[odf-discuss] [Fwd: OOXML Approval Vote Fails in INCITS]

[Daniel Carrera]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: OOXML Approval Vote Fails in INCITS
Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:40:02 -0400
From: andrew.updegrove at gesmer.com
To: andrew.updegrove at gesmer.com

As I reported on July 23, INCITS, the US balloting body on the OOXML vote,
put out a ballot to see whether the US should vote to approve OOXML, with
the ballot to close on August 9 (see this blog entry:
http://www.consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/article.php?story=20070723044713169
  and my contemporaneous email alert to this list).

That ballot has now closed on schedule, and that vote has failed, with 8 in
favor, 7 opposed, and one abstaining.  As noted in my prior post, a
schedule had been pre-agreed upon that could accommodate a further vote of
"no with comments."  I have no information at this time whether such a
ballot has been issued or not.

Here are the votes:

Yes votes:  Apple, Department of Homeland Security, the Electronic
Industries Alliance, EMC, Hewlett Packard, Intel, Microsoft and Sony
Electronics.
No votes:  Farance, Incorporated, GS1 US, IBM, Lexmark International, NIST,
Oracle, and the Department of Defense.
Abstention:  IEEE

The overall vote is not, to me, a surprise.  Leaving all politics or
opinions aside on whether OOXML should become an ISO/IEC standard when ODF
already exists, I do not believe that OOXML is in good enough shape to
recommend a yes vote, with or without comments.

For further information and analysis, as well as a link to the INCITS site
with votes and comments, see this blog entry:
http://www.consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/article.php?story=20070810112044631

As always, please let me know if you would like to be removed from this
list.

Andrew Updegrove
Gesmer Updegrove LLP
40 Broad Street
Boston, MA  02109
v:  617/350-6800
f:  617/350-6878
http://www.gesmer.com
http://www.consortiuminfo.org
http://www.opensourcelegal.org



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