9/19/2014 Who owns PDF?

| PDF Association
http://www.pdfa.org/2014/09/who-owns-pdf/ 1/1
Who owns PDF?
PDF Association | September 17, 2014
Most people closely identify PDF with Adobe Systems. We cant fault the typical
end-user for this perception - Adobe did invent PDF back in 1993, and has
developed, maintained and distributed the ubiquitous free Adobe Reader and
commercial Adobe Acrobat software ever since.
But Adobe no longer owns PDF. The company gave the format to the ISO in 2008
the PDF specification is now formally known as ISO 32000. While the company
still makes the most commonly-recognized PDF software, Adobe is now just one
of many companies sending representatives to ISO 32000 meetings to discuss the
next-generation PDF specification and the various subset standards for PDF.
Does it matter?
Im often speaking with IT executives, CIOs, directors and other technical policy
managers in large corporations and government agencies. The subject is generally
a critical business-process or set of project requirements. All such managers want
to avoid vendor lock-in. And with PDF, it seems, its still commonly believed that
using a PDF technology solution implies some sort of commitment to Adobe
Systems. Its not so.
PDF is everywhere in every country and almost every organization across the
globe. Its impossible to ignore, and for IT professionals, it makes a lot of sense
to understand a little bit about it.
Here are some facts about PDF that every information management professional
should know.
1o facts about PDF every IT professional should know
1. PDF stands for Portable Document Format
2. Unlike TIFF or JPEG, which are simply image formats, PDF is a type of
electronic document
3. PDF isnt the only final-form electronic document technology, but its far-and-
away the most dominant
4. Adobe Systems invented but no longer owns PDF. On July 1, 2008, Adobes
PDF Reference 1.7 became ISO 32000, an International Standard
5. ISO 32000 is managed by representatives of industry and government in open
meetings under parliamentary rules. Anyone can observe and participate
6. ISO standards for PDF technology now include specifications for archival,
accessibility, engineering, prepress and more
7. Anyone may create applications that read and write PDF files without paying
royalties to Adobe Systems or to anyone else
8. Adobe is not the only provider of PDF creation, manipulation or viewing
software, there are hundreds of other PDF technology vendors
9. Tens of billions of PDF files exist today, with billions more created each year
10. The very first PDF file was a tax form, specifically, an IRS form 1040
About PDF Association
Founded in 2006 as the PDF/A Competence Center, the PDF Association exists
to promote the adoption and implementation of International Standards for PDF
technology.
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