[UPDATE March 19, 2009] Several readers, and now another blogger, have misconstrued this post's intent (for which I am singularly to blame). When I wrote this post, I thought it was clear that Archie's comment was mocking some software vendors' efforts to keep data formats proprietary. Apparently this was not clear at all.

So, for the record, I am all for open GIS data formats.

Note to self (again): Sarcasm and irony do not transfer well over the Internet. As if I did not know...

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The All Points Blog features today another round in the never-ending discussion on GIS data formats. We have, too, in the past, lent our voice to the discourse ("Proliferation", "Katmai", "File Geodatabase"). A commenter on Adena's blog, Archie Belaney, sums it up perfectly. This is the comment to end all discussions:

"Remember, it's not about the software, it's about control of the data and the services required to help 'expose' these data through 'open' software products.

If your company loses control over access to the data by opening the formats, you've lost control over the need for your software, your services, and your ability to control the market."

Full comment.