OOXML Appeals Rejected

Pedro · Aug 16, 2008

I know it will not surprise you to hear that ISO/IEC have rejected the four appeals against OOXML. Here's their press release. Now what? Andy Updegrove:

Under the ISO rules of process, this now paves the way for the as-adopted version of OOXML, now called IS0/IEC DIS 29500, Information technology - Office Open XML, to proceed to publication. That version is substantially different than the current implementation of OOXML in Office 2007, and its text has still not been publicly released by ISO/IEC. According to a joint press release, "this is expected to take place within the next few weeks on completion of final processing of the document." Intriguingly, the press release goes on to say, "and subject to no further appeals against the decision.
Click to expand...

Groklaw

Pedro · Aug 16, 2008

A reaction:

Brazil, India and South Africa were treated as second-line countries during the BRM, and together with Venezuela, the four were now treated with irrelevance again. This is for me a clear and concrete signal: ISO IS NOT ANYMORE THE APPROPRIATE AND LEGITIM FORUM TO DEAL WITH THE STANDARDISATION NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

The entity was created in the “industrial era” and at this moment, presents clear signs of inadequacy to the “information era” in which we live. It is clear to everyone involved on the DIS 29500 (OpenXML) analysis process that it was distorted by commercial and business interests, presenting to all who want to see, the ways in which corporations influence in decisions that are theoretically of national sovereignty (and not corporate ones). It is also clear the forced legitimacy of a mistaken process, through the participation of many countries, even though most of them have only the right to AGREE. If not fulfil their role and DISAGREE, they are ignored as we were.

As a Brazilian and as a person who lost a year of life working seriously on it, I can only feel offended and attacked with this decision.
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http://homembit.com/2008/08/openxml-end-of-story-appeals-rejected.html

Arup · Aug 17, 2008

This is bad news indeed..........well looks like India and Brazil have no say to the big boys.

Bob D · Aug 17, 2008

I fear MS may prevail due to the huge revenues at stake.
There is absolutely NO incentive for MS to willingly develop a standard document format (unless pressured by outside influences).
The dream of the belief that “...shifting to open standards, governments, individuals will benefit from choice, competition, and the ability to seamlessly substitute different vendor implementations.” could soon be lost.

Kudos to Belgium, Brazil, Croatia, Denmark, France, Japan, Malasia, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Poland, South Africa and other nations who have, or are considering adopting the ODF format.

Those so inclined can sign a petition (FWIW) here: http://www.noooxml.org/petition

Pedro · Sep 2, 2008

CONSEGI 2008 Declaration -- Open Letter to ISO Reveals More OOXML Issues

CONSEGI 2008 Declaration -- Open Letter to ISO Reveals More OOXML Issues

There is an unexpected reaction from major government IT agencies in six countries condemning the ISO/IEC refusal to act on the four appeals against OOXML, which they say "reflects poorly" on ISO/IEC. They have signed and sent an open letter to ISO, which I'll show you in full. The countries represented are South Africa, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Cuba. Here's a paragraph to give you a taste:

"Given the organisation's inability to follow its own rules we are no longer confident that ISO/IEC will be capable of transforming itself into the open and vendor-neutral standards setting organisation which is such an urgent requirement. What is now clear is that we will have to, albeit reluctantly, re-evaluate our assessment of ISO/IEC, particularly in its relevance to our various national government interoperability frameworks. Whereas in the past it has been assumed that an ISO/IEC standard should automatically be considered for use within government, clearly this position no longer stands."
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http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20080901220545193

Pedro · Sep 23, 2008

IBM Announces New Policy on Standards

IBM has just announced a new corporate policy regarding its "behavior when helping to create open technical standards".
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http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20080923044114524

IBM threatens to leave standards bodies

Arup · Sep 23, 2008

Good good ol big boy IBM finally speaks and now things might look up.

Pedro · Oct 2, 2008

On another note, but still related:
The Microsoft-Stacked SC 34 Committee Makes a Move

Pedro · Oct 7, 2008

Norwegian standards body implodes over OOXML controversy

Standards Norway, the organization that manages technical standards for the Scandinavian country, took a serious blow last week when key members resigned in protest over procedural irregularities in the approval process for Microsoft's Office Open XML (OOXML) format. The 23-person technical committee has lost 13 of its members.
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http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/pos...rds-body-implodes-over-ooxml-controversy.html

NGRhodes · Oct 7, 2008

What is interesting is the underhand way that some countries had yes votes, proper process was not followed. The vote is supposed to have concenus from ALL commitee members.

"You will have been notified that Norway voted to approve OOXML in this ballot. This decision does not reflect the view of the vast majority of the Norwegian committee, 80% of which was against changing Norway’s vote from No with comments to Yes."

Emphasis mine.
http://blog.abrenna.com/formal-protest-against-norways-yes-to-ooxml/

Also:

http://topicmaps.wordpress.com/2008/04/18/the-norway-vote-what-really-happened/

http://blogs.freecode.no/isene/?p=3

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