How proprietary formats have become Microsoft’s main tool for lock-in
This article examines how Microsoft uses proprietary file formats like DOCX and XLSX to create user dependency and lock-in. It argues that these formats prioritize corporate control over open standards, effectively tethering users to the Microsoft ecosystem.
In the previous article , we explored the importance of standards: how the unspoken agreements governing electrical sockets, paper sizes and file formats form the foundations of a world in which choices remain open and power is not concentrated in the hands of a single player. We concluded with a question: if open standards are so beneficial, why aren’t they universally adopted?
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