[odf-discuss] Gnome Foundation and ECMA

[Alberto Barrionuevo]

On Wednesday 31 October 2007 15:10:51 Jeff Waugh wrote:
> <quote who="Alberto Barrionuevo">
>
> > Joining to ECMA *NOW* that the ECMA specification is frozen since March
> > as DIS 29500 is not getting more interoperability information out of
> > Microsoft
>
> The GNOME Foundation helped Jody continue his participation in ECMA once he
> left Novell in June this year. As it happens, Jody hasn't attended meetings
> since around that time.

So if I understand correctly, GNOME Foundation has not get any additional 
information from Microsoft sicne it joined in July. I remark that actually 
this was the the only purpose you said that justifies being supporting ECMA 
committee *NOW*.

But on the contrary Microsoft is getting the label of GNOME for its purpose of 
to justify at ISO standardization committees that the free software is 
backing OOXML (Gnumeric and Novell fork of OOo) and that OOXML is open 
because in the development of its specification at ECMA officially 
participated GNOME (no matter if it had no voting rights and can only "cry" 
asking for more-info-please).

Sorry, but I don't see any win-win deal here (indeed I would say that I see a 
lose-win deal...)

I just see that with that decision from GNOME Microsoft is receiving one more 
balloon of oxigen to get out its ISO 29500 at the ISO/IEC BRM in February 
[disclaimer: I've been involved in the DIS 29500 of several national 
standardization committees and know perfectly what arguments has Microsoft 
used].

> > Of course this action is against the already blessed real open format
> > that would help the adoption of the free desktop: ODF (ISO 26300).
>
> No, this is not a black and white issue.

If you have two conflicting alternatives in the market (ODF and OOXML) is or 
not true that what benefits to one damages to the other?

It's the same as if any entity decides finally to equipe its desktops with 
Windows instead of Gnome (for the example, both are the only two 
possibilities in question). Is Gnome damaged or not by that decision?

> > Please, just for clarification, could you explain me which you see that
> > could be the profit for Gnome of OOXML getting its ISO?
>
> The GNOME Foundation is not pursuing or assisting with ISO standardisation
> of OOXML. I have already made this clear in other posts on this list.

Jeff, sorry, this was not my question. I asked if you see any possible profit 
for Gnome if ISO gets out ISO 29500. Not if Gnome is "pursuing or assisting 
with ISO standardization of OOXML"...

Thanks for your answers,
-- 
Alberto Barrionuevo
Vice President FFII
www.ffii.org