No Stopping Microsoft File Standard
This spring, Microsoft's Office Open XML file format was approved as an ISO standard. But not all were pleased. Several countries -- Venezuela, Brazil, India and South Africa -- all objected and filed appeals. Now an
ISO document has emerged that points to those appeals falling on deaf (or at least disinterested) ears.
When it comes to standards, Microsoft is darned if it does, and danged is it doesn't. For years Microsoft has been bashed for not doing enough to support existing standards, and even less to offer its own technologies to standards bodies. So when Microsoft offers its Office file formats, the critics complain that the process was flawed. I'm glad to that ISO appears to be making the right choice here.
What would you want to see done with the file format? Is Microsoft doing a
good job supporting standards? Shoot your ideas to me at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on July 15, 2008