When you have a few minutes to spare, read this excellent description of the Office Open XML standard and its implications for developing countries. It’s exceptionally well written and explains the issue cleanly and quickly.

Of course, the dangers of Microsoft drafting its own standard and presenting it as if it were open and accessible to everyone … well, that isn’t something that should be avoided just in developing nations. But I’ll let you read the full description and form your own opinion. I wouldn’t want to taint your opinion of a multibillion-dollar corporation which is dumping software and hardware on developing cultures, in hopes of locking them into licensing fees and —

Oops. Sorry. 😳