OOXML Documentation: ISO Concerned
The International Standards Organization (ISO) is up in arms over the fact that documentation for Microsoft's OOXML data format is now publicly available on the Internet. Meanwhile, ISO members are nervously watching IBM's behavior in the standardization process.
Activists in the Boycott Novell forum have exposed the more than 5,500 page document in PDF, HTML, Microsoft spreadsheet, and various other formats on their website. Even though OOXML was certified as an ISO standard under turbulent and unsteady circumstances, ISO has been keeping the comprehensive documentation under wraps. The Boycott Novell activists describe the documentation exposure as a reaction to the "systematic abuse and the demise of ISO." Alex Brown, who was partly responsible for the OOXML process at ISO, describes the exposure in his weblog as a "brazen act of copyright violation."
Brown goes on to say that "the boobies have even been so good as to boast about the bandwidth requirements their crimes have occasioned" and ends with the words, "Even now, I can hear those Geneva lawyers licking their lips over this one..." Boycott Novell webmaster Roy Schestovitz is not fazed by the possible legalities. He adds, "Feel free to pass around (or even ridicule) those ~60 megabytes of lock-in, which Microsoft won't let you see." He is not alone in this opinion: the numerous ongoing updates are tagged with the authors’ names.
The website contributors also point to IBM's recent "provocative call" for ISO "to do better," with IBM challenging their participation in the process (reported here). Brown, in another blog, considers IBM's call a threat and questions whether they purposely pulled their staff from the SC 34 committee meetings on Jeju Island in Korea. Quote: the "IBM people are certainly conspicuous here by their total absence." In response, IBM's Bob Weir indicates in his own blog that that their attendance record shouldn't be a surprise in that it was always based on availability due to meeting location. Rather as proof of their growing commitment he adds, "to put it in perspective, the US SC 34 shadow committee currently has around 20 members. Before Microsoft stuffed it we had around 7."
During the meeting in Korea the ISO committee also declared further support for the ODF format. The Groklaw legal forum, which also documented the ISO proceedings, considers the SC 34 committee decision "a takeover attempt of ODF." Rob Weir considers IBM's collaboration in OASIS, the initiative behind ODF, as substantial. He writes, "Despite Microsoft's successful attempt to stuff SC34, as they did NB's around the world, participation from IBM remains in the range of 0 to 2 participants. I'd be hard pressed to justify the expense of any greater attendance. The real work on ODF goes on in OASIS. That's where we put our people...."
The unrest surrounding the OOXML certification by the standards body in Switzerlandhas still not reached an end. IBM's reaction to the standards comes just days after some national delegates declared establishing their own standards. The Norwegian delegationpulled more than half its members, and the EU Commission's investigation into Microsoft's comportment is still inconclusive.
Comments
comments powered by DisqusSubscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Fedora KDE Approved as an Official Spin
If you prefer the Plasma desktop environment and the Fedora distribution, you're in luck because there's now an official spin that is listed on the same level as the Fedora Workstation edition.
-
New Steam Client Ups the Ante for Linux
The latest release from Steam has some pretty cool tricks up its sleeve.
-
Gnome OS Transitioning Toward a General-Purpose Distro
If you're looking for the perfectly vanilla take on the Gnome desktop, Gnome OS might be for you.
-
Fedora 41 Released with New Features
If you're a Fedora fan or just looking for a Linux distribution to help you migrate from Windows, Fedora 41 might be just the ticket.
-
AlmaLinux OS Kitten 10 Gives Power Users a Sneak Preview
If you're looking to kick the tires of AlmaLinux's upstream version, the developers have a purrfect solution.
-
Gnome 47.1 Released with a Few Fixes
The latest release of the Gnome desktop is all about fixing a few nagging issues and not about bringing new features into the mix.
-
System76 Unveils an Ampere-Powered Thelio Desktop
If you're looking for a new desktop system for developing autonomous driving and software-defined vehicle solutions. System76 has you covered.
-
VirtualBox 7.1.4 Includes Initial Support for Linux kernel 6.12
The latest version of VirtualBox has arrived and it not only adds initial support for kernel 6.12 but another feature that will make using the virtual machine tool much easier.
-
New Slimbook EVO with Raw AMD Ryzen Power
If you're looking for serious power in a 14" ultrabook that is powered by Linux, Slimbook has just the thing for you.
-
The Gnome Foundation Struggling to Stay Afloat
The foundation behind the Gnome desktop environment is having to go through some serious belt-tightening due to continued financial problems.
Th supposed MSOOXML standard
Well talk about not so open open ISO standard.
I do not know about you but the ISO group needs to transparent as clear glass, and everything that happens behind closed dorrs needs to be known to the public. Really I think that ISO needs to be radically changed to a more credible open viewing and voting standard. Voted on by the public and by businesses. That there then will be truly open to everyone and everything for the betterment of the people and businesses.
it is sad
might as well leak toilet tissue. that's all it is good for anyway.
ISO should be sued for fraud with respect to OOXML
I also wonder if breaching of ISO's rules about publishing OOXML is a move by ISO Microsoft stooges to block other vendors getting information that may allow then to make a start at implementing OOXML and thereby give Microsoft an additional head start on top of the head start that OOXML's undocumented behaviours (known only to Microsoft) and patent lock-ins to allow Microsoft monopoly control (which ISO is not supposed to allow). Another anti-trust violation by both Microsoft and ISO (ISO itself is a standards monopoly and must therefore come under anti-trust regulation) for the EU to investigate.
ooxml
I may be stupid, but is this insane!!!
ooxml... pah!!
odf wins hands down.
Links not allowed?
It's an All-Out War