[odf-discuss] Microsoft says OOXML and MS-Office are inseparably tied

[Alberto Barrionuevo (FFII)]

A good argument against Microsoft OOXML itself:

----
What got really interesting was when Yusseri raised the issue of OOXML
and why didn't Microsoft just work on ODF in collaboration instead of
creating a new, bloated standard. Bill's answer was quite surprising, as
he clarified that the file format (OOXML) was a part of the software and
that OOXML and the software (MS Office) are quite inseparable. Ergo,
OOXML is an integral and inseparable part of MS Office. That's why they
could not adopt ODF as the file format for subsequent versions of MS
Office.

I don't really know if Bill realises this, but he's just illuminated
that this whole OOXML, ECMA and ISO standards play is not about
standards nor about Microsoft vs IBM but about legitimizing as a
standard a specific technology from a single company developed in
isolation from the general technology and user community worldwide.
----
http://www.openmalaysiablog.com/2007/03/day_1_microsoft.html


//Alberto.

-- 
Alberto Barrionuevo   F.F.I.I.   +34 639708494   abarrio(@)ffii·org  PGP 1024D/46D729BA
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