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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.

Contents

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

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

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

Examples of open formats

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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)

Text

Other

  • XML (a markup language standardized by W3C)

See also

Wikibooks
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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

External links
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