[odf-discuss] Gnome Foundation and ECMA

[Pamela Jones]

Jeff,

I understand your position I think.  And it is my desire to be fair. But 
I'm having trouble with a piece of it. What am I missing?

You seem to be saying that you supported and support Jody's 
participation in ECMA,  but Jody is responsible for his own words and 
activities.

  If you as the foundation support his participation, then why isn't the 
Gnome Foundation seeking to control at least how its name is being used? 
  Why aren't there guidelines that he is expected to honor, in return 
for the support?  That would seem rather basic, and it might have 
prevented this issue from ever arising.  If he is free to do and say 
whatever he pleases, then why is Gnome's name on the list instead of 
his? And if your name is on the list, can you really have it both ways?


PJ

Jeff Waugh wrote:
> <quote who="Russell Ossendryver">
> 
>> Although Jeff Waugh states "The GNOME Foundation does not support ISO
>> standardisation of OOXML" they are sponsoring the development of OOXML.
> 
> The GNOME Foundation is not "sponsoring" the development of OOXML. We are
> supporting Jody's participation in the ECMA working group, to ensure that
> OOXML (as defined in that working group) is sufficiently documented that we
> are able to create a Free Software implementation with significantly less
> pain than implementing their binary formats.
> 
>> Jody confirms there should be 2 standards
> 
> The GNOME Foundation does not seek to control the opinions of our members.
> 
>> and him being at TC45 resolving comments for ECMA for the main ISO ooxml
>> vote in February, improving on OOXML for interoperability and Gnome
>> implementing OOXML as much as possible as quickly as possible gives MS a
>> huge weapon as an argument at the ISO for standardization and all this
>> sponsored by Gnome.. Why would that not piss off everyone working on ODF
>> adoption?
> 
> None of Jody's development work is sponsored by the GNOME Foundation. He is
> an independent, volunteer developer, like most other participants in the
> GNOME project. The Foundation does not seek to control the development goals
> of our members.
> 
>> If OOXML becomes and ISO it will  slow down ODF adoption and hence slow
>> down the Free Desktop also. That is obvious, so why are they helping?
> 
> The GNOME Foundation is not supporting or helping ISO standardisation of
> OOXML.
> 
>> If Gnome sent a representative with the Philosophy of only "one standard"
>> it would not be as bad, but still questionable.
> 
> Again, we do not seek to control the opinions of our members. Jody is there
> to ensure we get the most documentation out of the ECMA process as we can.
> That bears no relation to "sponsorship of OOXML development" or "support for
> OOXML as an ISO standard".
> 
> I'll point out again, Russell, that you are making strong statements and
> assumptions without asking questions of the people involved.
> 
> - Jeff
>