Office 2003 XML Reference Schemas
Microsoft is loosening licensing rules on Office 2003 formats in order to get around new “open standard” restrictions to be adopted by the US state of Massachusetts, according to a state official.
The move puts Microsoft on a better footing to compete against open-source applications and non-proprietary document formats. Governments around the world have begun to reconsider the use of proprietary formats, which usually lock them into using particular applications and may hinder archiving efforts.