[odf-discuss] Ecma Approves Office Open XML

[Alex Hudson]

Daniel Carrera wrote:
> On Sat, 2006-09-12 at 17:42 +0000, Alex Hudson wrote:
>   
>> I think it's presumed that there has to be a specific need for a
>> different standard.
>>     
>
> Does this mean that Microsoft will have to demonstrate that MSO
> documents cannot be represented using ODF? That might be difficult
> considering that ODF can be extended.
>   

Well, the extension of ODF wouldn't come into it - you can make that
argument about a lot of standards. ODF + extensions isn't a standard
anything.

>> For example, there are a ton of different standards
>> for power connectors: not because different people like their own
>> connectors, but because you really do need a different tool in different
>> circumstances.
>>     
>
> That reminds me of how the UK, Germany and Canada all have different
> power sockets on the walls :)

Right, but I was actually talking about the IEC standards, not the
various national standards :)

>> The interesting wrinkle with OpenXML is that Ecma TC45 doesn't assume
>> maintainership of OpenXML unless it's adopted by ISO.
>>     
>
> Oh... that _is_ interesting. So it's ISO or nothing.
>   

Well, that's how I read the TC45 charter. I'm not sure what's worse: an
ISO OpenXML standard under the control of the Ecma TC, or a non-ISO
OpenXML controlled by Microsoft.

-- 
Alex Hudson
IT Director, Stratagia Ltd.
P: 0845 226 17 13     W: http://www.stratagia.co.uk/
F: 0845 226 17 14     E: alex (at) stratagia.co.uk