Microsoft Office's XML Lock-in: A Technological Trap
2025-07-19
This article exposes how Microsoft's intentionally complex XML schema in its Office document format serves as a user lock-in strategy. By designing an overly complex XML schema, Microsoft makes it difficult for competitors to develop compatible software, creating a technological monopoly. This forces users into the Microsoft ecosystem, accepting their pricing and services. The analogy used is a railway system with open tracks but a complex control system only controlled by one manufacturer, dominating rail transport. The author urges users to be wary of technological monopolies and to choose simple, clear XML systems to avoid being trapped by complexity.