March 26 is Document Freedom Day. The purpose of Document Freedom Day is to promote the importance of using document formats that are open, rather than restricted.

Ever have an old document that won't open up because the newer version of the software won't open it anymore? Ever been sent a file that you can't open because you don't have the right software, and you either can't get the right software, or you have to spend a lot of money to get it? Ever had a file you can't open any more because the software to read it is no longer produced? Ever had a document you couldn't open because the software that reads it is not made for your operating system?

Document Freedom Day encourages the use of file formats that conform with open and distributed standards, so you aren't restricted to any one software program, you aren't restricted to the fickle nature of a company that may decide that you don't need to read older documents anymore, and you aren't constricted by having to spend money on software you don't want just to be able to view a file.

Happy Document Freedom Day, everyone!