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The point of ISO standardization of Office file formats...

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Most of the debate around ISO standardization of Open Office XML file formats -- the native file format of Office 2007 -- is terribly acrimonious and FUD-filled.  For a different and interesting take on the debate, see here.  Why interesting?  The blog makes argues that the point of of ISO standardization is to actually take control of OXML away from Microsoft and place it in the public domain -- something important to society given how many people use Office. 

Rob seems to be under the impression that ISO-approval is some kind of quality badge of honor that you can proudly carry around. First of all, I think we can all agree that ODF itself is a clear example that ISO-approval not necessarily implies quality, interoperability and clearness. Secondly, how the specification was made is not the first priority when talking ISO-approval. The first priority should be:

We need to take control of OOXML out of the hands of Microsoft and back into society as a whole

This was imho the focal point of Patrick Durusau's support of DIS 29500 approval . Amongst other things he said that

Patrick Durusau: The cost of rejection is that ordinary users, governments, smaller interests, all lose a seat at the table where the next version of the Office standard is being written (bold emphasis from original post).

Technorati Tags: OXML,Office,ISO

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