Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Brazil Appeals OOXML Decision

Posted by timothy on from the this-space-reserved-for-obscure-xml dept.

I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes "Brazil is now appealing the ISO's decision to standardize OOXML, following South Africa's lead. Interestingly, part of the reason this took so long was that Microsoft supporters at the meetings kept asking for delays because they 'weren't prepared' to discuss the issues raised. And the ISO as a whole is moving rather slowly, after that delay in releasing the DIS. But at least the ISO is also rewriting the directives in a special working group so this doesn't happen again. Of course, they'd have to be strict about making sure the directives are followed for it to help."

6 of 129 comments (clear)

  1. It won't matter. by khasim · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't care how ISO re-writes whatever.

    The problem was NOT that they didn't have the rules in place.

    The problem was that the rules were NOT followed. And ISO was unable (unwilling) to rectify the "errors" once they had been committed. And ISO is still unwilling to identify the individuals within its organization who committed the "errors" and take any action.

    1. Re:It won't matter. by Chandon+Seldon · · Score: 5, Insightful

      That's one way of looking at it.

      The other way of looking at it are that the ISO is naturally really, really slow and these appeals are the appropriate first step in showing that there was a problem.

      --
      -- The act of censorship is always worse than whatever is being censored. Always.
    2. Re:It won't matter. by NMerriam · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The other way of looking at it are that the ISO is naturally really, really slow and these appeals are the appropriate first step in showing that there was a problem.


      The purpose of being a slow, deliberative body is to prevent major errors from being made in the first place.

      Making errors quickly and then fixing them slowly is the worst possible combination of attributes for a governing body to have.
      --
      Recursive: Adj. See Recursive.
    3. Re:It won't matter. by UnknowingFool · · Score: 5, Insightful

      South Africa's appeal says something to the effect that OOXML should have never been fast tracked much less approved. Fast Tracking is intended for mature standards that just need to be quickly rubber-stamped when there are no major issues. OOXML is not that standard. It still needs a lot of work and according to the rules, the issues should have been addressed before block vote. The ECMA simply declared that there were no major issues and moved for a block vote.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  2. Why wait? by Tubal-Cain · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why one earth should Brazil wait for MS to be ready? It is Brazil that is (theoretically) in charge here, not MS. If MS is not ready by the set date, too bad. After all, this isn't supposed to me MS's format anymore.

  3. Re:ISO = I Sold Out by SanityInAnarchy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Too soon? They already bought the standard.

    This is attempting to correct the problem, yes. But saying that we should withhold judgment because ISO may redeem itself is nonsensical -- the concept of redemption implies that wrong has been done.

    As it stands, ISO is worthless. If the appeal process goes anywhere, then we can talk about respecting them again.

    --
    Don't thank God, thank a doctor!