---
title: To Answer the Question Many Have Asked
date: 2007-01-29T23:24:15Z
modified: 2007-01-29T23:24:15Z
permalink: "https://redmonk.com/sogrady/2007/01/29/to-answer-the-question-many-have-asked/"
type: post
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 1357
categories:
  - Open Standards
timestamp: 2007-01-29T23:24:15Z
tags:
  - Open Standards
---

Yes, I’ve seen the news. No, not the Todd Helton [rumors](http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2007/01/29/monfort_on_helton_were_not_going_to_give_him_up_for_nothing) – which would surprise (and displease) me if they came to fruition – the [PDF news](http://technoracle.blogspot.com/2007/01/pdf-specification-released-to-aiimiso.html). The Adobe folks were kind enough to give us a heads up on it last week, and I’m very pleased that [my colleague](http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor) – along with two other folks I know and have a lot of respect for, [Bob](http://www.sutor.com/newsite/blog-open/) and [Gary](http://www.openwave.us/) – had a positive impact on the decision itself.

As kind as he is to give credit to external parties, however, I think Duane’s unfairly modest in declining to take any of it for himself. Having been party to the conversation at JavaOne that he mentions a few years back – and many since – I can say honestly that he’s not only a brilliant guy, he’s a staunch advocate of open standards. While I don’t have a good read on the precise machinations required to make this happen, I’d be surprised if we’d be having this conversation were it not for Duane.

And yes, I’ll have a Q&A on the subject, probably tomorrow.