The Next Stage in Composition -- McIlroy

Though controlled by Adobe, no one is prevented from using it (nor required to pay a royalty for doing so.) It's the ultimate page-oriented print format, and a completely natural output file format for XSL-FO documents.

OK for Third Parties

Adobe has embraced this FO-PDF workflow, and broadly endorses it for third parties. I don't know whether to read this as a win for PDF or as Custer's Last Stand. In my view Adobe continues to struggle to find a clear role for PDF in an XML world.