[LINK] M$ lock-in

[MacIntosh, Ian]

PDF is not a 'bad' format - it has some real advantages (presentation
control, etc).  I must admit I was ardently against it to start with but
time mellows me :-)  Attaching and rtf/text/other accessible format
document as an alternative is essential for accessibility.  

IANAL but to handle the issue of alterability (if that really is, say, a
legal requirement) then it is quite easy to put in a caveat that states
that the authorative version is the PDF and that the other versions are
provided for convenience and accessibility.  That means, in a court of
law, you have a 'locked down' version (as much as you can lock PDF
down).  You may also have to prove the processes/procedures that are
used for uploading/backups/version control etc, but they should be
pretty much common sense.

Ian
(as always my own thoughts ...)

Howard Lowndes wrote (with a few snips)

On Tue, 2005-02-15 at 13:00, Liddy Nevile wrote:
> some others of us have a problem with PDF that is called  
> accessibility!!! we'd prefer it to always be accompanied by rtf, if it

> has to be used.


...or plain text even, but you can see why orgs do like to publish in
PDF.  Basically it presents the formatting that they want, which RTF
does not always do, and it can be made unalterable, which RTF definitely
cannot be made to do.



**********************************************************************
The information contained in this e-mail, and any attachments to it, is
intended for the use of the addressee and is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, read, forward, copy or retain any of the information. If you have received this e-mail in
error, please delete it and notify the sender by return e-mail or telephone.
The Commonwealth does not warrant that any attachments are free from viruses or any other defects. You assume all liability for any loss, damage or other consequences which may arise from opening or using the attachments.
***********************************************************************************