ISO Releases OOXML FAQ

I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes "The ISO has put out a FAQ concerning OOXML, but it may raise more questions than it answers. For one, it promises to address problems if they arise in the future. PJ of Groklaw said that's akin to 'selling you a car with four different sizes of tires and assuring that that if you see it's a problem, you can always bring it in for maintenance.' It also handwaves the OSP discriminatory patent promise issues, when asked about contradictions states that some 'may still remain', and asserts that duplicate standards are 'something that need[s] to be decided by the market place.' Notably, the FAQ does not answer the question, 'what the hell were you thinking?'"

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[thermian]

Microsoft wanted an ISO standard so they could still sell to governments who now require open standards (and the many who will do so in the future).

They used money and pressure on companies to get them to vote, and tied up the obviously inadequate procedures of ISO organisation until it agreed to do what they wanted.

So, they win, we lose, this decision will never be reversed, because to do so would destroy ISO's credibility in the wider world (not just this one issue, which many ISO using organisations still likely don't know about).

Now, ISO are trying to save face. This will work, because too many people have a vested interest in ISO not being discredited for it to fail. If failure is announced by the techie press, they will simply ignore it and carry on.