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

[Pamela Jones]

They also know that in Europe in particular governments can choose  ISO 
standards if there is one available. Once ODF became a standard, they 
had to act.  Massachusetts had chosen ODF precisely because it was a 
standard; so they undid that by ECMA, and now both are on the acceptable 
list.

That is a real example of the damage that has resulted, and anyone who 
helped make that happen has to accept the responsibility. MA will now 
undoubtedly be stuck in proprietary junk, and fifty years from now, when 
they want to open a document, they won't be able to or they'll only be 
able to if they pay to figure out the proprietary extensions.

This isn't some theoretical discussion we are having as to what might 
happen. It already is.

M. Fioretti wrote:
> On Sat, Nov 03, 2007 09:21:48 AM -0400, Jody Goldberg (jody at gnome.org)
> wrote:
> 
>> On Thu, Nov 01, 2007 at 10:44:18AM +0100, M. Fioretti wrote:
>>> *BUT* it is the way it is happening, that is inside the
>>> standardization process, that is de-facto helping them to get ISO
>>> labels, that seems wrong and really counterproductive to me.
>> MS was forced to submit their spec for standardisation as the MS
>> Office file format.
> 
> MS submitted the spec for standardisation because they know very well
> that:
> 
> - it is their ONLY way and hope to not accept ODF
> - once they have that label they are free to screw everybody in many
>   other ways
> 
>> It it only by operating through the standardisation process that we
>> get the opportunity to ask questions.
> 
> If we accept to bend over backwards and keep them at the center of the
> universe, you are right, that _is_ the only way. If full compatibility
> with existing MS files is not negotiable, then there is no need at all
> for ODF, and no need at all for OOXML either, really: let's just go on
> with the MS formats as they are today. And all this brouhaha becomes
> absolutely useless and we should ALL (we, the ODF foundation, the
> fellowship, people paid with public or private money to make OOXML an
> ISO standard, everybody) really go find better ways to spend our time;
> save the whales, stop global warming, contact UFOs, you name it.
> 
>>> 3) You (Microsoft) created this mess with existing files, you
>>>    clean it up...
>> A wonderful thought, but we're more likely to meet the easter bunny.
> 
> Probably. Thanks for making easier for ODF to become just as concrete
> as the Easter bunny or for, at least, not focusing to strengthen what
> is certainly the lesser evil, if not THE only solution viable in this
> particular moment. Have you noticed that the recurring theme of every
> critique here is "please stop being so naive to call this a purely
> technical issue"?
> 
> Have a nice weekend,
> 			Marco