Joining this debate on color a bit late. I think, too, that an open alternative to any proprietary color system would be beneficial. First of all, it would be possible to describe colors in a consistent and standard way, and every major (or minor, for that matter) software vendor would be free to implement it. Secondly, anyone who knows how to measure color would be able to invent *proprietary* formulas, make profit off it and still use the open color system as a reference. There could be, for instance, 3, or 4, or 100 different formulas for color OpenMatch ABC123 and from different vendors. Suddenly the printers would no longer have to rely upon one producer for their supplies.
The only thing that could/would pose as a major obstacle is QC. There would have to be a single organization responsible for QC in order to certify compliant products. Mere guidelines for QC would, IMHO, not cut it... The organization responsible for QC could print their own matching books, but that is not mandatory, since a colorimeter should do just fine when comparing products with specs.
