specific definitions

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

US government

Within the framework of Open Government Initiative, the federal government of the United States adopted the Open Government Directive, according to which: "An open format is one that is platform independent, machine readable, and made available to the public without restrictions that would impede the re-use of that information".^[3]

State of Minnesota

The State of Minnesota defines the criteria for open, XML-based file formats as follows:^[4]

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

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."^[5]

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

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

The Linux Information Project

According to 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"^[2] – as opposed to a free format which is not encumbered by any copyrights, patents, trademarks or other restrictions.

Examples of open formats

Open formats (in the royalty-free and free access sense) include:^[2]

PNG — a raster image format standardized by ISO/IEC
FLAC — lossless audio codec
WebM — a video/audio container format
HTML — HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is the main markup language for creating web pages and other information that can be displayed in a web browser.
gzip — for compression
CSS — style sheet format usually used with (X)HTML, standardized by W3C

The following formats are open (royalty-free with a one-time fee on the standard):

PDF: old versions are free in both senses, but since PDF 1.8 the standards require a fee;
Office Open XML: the ECMA version is free to access, but the newer ISO versions require a fee;
C language: royalty-free, but ISO standard requires a fee (drafts available for free);

References

^ ^a ^b Open Document Format for Office Applications (OpenDocument) v1.0 – OASIS Standard, 1 May 2005
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Free File Format Definition". LINFO.org. Retrieved 11 February 2007.
^ "Open Government Directive". The White House.
^ Meanwhile, Deep Down in Texas: An Open Format Bill is Filed – Tuesday, 6 February 2007 @ 03:55 PM PST Contributed by: Andy Updegrove – ConsortiumInfo.org
^ Major Revision of Massachusetts Enterprise Technical Reference Model (ETRM). Robin Cover, Editor – Created: 3 July 2007. – Cover Pages

External links

OpenFormats
Practical Advice for using Free Formats from Ubuntu Community Documentation
Study on the: Economic impact of open source software on innovation and the competitiveness of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector in the EU, 2006 EU report in favor of adopting open source software
Free File Format Definition
Definition of Free Cultural Works

[:0-1] Open Document Format for Office Applications (OpenDocument) v1.0 – OASIS Standard, 1 May 2005

[Free_File_Format_Definition-2] "Free File Format Definition". LINFO.org. Retrieved 11 February 2007.

[3] "Open Government Directive". The White House.

[4] Meanwhile, Deep Down in Texas: An Open Format Bill is Filed – Tuesday, 6 February 2007 @ 03:55 PM PST Contributed by: Andy Updegrove – ConsortiumInfo.org

[5] Major Revision of Massachusetts Enterprise Technical Reference Model (ETRM). Robin Cover, Editor – Created: 3 July 2007. – Cover Pages

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