Open Document Format Marks 20 Years as Standard

Why this is here: Germany’s Deutschland-Stack now requires the use of the Open Document Format, signaling growing political support for open standards.

The Document Foundation in Portugal acknowledges twenty years since the Open Document Format (ODF) became an international ISO/IEC standard. On May 3, 2006, ODF was unanimously approved as an open, vendor-neutral format for office documents. The foundation notes ODF remains unique in this position, as alternatives typically come from private companies with proprietary formats.

ODF differs from other formats by lacking transitional modes or undocumented behaviors. Its specification is freely available from ISO and OASIS, allowing for auditable schemes and multiple independent implementations. The German federal administration now requires ODF through the Deutschland-Stack.

Brazil has also mandated open formats like ODF within its education system via Law 15.211/2025. The Document Foundation continues to lobby the European Commission to align its procurement policies with open standards commitments.

Florian Effenberger of The Document Foundation frames ODF as essential for maintaining societal memory and government sovereignty. The organization plans year-long celebrations including publications and a conference.