[odf-discuss] Gnome, Ecma, and what governments (and FOSS?) should have done

[Alex Brown]

Pamela Jones <pj at groklaw.net> wrote:

[of the OOXML BRM]

> But who chooses the questions?

The meeting addresses (and attempts to resolve) the NB comments made in the
letter ballot which ended 2 September. These comments effectively set/limit
the meeting agenda. It is ultimately up to me (as convenor) to arrange the
comment review in such a way as to maximise the chances of the meeting
producing an improved quality text.

> Who decides if a question is technical 
> or not?

The meeting can *only* emit instructions to the Project Editor for textual
revision; deliberations which cannot result in such instructions are out of
order.
 
> Is, for example, interoperability a technical issue that will be 
> addressed in February?

Insofar as it is a consequence of the ballot comments which meet the above
criteria, yes. 

So, several countries have submitted many comments of the type "to improve
interoperability with ODF, the text must be changed in such-and-such a way".
Ecma will respond to these proposals, and the NBs at the meeting will decide
either to adopt Ecma's responses, or (if they differ) to adopt the original
proposals, or (though there is limited time for this) to find a third way.

- Alex.