[oclug]Question: Is PDF an "open format"?

[Raymond Wood]

Hello OCLUGers,

I would like to ask for some feedback regarding the PDF format
and its associated license.  Someone is insisting that PDF is a
true "open standard", and I am having trouble swallowing this
claim without a large grain of salt  :)

This URL provides a definition of "Open Standards":
  http://perens.com/OpenStandards/Definition.html

This fellow writes:  
> What am I missing?  PDF seems to fit the open standard
> definition cited below.  To quote Principles 1-3 of that
> definition: 
> 
> 1. Availability
> Open Standards are available for all to read and implement. 
> 
> 2.Maximize End-User Choice
> Open Standards create a fair, competitive market for
> implementations of the standard. They do not lock the customer
> in to a particular vendor or group. 
> 
> 3. No Royalty
> Open Standards are free for all to implement, with no royalty
> or fee.  Certification of compliance by the standards
> organization may involve a fee. 

My feeling is that PDF, although a 'de facto' standard, was
never developed by anyone but Adobe (although is that different
from the W3C HTML Standards?) i.e. it was not a consultative
standards process.  Secondly it seems that Adobe is still the
one who completely controls this 'standard', and would be in a
position to revoke or change the PDF terms at any time.

So what do people on this list think -- is PDF really an "open
standard"?  

Cheers,
Raymond
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