Microsoft Word Document ML Schemas Published

Lars Munch writes "On Monday the 17th November the xml schemas for the Word Document ML along with documentation, was uploaded to the Infostructurebase (ISB). With the Word Document ML specification anybody can generate, view and process Microsoft word documents on any format." (Here are the legal terms under which the schemas can be used.) "The Word Document ML is based on the W3C specification eXtensible Markup Language (XML), there by providing documents that are easy to integrate into a large variety of systems. The Danish Government Infostructurebase is the first schema repository to make the schemas accessible to the public. The Microsoft Office Document ML schemas and documentation can now be downloaded from the ISB Repository." There are more links on this page.

Hmph

[WTFmonkey]

THE SPECIFICATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND MICROSOFT MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, OR TITLE; THAT THE CONTENTS OF THE SPECIFICATION ARE SUITABLE FOR ANY PURPOSE; NOR THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH CONTENTS WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, TRADEMARKS OR OTHER RIGHTS. MICROSOFT WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY USE OR DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIFICATION.

vs.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

Someone needs to tell Microsoft not to use so many caps, it's like YELLING.

Defeated by my own cleverness and the lameness filter. Now I need to type at random in order to dodge the bullet. Neat-o. Nope, not enough yet. This is better than resorting to cut and pasting of the usual "Important stuff" list, don't you. Although it is rather early for this. DAMN IT still too many caps, although I guess that didn't help, now did it. I guess I could look at the code and see what the percentage is before it dies, but that's way harder than just typing until my fingers bleed.

Re:Is this really microsoft

[mrtroy]

Oh golly

mod parent up

Is Bill turning soft? Yes, microsoft!

Which, from what I have heard, is like turning gay. But without the benefits.

Uh oh

[Anonymous Coward]

Quick! Find something bad to say about Microsoft!

This should shut everyone up

[Anonymous Coward]

Maybe now we will stop hearing all the bitching about how MS is evil.

MS Link is 404'ed

[agentZ]

The patent license requires everybody to prominently display this text on any product that can read/write Microsoft XML documents:

"This product may incorporate intellectual property owned by Microsoft Corporation. The terms and conditions upon which Microsoft is licensing such intellectual property may be found at

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/odcXMLRef/ html/odcXMLRefLegalNotice.asp?frame=true." [microsoft.com]

Too bad the link leads to a 404!

But you can't CALL it MS-Word

[Gothmolly]

The name and trademarks of Microsoft may NOT be used in any manner, including advertising or publicity pertaining to the Specification or its contents without specific, written prior permission. Title to copyright in the Specification will at all times remain with Microsoft.

So you can write an app which transforms a Word doc to something else, but you can't refer to your app as a Microsoft Word file converter. So how long until we'll have a "Converter for the Evil Empire's word processor document type" project on Sourceforge?

Re:Is this really microsoft

[Anonymous Coward]

>> Microsoft allowing anyone to access their document formatting?

Yes, it's true. And the format is surprisingly easy to understand. Here it is:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<MicrosoftWordXMLDocument version="1.0">
<DocumentBody>
<![CDATA[3kd8dkfjd kxodkrjeis kfjdiwlekrj
df38d8f cj384k3j*#&@)x3 kj454t7u
dfj3kj43 83k*#45j3k 2ldkfjfkf*3&
...
dkj38d9feod8 sjvkcjf0d]]>
</DocumentBody>
</MicrosoftWordXMLDocument>

interesting

[malus]

<!doctype msofficexml version='1.0'>
<cmdlist>
<command>
<mailto>[e-mail] </mailto >
<file>C:\\Documents~1\my_address_book.pdb</file&gt ;
</command >

<command type="system" action="format c:\"/>
</cmdlist>

oops. parse error. but a clean HD!

Re:Uh oh

[Dasaan]

Quick! Find something bad to say about Microsoft!

OK, they are a bunch of arseclowns.

Re:Hmph

[zephc]

In legal terms, the CAPS is meant as a vocalization and pronunciation guide. In this case, you should shriek in an almost uncontrolled manner with a thick German accent. It also helps if you stand on a podium.

Re:The patent license terms are "404 not found"

[bobthemuse]

Well then, it should be awfully easy to follow the T&Cs!

Re:Out-Open-Sourcing Open Source

[Gilmoure]

Only if you believe strongly enough and can cause blood to drib from your extremities.

As open as a punji pit.

[freality]

So, here's the spec, but if you talk about it you'll be sued by our trademark&copyright lawyers, or if you read or write to the format you'll be sued by our patent lawyers. Where do you want to go today? Jail?

Re:The patent license terms seem reasonable...

[PolR]

"The name and trademarks of Microsoft may NOT be used in any manner, including advertising or publicity pertaining to the Specification or its contents without specific, written prior permission."

For leagl raeosns we cnnaot pbulish tihs sepcfiicaiotn taht our sowtfare is capomtible wtih Mcriofost flie fmorats.

Re:Out-Open-Sourcing Open Source

[dillon_rinker]

Nice troll! No, I mean that sincerely. It's so rare to see the art practiced anymore.

Re:Out-Open-Sourcing Open Source

[Lodragandraoidh]

I like this part the best:

No right to create modifications or derivatives of this Specification is granted herein.

I just had a flashback to when I was a kid and my Dad was giving me the old "do as I say, not as I do" lecture...