It was always predictable but Microsoft has managed to corrupt the International Standards Organisation (ISO) and its processes to the extent that the convicted monopolist’s clumsy and far-from-open document standard (PDF 235kB), OOXML, has been approved as an ISO standard. To say the process has been fraught with irregularity and downright dirty tricks would be an understatement but if you want to read the whole sorry tale, Groklaw has a fairly comprehensive account.
{Health warning: it’s long and thoroughly depressing if you care about open standards.}
I only wish I could say it was an April Fool’s joke.
Nick Peters said
For some perspective …
http://www.ebizq.net/blogs/open_source/2008/03/isos_ooxml_voting_theres_a_mon.php
brian said
Useful. Thanks for the link.
b