OOXML approved as an ISO standard [LWN.net]

OOXML approved as an ISO standard

Posted Apr 2, 2008 14:00 UTC (Wed) by purslow (guest, #8716)
Parent article: OOXML approved as an ISO standard

I don't like Microsoft's misbehaviours any more than the rest,
but isn't this really a big step forwards for free software ?

Apart from making a mockery of the ISO fast-track process 
& leaving themselves open to all kinds of appeals,
Microsoft has now tied itself down to an international standard.
Of course, it's badly flawed & based on their own software internals,
but they can now be required by everyone, incl free-software users,
to adhere to the ISO standard & to make sure their own products,
not least Microsoft Office, fully comply with it.
They can also be required to clarify any obscurities
& to ensure that it is actually useable by the rest of us.
Users of free office software will be able to interface
with Microsoft Office without any serious difficulties
or Microsoft will find itself facing action before the WTO & the courts.

Microsoft -- out of desperation -- jumped into the unknown world
of international standards, tried to manipulate it with some success
& finally ended up entangled forever in the big global community
where friendly US courts & legislators have no power
& the USA itself has less & less influence.

Let's hope the developers of Open Office, Koffice & the rest
are fully upto the opportunities which have opened up before them !

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OOXML approved as an ISO standard

Posted Apr 2, 2008 14:17 UTC (Wed) by purslow (guest, #8716) [Link]

Exactly !  Microsoft can now be required under international law
to comply with the ISO standard & to publish all the material needed
to allow others to comply with it.  The company can no longer hide
behind the self-serving US legal system & a compliant US Congress.
Free-software developers & users everywhere -- incl in the USA --
can use the new international standard to force Microsoft into line.

Perhaps this is difficult for those who live in the USA to understand,
but those of us who don't should have no problem seizing the opportunity.

OOXML approved as an ISO standard

Posted Apr 2, 2008 14:42 UTC (Wed) by jamesh (subscriber, #1159) [Link]

It isn't actually illegal not to follow an ISO standard.  If it was, then Microsoft would have
had to implement ODF :)

OOXML approved as an ISO standard

Posted Apr 2, 2008 15:51 UTC (Wed) by dskoll (subscriber, #1630) [Link]

If Microsoft wins a contract because it claims compliance with the OOXML ISO standard, then it
can be punished if it fails to comply with the standard.

So the ISO blessing is a double-edged sword for MSFT.

OOXML approved as an ISO standard

Posted Apr 2, 2008 16:41 UTC (Wed) by nix (subscriber, #2304) [Link]

Yeah, the way it was punished when Windows NT failed to actually conform to the POSIX
standard.

(Er, wait...)

OOXML approved as an ISO standard

Posted Apr 2, 2008 17:55 UTC (Wed) by dskoll (subscriber, #1630) [Link]

Mmmm... point taken.

Microsoft is probably under a bit more scrutiny nowadays.  But still, ISO's credibility is
completely shot now.

OOXML approved as an ISO standard

Posted Apr 2, 2008 19:22 UTC (Wed) by nix (subscriber, #2304) [Link]

In the computing field, sure. But except for a few language specs ISO has 
never really been especially important there, has it? The field prefers 
other methods (such as de facto standards, from icky Office up to, say, 
major scripting languages, many of which have only one implementation but 
are widely used nonetheless).

OOXML approved as an ISO standard

Posted Apr 2, 2008 14:32 UTC (Wed) by kh (subscriber, #19413) [Link]

Here is one example, or maybe you thinking more along the lines of Kerberos?

And that does not even get into patent issues.

Quoting: "17. Not content with Microsoft's corruption of the Kerberos standard, Microsoft has filed for a patent on its proprietary version. Consequently, not only will Microsoft products fail to interoperate with non-Microsoft products (because of the modification), but Microsoft will not allow anyone else to use its version unless they purchase a license from Microsoft."

I think you can try to license Microsoft's Kerberos patents from this page.

I don't think there is any silver lining in this cloud.

reality check

Posted Apr 2, 2008 14:56 UTC (Wed) by jabby (subscriber, #2648) [Link]

I find this view to be rather naive.

Microsoft has no problem navigating the world of international standards and patents.  It has
an army of lawyers and it knows exactly what it's doing.

Moreover, contrary to your worldview, the U.S. routinely ignores WTO rulings and strong-arms
international bodies (like the U.N.) and the trend for this behavior is on the *increase*.

Microsoft only gains credibility and wider adoption by having OOXML as an ISO standard.  It
sacrifices very little (some bureaucratic effort and the publication of some portion of its
file formats) and retains all of its other powers and benefits as an international corporate
behemoth (patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, proprietary binary blobs, DRM,
etc.).  

I'm afraid we see the situation quite differently.

Is this a joke?

Posted Apr 2, 2008 16:19 UTC (Wed) by khim (subscriber, #9252) [Link]

Microsoft -- out of desperation -- jumped into the unknown world of international standards, tried to manipulate it with some success & finally ended up entangled forever in the big global community where friendly US courts & legislators have no power & the USA itself has less & less influence.

Microsoft knows exactly what it does. And it's not new to "the unknown world of international standards". Take a look on this international standard. Note date. Rivals had proprietary API, Microsoft had an "open" API. Then later when the treat passed Microsoft happily abandoned all pretence. This time stakes were higher since ODF got ISO approval but the idea is the same: make your offer "standard" then quickly make it irrelevant (beta of MS Office 14 is almost ready).

Sorry, but this is not the first time Microsoft perverted and abused standards process. Not even close. That's just first time Microsoft perverted and abused ISO.