[odf-discuss] Ecma Approves Office Open XML

[marbux]

On 12/9/06, Alex Hudson <alex at stratagia.co.uk> wrote:
> As for valuability of ISO status - my Government already requires the
> Microsoft formats as part of the Government Interoperability Framework,
> and that's without XML or ISO approval. ISO status is a convenient hook
> to hang a decision; I'm not particularly convinced it's much more than that.

Then your government is vulnerable to legal challenge. Both of the
treaties previously discussed prohibit governments from adopting
national standards that are inconsistent with international standards
absent compelling circumstances. It is perhaps notable in that regard
that the Agreement on Government Procurement  requires that signatory
governments provide a judicial remedy for vendors aggrieved by a
government's noncompliance with the treaty. So, for example, the fact
that IBM has not yet filed suit against the UK government does not
mean that it never will.

Best regards,

Marbux