NZ, Sweden, Hungary Reflect OOXML Turmoil

A number of readers are sending news of the progress of Microsoft's attempt to get OOXML standardized by ISO. First off, New Zealand has voted "no" on the question. In Sweden, after the uproar following the "yes" vote there, a Microsoft representative has admitted buying Swedish OOXML votes (link in Swedish — follow the Read More... link below for some translated quotes). Computerworld has also picked up the Sweden story. Finally, from Hungary, reader ens0niq writes that the Minister of Economy and Transport has sent a letter to the General Director of the Hungarian Standards Institution requiring that the June 25 "yes" vote be re-done because of irregularities. Our correspondent notes, however, that many Microsoft partners have joined the voting committee in the meanwhile, so the result could be a replay of Sweden's experience.
Here are some quotes from the Swedish article translated by our anonymous correspondent.

-We have been informing our business partners about the process at SIS. What is going on, what the time plan is and that Microsoft thinks it is good if OOXML becomes a standard.

-In a letter from Microsoft, our business partners were informed that they were "expected" to participate in the SIS meeting and vote yes. As a compensation they would get "market benefits" and extra support in terms of Microsoft resources.

-This was a mistake and the letter was sent by a single employee on his own initiative without sanctions from Microsoft. He also quickly realised his mistake and tried to recall the letter.

-I can understand the critique about coup-like voting. But I claim the voters knew the issue well and had their own interest in OOXML becoming an ISO standard.

(Interviewer) -Has this harmed Microsoft?

-Time will tell. But almost all customers we have been talking to thinks it would be good if OOXML became an ISO standard.

Comments

For "benefits", read "cash"

[Eivind Eklund]

The Slashdot translation says:

In a letter from Microsoft, our business partners were informed that they were "expected" to participate in the SIS meeting and vote yes. As a compensation they would get "market benefits" and extra support in terms of Microsoft resources. What is translated as "market benefits" is originally "marknadsbidrag" - which, assuming Swedish is the same as my native tongue Norwegian in this area - means marketing subsidies, which would as far as I know usually be in the form of Microsoft paying for their partner's advertising. This is more or less direct cash for the companies, and can be substantial amounts.

Eivind.

JUST IN: Sweden will abstain

[Christian Engstrom]

The Swedish standards body SIS just issued a press release (pdf in Swedish) where they say that the vote has been declared invalid by the board of SIS, and that Sweden will abstain in the international vote (unless they manage to organize a new national vote before September 2, which the consider unlikely).

According to the press release, the reason for the decision was a technicality (that information suggested that one of the members had voted twice).

- Well, be that as it may, say I, but perhaps the uproar against the decision both in Sweden and internationally had something to do with. In any case, it sounds like a very fortunate technicality. ;)