Books in other Software programs

1. there was a published 'specification' for each bible programs layout of that type of resource.

There is not, nor will there be, ever.

1. put a pertition on each bible software forum we participate in.

Start over at the Accordance or WordSearch forums and see how far you get. [:D]

3. dont purchase any books until that particular bible software allows the 'basic' conversion of the books

The publishers that license copyrighted works to different software companies will not allow them to do this. The software companies fear the courts and irate publishers more than they fear a boycott from consumers. In other words, it is illegal for publishers to violate copyright laws.

As I dont believe the Bible software industry ( book publishers included ) have the right to force us to repurchase

What you believe is not half as important as what reality is....   Your stance is about as silly as requiring General Motors to sell car parts that will work on Fords and Chryslers.  You would end up with an International pickup truck. They don't make them anymore.

With about 10,000 books and the world's best Bible software (Logos 5 Portfolio+) why would I want to run inferior brands?

As I dont believe the Bible software industry ( book publishers included ) have the right to force us to repurchase the exact same product for use on a different bible program.

Your idea is a good one - and it already has been tested in the last century http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STEP_Library . Some bible software still include STEP-readers. However, it seems the industry has gone over this.

Technically it should be easy to read STEP-format text sources, but the only tool that I found some time ago requires the installation of a defunct, last-century release version of Ruby or another exotic programming language. But the issue is not the ability to read it: I know of no publisher that releases books in STEP format and the major bible software makers don't support it and are surely contractually bound to not allow full export of copyrighted resources into a free format.

Based on perception, the reason may be greed - or the search for viable business models that allow production of ressources for the foreseeable future. Basically we're paying the massive amount of Logos features with increased prices for the resources. In your world, people would buy the books at the lowest-price seller and bible software makers would charge licence fees. I think the publishers killed this idea because of fears that if such an open format doesn't include strong DRM enforced by every party, people will not pay anything at all for the resources.  

3. dont purchase any books until that particular bible software allows the 'basic' conversion of the books for use in other bible software. (with the basic ability to read / navigate).

Actually you're hurting yourself. And I don't think there's one bible software that allows such unlimited export and runs with non-PD resources.

  As I dont believe the Bible software industry ( book publishers included ) have the right to force us to repurchase the exact same product for use on a different bible program. Infact this should be illegal.

They own the Copyrights: they can do what ever they please.  Also the copyright statements on most of the STEP format files I have [some 700 files] limit the use of those files to the bible software program that they were bought with [not just any STEP reader but theirs only]. And that company recently "updated" its format to somethings else [that is they dumped the STEP format - most likely just so that we are forced to use their software to read the new files]

Why does Logos not have some publishers books?  Most likely because Logos allows use everywhere and the publishers want their fee on each device.

If as of April 1, 2013 no book sold unless they included an e-copy that allowed it to be used everywhere then they all would very soon provide an every where e-copy.  

But as most people only want it on the one device that they own and are not thinking about using it on some other device the only people that will stop buying  will be us and we are too few. Our non buying will not be noticed -  the e-copy would never be produced.   

Good idea - it just might work - in the next life - no greed, no money - just eternal love