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ISO Calls For OOXML Ceasefire

In response to the continued attacks on Microsoft's OOXML standard, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has called for a ceasefire. "Last week the ISO committee in charge of document standards, SC 34, met in Oslo to discuss the way forward for OOXML and ODF. The plenary session was marked by protests outside, largely carried out by delegates from a nearby open-source conference. The protesters were calling for OOXML to be withdrawn from ISO standardization -- something that could theoretically happen if a national standards body were to protest against its own vote within the next month or two."

10 of 312 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Slashdot calls for ISO cessation of stupidity by Maxo-Texas · · Score: 4, Funny

    Withdrawing OOOXML is not the only option... In theory, OOOXML could be turned into a reasonable standard so that is the other option. In theory.

    --
    She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
  2. Location, Location, Location by techpawn · · Score: 2, Funny

    The plenary session was marked by protests outside, largely carried out by delegates from a nearby open-source conference.
    Timing + location = success in anything right?
    --
    Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what your country did to you
  3. Re:Guerrilla warfare by Foobar+of+Borg · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why is there a call for a cease-fire, anyway? Are Microsoft employees strapping dynamite on themselves and blowing up people at ISO meetings? I can just see a MS code monkey shouting "Ballmer is Great!" before blowing himself and twenty others to smithereens.

  4. Re:Guerrilla warfare by S.O.B. · · Score: 4, Funny

    Are Microsoft employees strapping dynamite on themselves and blowing up people at ISO meetings? I can just see a MS code monkey shouting "Ballmer is Great!" before blowing himself and twenty others to smithereens.


    Fortunately they are able to apprehend them before the bombs go off because of the popup on their Windows Vista powered detonators, "Blow yourself up in a useless display of Microsoft loyalty, allow or deny?"
    --
    Some of what I say is fact, some is conjecture, the rest I'm just blowing out my ass...you guess.
  5. Re:Cart before the Horse by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Valued Microsoft Customers,

    We'd like to introduce you to our newest business partner, Softmicro!

    Softmicro creates and distributes the Softmicro Office software suite; very similar in many respects to the Microsoft Office software suite.

    Having partnered with Microsoft, and after a long period of testing these two completely independent Office suites, we have determined that they are 100% cross-compatible.

    Microsoft and Softmicro have also reached an agreement to support each other in both marketing efforts and customer support. In fact, we hope that you find Micrsoft and Softmicro to be indistinguishable from one another.

    Thank you,

    Bill Gates

  6. Re:Slashdot calls for ISO cessation of stupidity by Maxo-Texas · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oh come on... by the time OOOXML is a usable standard, all the patents will have expired.

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    She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
  7. Re:Slashdot calls for ISO cessation of stupidity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Stop whining! I will if you pay me the $699 "cessation of complaints" fee, you cocksmoking teabagger.
  8. Re:Slashdot calls for ISO cessation of stupidity by cp.tar · · Score: 4, Funny

    In theory, OOOXML could be turned into a reasonable standard so that is the other option. In theory.
    In theory, evolutionary pressures could drive pigs to develop wings. In theory.

    Please, don't go there.
    People nowadays get fat from vast amounts of chicken wings. Can you even begin to fathom how fat people would get from pig wings?

    Some things were not meant to be. Or even meant to be thought of.
    Now if you would excuse me, I have to go and blind my mind's eye.

    --
    Ignore this signature. By order.
  9. Re:Slashdot calls for ISO cessation of stupidity by mysticgoat · · Score: 4, Funny

    The job of the ISO is not to approve the one -and-only-one standard for a given task. Its job is to be a repository of standards that can be followed by all those whose wish to comply with said standard.

    Well said!

    There is no reason at all why we shouldn't have 5 different standards for 10mm fine thread nuts and bolts. The more the better!

  10. do you think... by toby · · Score: 2, Funny

    You could cram any more genitalia references into your post?

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    you had me at #!