200: Tech Tales Found

LibreOffice: How a Corporate Takeover Sparked a Digital Rebellion and Gave the World LibreOffice

03 Dec 2025

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The story of LibreOffice is a pivotal chapter in the history of open-source software, rooted in resistance, community, and the pursuit of digital autonomy. It began with StarOffice, a commercial office suite developed by Star Division in the 1990s, which offered an affordable alternative to Microsoft Office. In 1999, Sun Microsystems acquired Star Division and transformed StarOffice into OpenOffice.org, releasing it as open-source software—a move that invited global collaboration and democratized access to essential productivity tools. OpenOffice.org flourished as a free, cross-platform solution, widely adopted by individuals, schools, and governments seeking to avoid costly software licenses and proprietary lock-in. However, when Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems in 2010, the future of the project darkened. Oracle’s closed-software culture clashed with the open-source ethos, leading to neglect, poor communication, and a loss of trust among the developer community. In response, a core group of developers executed a bold ’fork’—a complete copy of the codebase—launching LibreOffice under the newly formed Document Foundation. This act was not merely technical but ideological: a declaration of independence from corporate control and a reaffirmation of open-source values. The move garnered immediate support from major Linux distributions and users worldwide, effectively shifting momentum from OpenOffice.org to LibreOffice. Since then, LibreOffice has evolved into a robust, modern office suite, featuring Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, and Math—tools that rival commercial alternatives in functionality while remaining completely free. Its commitment to open standards ensures file interoperability and user ownership, making it a preferred choice for public institutions and underserved communities. By eliminating cost barriers, LibreOffice levels the digital playing field, enabling students, small businesses, and non-profits to access professional-grade software. The project thrives on a global volunteer community that continuously improves security, usability, and compatibility. Today, LibreOffice stands as a testament to what collective action can achieve in the face of corporate dominance. It exemplifies how open-source principles—transparency, collaboration, and user empowerment—can sustain innovation without relying on profit motives. As the project explores cloud integration and mobile accessibility, its future remains tied to the resilience of its community. LibreOffice is more than software; it is a living movement that challenges the notion that technology must be proprietary to be powerful, proving that freedom, accessibility, and quality can coexist in the digital age.

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3ª PARTE | 17 DIC 2025 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

01 Jan 1970

El Partidazo de COPE

13:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

12:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

10:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

13:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

12:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

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200: Tech Tales Found

LibreOffice: How a Corporate Takeover Sparked a Digital Rebellion and Gave the World LibreOffice

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet

Other recent transcribed episodes

3ª PARTE | 17 DIC 2025 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

13:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

12:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

10:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

13:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

12:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

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