Weird Adobe news

This is werid:

Microsoft had been planning to support Adobe’s PDF format in Microsoft Office — it’s already supported by Macs and OpenOffice.org — but Adobe is now forcing Microsoft to withdraw it, according to The Wall Street Journal (paid sub required). Its source is Brad Smith, Microsoft’s general counsel. The story says:

Adobe wants Microsoft to remove the feature and offer it separately for a fee. Microsoft has agreed to remove the feature but is unwilling to charge for it, Mr. Smith said.

“Adobe has threatened antitrust action unless Microsoft agrees to raise its prices, in particular for the software that would allow Microsoft Office users to save a document in the Adobe PDF format,” he said.

Since Adobe claims PDF is sort of open, it’s not clear why. However, the WSJ says “Adobe declined to clarify its exact objections to Microsoft’s use of the specifications.”

Microsoft already distributes Adobe’s Reader program with Windows, and recently patched one of its security flaws — probably the first time Microsoft has patched someone else’s application via Windows Update.