[oc] Standard Component Library Format?

[John William Dalton <johnd@southern-poro.com>]

Is anyone out there aware of a free standard for component libraries?

Each tool (geda, oregano, electric, dia, ...) appears to use its own 
format.
It seems wasteful to create a new component library for each tool.
It would be nice to have a standard data structure which holds schematic
symbols, PCB footprints, models, HDL headers and so on.

Failing the existence fo a free standard, is there a proprietory 
equivalent?

Regards
John