(Note: this is an example of what this page will contain. These items have been pulled out of the collections of news items on the old website. More to come.)

24 Sep 2005

Massachusetts Verdict: MS Office Formats Out.
The state of Massachusetts Friday made it official: It will use only nonproprietary document formats in state-affiliated offices effective Jan. 1, 2007. PC Magazine

22 Sep 2005

Audio Posted from the Massachusettes Open Format Meeting.
Audio is posted from the State of Massachusettes Open Format Meeting. Hear comments from the state and different companies about the OpenDocument Format.

22 Sep 2005

What has Microsoft done for Massachusetts lately?.
Alan Yates' public letter reveals many chinks in Microsoft's armor and shows his company's lack of fitness, and unwillingness, to compete on a level pitch. Newsforge.com

14 Sep 2005

Microsoft Steps Up Its Fight Against Massachusetts' XML Policy.
In its 15-page memo complaining of the state's latest proposal, Microsoft's general manager Alan Yates said: "Were this proposal to be adopted, the significant costs incurred by the Commonwealth, its citizens and the private sector would be matched only by the levels of confusion and incompatibility that would result from the fact that the OpenDocument format is such a nascent and immature format." Informationweek.com

12 Sep 2005

Open Season In Massachusetts.
"The challenge facing Microsoft is the commoditization created by open source software as well the growing requirement among [state and federal] governments to guarantee citizens access to documents and that this access will not be encumbered by proprietary file formats." Internetnews.com

09 Sep 2005

Massachusetts vs. Microsoft?.
Opinion: Plan to move toward "open" formats isn't foolhardy if the state thinks it can better serve taxpayers by escaping proprietary lock. eWeek

05 Sep 2005

Legal worries led Massachusetts to open standards.
"The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has cited legal concerns over Microsoft's software as a factor behind its decision to only use document formats based on open standards. Massachusetts has concerns about the openness of Microsoft XML schemas as well as with potential patent issues that could arise in the future. Massachusetts agencies have until 1 January, 2007, to install applications that support the OpenDocument file formats and phase out other products." ZDNet UK

31 Aug 2005

Massachusetts publishes review draft of document format policies requiring all agencies to migrate to txt, pdf, or ODF by 1 Jan 2007.