[odf-discuss] Ecma Approves Office Open XML

[marbux]

On 12/8/06, Russell Ossendryver <worldlabel at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Carlos
>
> >ECMA can send OpenXML for 'fast-track' consideration. Not
> sure what this means...
>
> This answers some questions:
> http://www.consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/article.php?story=20061207053332191
>

Andy does good work. The question left dangling by his Q&A, I think,
is: Why is Microsoft bothering to submit EOOXML to ISO if it is
already an international standard? The answer is that not all
international standards are created equal. Ecma International
standards, like OASIS standards, do not qualify as "international
standards" within the meaning of the Agreement on Technical Barriers
to Trade and the Agreement on Government Procurement. The only
qualifying international standards are those adopted by
standardization organizations that have authorized representatives of
national governments as their only voting members. ISO/IEC is one such
organization.

The difference is significant because both of those treaties mandate
government use of international standards by all signatory nations.
That means, for example, that governments at all levels cannot
lawfully specify EOOXML as a software procurement standard if ODF can
do the job. So at this time, government procurement of Microsoft
Office is largely prohibited and will continue to be illegal until
such time as EOOXML is approved as a national standard. It also means
that government-operated schools can probably neither lawfully
distribute student assignments in Microsoft Office formats nor require
that student homework be submitted in Microsoft Office file formats
absent compelling reasons that ODF is infeasible. Such reasons are
limited to very serious exceptional circumstances. The fact that many
ODF-supporting applications are freely available at no cost also cuts
heavily against against Microsoft Office in many circumstances. There
are many other similar repercussions.

If ISO does not approve EOOXML as a standard, Microsoft will
undoubtedly suddenly discover that Microsoft Office can provide native
support for ODF after all. :-)