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OOXML approved as an ISO standard

OOXML approved as an ISO standard

Posted Apr 2, 2008 14:42 UTC (Wed) by jamesh (subscriber, #1159)
In reply to: OOXML approved as an ISO standard by purslow
Parent article: OOXML approved as an ISO standard

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


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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).

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