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Microsoft Votes to Add ODF to ANSI Standards List

Posted by Zonk on from the curiouser-and-curiouser dept.

RzUpAnmsCwrds writes "In a puzzling move, Microsoft today voted to support the addition of the OpenDocument file formats to the American National Standards List. OpenDocument is used by many free-software office suites, including OpenOffice.org. Microsoft is still pushing its own Office Open XML format, which it hopes will also become an ANSI standard. Is Microsoft serious about supporting ODF, or is this a merely a PR stunt to make Office Open XML look more like a legitimate standard?"

6 of 231 comments (clear)

  1. My Name Is Bill by gbulmash · · Score: 5, Funny

    In an epiphany, Bill Gates realized that the lackluster sales of Vista were due to all the bad things he's done in his life. So now he's got a list of them on a sheet of yellow paper and he's going around making up for them. Having Microsoft back ODF is helping him make up for #38 on his list: "Screwed over consumers with proprietary formats."

    Come on, couldn't you see Ballmer playing Randy? :-)

    --Greg

    --
    Start a happiness pandemic
  2. If Bill gave *me* all his money ... by Bearpaw · · Score: 2, Funny

    Therefore, nothing they do is to be taken as positive - even if Bill gave me all his money, I'd be suspicious.
    If Bill gave me all his money, I'd write him a nice thank-you note. Hell, I might even invite him to my next party.
  3. Re:Why would it be puzzling? by MrNaz · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hello? This is 1991 calling, I have answers to your questions:
    Fortran
    NCSA HTTPd
    UNIX System V
    What's that? Lin-who? Sorry I can't year you over this analog telephone line.

    --
    I hate printers.
  4. Mysterious flying chair homicide in Seattle by cyberianpan · · Score: 3, Funny

    And in possibly related news Police in Seattle are reporting that Tom Robertson, general manager for Interoperability and Standards at Microsoft, was hit by a flying chair whilst out walking his dog. Police don't yet have any firm leads but are seeking to question a bald, red-faced caucasian man who was seen fleeing the scene.

  5. WTF? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    We are talking about the same Microsoft here aren't we?

  6. New Patent Revealed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    And earlier today Microsoft released their list of patents, including one claiming ownership of all ANSI standards...Steve Ballmer was quoted as saying, "we'll adopt ODF and extend and embrace it by issuing OOXML as the new universal format for documents". When asked if this maneuver was undertaken to undermine open source, Ballmer replied by throwing a chair and grunting before storming off stage.