You mistook pointing out MS's blundering PR campaign for support for anti-trust.
Wrong, if they were worried about that they'd simply impelement the format, they have historically provided more compatiblity filters than any other vendor, and ones that worked.
They are trying to avoid implementing the format because they want to maintain single vendor lock-in to their proprietary formats.
This is about MA taking a radical position that disallows the industry standard product while claiming they are doing it in the name of user access.
'Industry Standard'? Why are you of the opinion that a single vendor with a proprietary file format should be considered the standard? You can't open MS documents without paying them. Why should people who want to view information recorded by the State of Massachussettes be forced to pay Microsoft to view that information? Isn't it preferable for Massachussettes to adopt an open standard, that doesn't have vendor lock in or legal encumbrances, and then invite any vendor to make software capable of reading and writing in that open format? Why do you prefer taxpayers be forced to buy Microsoft's products to view information collected by the state?
They are claiming they want the formats "open" but ignore Microsoft's existing open format compatibility and the open nature of their future standard formats.
You're aware that Microsoft's implementation isn't open, right? Are you ignorant, or being deliberately misleading?
Who told you that?
Why are you of the opinion that a single vendor with a proprietary file format should be considered the standard?
Defacto. Ever heard of it?
Why do you prefer taxpayers be forced to buy Microsoft's products to view information collected by the state?
They don't have to now. They can use one of the freeware clones, or heaven forbid download a free reader direct from MS.