Novell "Forking" OpenOffice.org

l2718 writes to mention that In the wake of their recent deal with Microsoft, Novell has announced a new version of OpenOffice.org which will support Microsoft's planned Office formal, Open XML. From the article: "The translators will be made available as plug-ins to Novell's OpenOffice.org product. Novell will release the code to integrate the Open XML format into its product as open source and submit it for inclusion in the OpenOffice.org project. As a result, end users will be able to more easily share files between Microsoft Office and OpenOffice.org, as documents will better maintain consistent formats, formulas and style templates across the two office productivity suites."

Turnabout is fair play

[Anonymous Coward]

I used OpenOffice and it forked me when it corrupted my boss' spreadsheet right before an important presentation

Fork Novell

[Anonymous Coward]

Novell can go "fork" itself.

All forked up

[Kelson]

I remember when Novell bought SuSE, people were wondering just how they would inevitably fork up Linux.

Now we know.

wow

[drDugan]

I wonder if there is much more that Novell could do to distance itself from the open source community than a wild backdoor romp in the sheets with Microsoft? Maybe they'll become the next FOSS SCOapegoat?

Bend Over Novell - this will really hurt

[Spinlock_1977]

Having the GPL shoved sideways up one's butt has to hurt. Let's ask Novell in a couple of years just how much. With MS's hands on Novell's hips to guide it in, at least it'll be well greased with money.

Microsoft is having a formal, huh?

[sharkey]

Microsoft's planned Office formal

Finally, a chance to wear my paper clip studs and cuff-links with a tuxedo!

Here's Another Little Thing They Can Fix...

[distantbody]

...The spell checker, it simply doesn't work...or at least it has never been able to highlight any spelling mistakes, not once. Jusd az wel that mi speling iz topp noch.

Totally Misleading Headline

[mpapet]

Summary states Novell will write a plugin for openoffice.org.

Getting the relevant Microsoft license(s) to cooperate with a GPL license will be a new and complex Microsoft "To Serve OpenOffice.org Customers" policy.

It certainly would diffuse some of the friction between the two camps, appease gov't bodies and Microsoft has nothing to worry about from OO.org. There may be some good to come out of this....

That is of course until the "To Serve OpenOffice.org" policy is translated into plain english. When it is discovered the policy is in fact a cookbook! AHHHHHH!!!!!!

Mod parent up

[Anonymous Coward]

Novell have forked-up big time.

the solution is easy!

[adaminnj]

make OO the standard and fork MS.

Re:Um

[colinbrash]

Does this look like Microsoft back to its old "embrace and extend" tricks to anyone else?

Why, those dirty forkers...

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Your mother is a whore?

[adamkennedy]

Now don't get me wrong! I'm not SAYING that your mother is a whore. I would never do such a thing!

It's just that there's been anonymous rumours from unnamed source I will not reveal in the community, and so I'm ASKING if your mother is a whore.

(stolen and adapted from John Stewart)

Re:Disagree; here's why

[Kopl]

Lol, that dead link seemed very ominous. It was just a bad link on my part. Here's the link to the patch [sourceforge.net]. Sorry about that.

Jethro

[Sir Runcible Spoon]

Jethro! Jethro! Get up! Fetch yer pitch fork.

We'r goin' over to Novell's. Bring the dogs, an summin that'll burn.

Forkin? Forkin? We'll givem forkin!