The philosophy behind ODF: openness, freedom and control
File formats are not usually the subject of philosophical debate because most users just want to open, save and share documents without any problems. However, the Open Document Format (ODF) is based on concepts that are much more important to users than might initially seem the case. ODF is not just a technical standard, but also a statement of openness, user freedom, and control over digital information.
Understanding this philosophy helps to explain why ODF exists, why it is still important, and why it is often cited as a reference in conversations about digital rights and long-term access.
In short, ODF is an open standard for office documents such as text files, spreadsheets and presentations, and it is the native format of LibreOffice. Unlike Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 files, which use a proprietary format developed in secret in Redmond and controlled by Microsoft, ODF is developed and maintained through a completely transparent process.
This may seem like a technical detail, but it is an important fact that determines everything else.
Openness: no one owns your documents
The principle behind ODF is openness. The complete specifications are available to the public, and anyone can read, implement or create software based on them without asking for permission or paying licence fees.
This has concrete consequences:
- Developers can create compatible software without facing legal barriers.
- Organisations can adopt ODF without being tied to a single supplier.
Users can manage their own documents without having to use a specific company’s tools.
Openness is not idealism for its own sake, but rather it means transparency and durability. When a format is open, knowledge of how it works does not disappear if a company changes direction, raises prices, or stops producing software.
Documents created today should still be readable decades from now. ODF was designed with this long-term perspective in mind.
Freedom: choice without penalties
In the context of ODF, freedom is primarily about choice.
With proprietary formats, even a simple software update can lead to hidden costs because files may not open correctly, formatting may not work and some features may disappear. Over time, this can discourage users from abandoning software, even if better or cheaper options exist.
ODF counteracts this dynamic.
Since multiple applications support the same format, users can choose the tools that best suit their needs. For example, you can write a document in one programme, edit it in another, and store it in a standard, open format, safe in the knowledge that it will be compatible.
This is particularly important for public institutions, schools and governments. When documents need to be accessible to all, tying them to a single vendor’s software creates an unnecessary barrier that goes against the democratic principle of equality. ODF supports the idea that public information should be readable using freely available tools.
In this context, freedom does not imply hostility towards commercial strategies, but rather respect for every user’s right not to be discriminated against because of file format.
Control puts power in the hands of the user
Control is the most overlooked part of the ODF philosophy.
When you save a document in a proprietary format, you often have to rely on undocumented behaviour, hidden features, or licence terms that have simply been imposed without negotiation. The supplier decides how the format changes and which features remain accessible to which users.
ODF reverses this relationship.
In fact, a standard format that is openly governed cannot be changed unilaterally by a single organisation. All decisions are discussed, documented and agreed upon through a public, transparent process. This guarantees that users and organisations will not be affected by a company’s strategies or held hostage by changes to their data.
Control also manifests itself in smaller, everyday ways. For example:
- ODF files can be inspected: they are actually ZIP archives containing XML text that can be read by anyone, even those unfamiliar with the technology.
- Documents can be automated, validated or processed using open tools.
- You can migrate archives without having to reverse engineer a closed format.
This type of control is essential for legal documents, scientific data, historical archives and any other data that must remain intact and accessible over time.
Is ODF still important today?
In the era of cloud-based editors and collaborative platforms, it is reasonable to ask whether ODF is still relevant.
The answer is yes, perhaps more than ever.
Moving an increasing number of documents online takes control away from users because the files reside on servers that they do not manage and are in formats that they neither understand nor control. They are also governed by licence terms that users almost always sign without reading and which can change at any time.
ODF also sets a benchmark when the cloud is used for storage because an open, standard format guarantees the integrity and accessibility of data, regardless of users’ level of expertise. Thus, ODF protects users from their own unawareness of the format issue.
ODF also acts as a silent check on market power, reminding the software ecosystem that users must be able to switch applications without losing access to their content, which must remain their property and under their complete control.
The ODF philosophy is practical, not abstract, and translates into tangible results: reduced barriers, longer-lasting documents and greater choice.
Users do not need to become experts in standards or understand the specifics of the files to take advantage of this. ODF guarantees them permanent ownership of their work and the ability to manage it at any time with the software they prefer. This frees them from any constraints imposed by a supplier or tool that they have not chosen freely.
In this sense, ODF is not just a format, but also a reminder that digital files should serve the people who create them — not the other way around.
