Apart from the fact that I do not know what version of Word was used, I can make the following generalisations about most MS Office applications, specifically Word in this case.

There are three levels of protection:

1. File open Protection. This requires a password to open the file in the first instance. Both the file and password are encrypted.

2. File Modification Protection. This requires a password to modify the file, but not to read or copy it. Neither the document nor its password are encrypted. Certainly with earlier versions of Word the creator/owner could turn this off without a password. It was usually pretty trivial to find the password as well.

3. Read Only Recommended Protection. Here there is no password or encryption. The user is prompted to open in read only mode, but can decline.

From what mooret has said, it appears that it is option #2 that has been implemented.

He should be able to create a copy document (Particularly saving as Word 8/Office 97) and take ownership of it. That should either automatically get rid of the protection, or let him remove it from within Word.

I have not examined the tool suggested in detail, but I think that it is aimed at scenario #1 above.