Unix Group Takes UK Standards Body To Court Over OOXML

superglaze writes "Halfway through the two-month window of opportunity during which OOXML's ISO standardization can be derailed by a formal objection from a national standards body, the UK Unix Users Group is trying to force the British Standards Institution to do just that. According to the Unix Users Group, the BSI used a flawed decision-making process when they chose to approve OOXML in the ISO vote. 'The UKUUG is also folding in many other complaints about Office Open XML (OOXML), such as unresolved patent issues and a lack of completion in the specification's documentation, and is calling for the High Court of Justice to force a judicial review of the BSI's decision.' This is not the first time a country's ISO vote has been challenged."

Comments

Re:I am lost?

[mrchaotica]

what has Microsoft done wrong with this?

Very likely bribed various national delegations so that they'd approve OOXML. In fact, quite a few third-world countries joined the standards process specifically to vote for OOXML, and then do nothing else. Bribery is the only plausible explanation, because approving OOXML otherwise goes strongly against their own self interest (because OOXML is unimplementable by anyone other than (and perhaps even including) Microsoft, and therefore they would be tying themselves to a "standard" controlled by a foreign corporation with no free implementation.

What has the ISO body done wrong?

ISO let the bribery and committee-stuffing happen, fast-tracked the process when there was no good reason to do it and many good reasons not to, completely ignored its own processes and procedures during the approval process, gave woefully too little time for comments and debate, ratified the standard despite voting irregularities in several countries, and ignored the public when they pointed all this shit out!

Any other silly questions?

Re:Anyone else

[edalytical]

Because those of us that have and are sent Word documents in email give a shit.

Because those of us that go to school and are told to type our papers in Word and to turn in .doc files give a shit.

Because those of us who take online classes and have to download Word documents give a shit.

Because those of us that work in governments and want to be able to exchange information with other agencies give a shit.

Because libraries that believe in open and easily accessible information give a shit.

Because those of us that don't want to use MS Word give a shit.

Because those of us that can't afford MS Word give a shit.

Because makers of other office suites give a shit.

Because those of use that use FOSS give a shit.

Because historians don't want to rely on a MS rosetta stone give a shit.

Because I give a shit.