[odf-discuss] Novell forks OOo

[marbux]

On 10/3/07, Ian Lynch <ian.lynch at zmsl.com> wrote:
>
> An OpenOffice Foundation has been needed for a long time. Forks will
> only work if the forkers have the resources to maintain and improve the
> code at least to the standard that Sun and the OOo community does
> currently. Sure IBM has the resources but is there the will? Who knows.


I think you ask precisely the right question. There hasn't been the will in
the past but IBM is making some moves now in regard to OOo that are out of
character with past behavior. From my perspective, IBM got boxed in by the
Novell and Sun deals with Microsoft and was forced to either speak with a
louder voice on OOo and ODF or give up its strategy to stop the hemmorhaging
of Notes using ODF and the OOo code base. Interesting times.


I can't really see Novell putting the required resources in by
> themselves but I could be wrong.


I don't think that will happen. Novell isn't nearly committed to OOo as it
is to a number of other major projects. They only have about 15 developers
working on OOo.


Really, a Foundation funded by Sun,
> IBM, Novell, and Google supporting a reference standard for ODF would
> make more sense.


I think IBM and Google are possibilities, although Google hasn't been all
that involved with ODF in the past. But Sun and Novell are pretty much
joined at the hip with Microsoft right now when it comes to OOo and
StarOffice. I think the Novell statement a few days ago that ODF would not
win the battle with Microsoft's formats kind of said it all.

And Novel and Sun's support under development for DIS 29500 is simply beyond
my ken. Even Microsoft is reportedly advising developers not to develop for
it yet.

"Well, its too early for other vendors to commit to this file format. After
the BRM (Ballot Resolution Meeting - in February 2008) there may be changes
to it, so it is risky, and may not make commercial sense to implement
OpenXML as it is at the moment."

<http://www.openmalaysiablog.com/2007/09/microsoft-tech-.html>



BUCK "MARBUX" MARTIN
  Director of Legal Affairs
  OpenDocument Foundation
  Contact:
<http://www.opendocumentfoundation.us/contact.htm>
-- Universal Interop Now!
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