Talk:OpenDataPrinciples/non-proprietary

From OpenGovData

For example, releasing data exclusively in a Microsoft Word document format is not acceptable.

It may be necessary to make the data available in multiple formats when the relevant non-proprietary formats do not reach a wide audience, as in the case of current video data formats.

[Comment from Karl: this principle should be bidirectional. That is, no one should have to use a proprietary format, protocol, or tool in order to send information to the government. This observation is inspired by a customs lawyer I know in Chicago, who mentioned to me some years ago that one of the federal agencies he had to communicate with regularly would only accept electronic filings in some proprietary format -- I don't remember which one, but basically you had to buy a particular piece of proprietary software in order to communicate efficiently with this agency.]

It may be possible to merge this with License Free. I'm not that worried about wacky data formats, but patents are more than just an annoyance.