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ISO Puts OOXML On Hold

Posted by kdawson on from the system-is-working dept.

schliz alerts us that ISO, in response to the four appeals (Venezuela, India, Brazil, South Africa) filed in recent weeks, has put the OOXML standardization process on hold. Here is ISO's press release, which says that ISO/IEC DIS 29500 will not be published for at least "several months" while the appeals process goes forward.
Update: 06/11 10:13 GMT by KD : Reader Alsee points out that the fourth officially recognized appealing country is Venezuela, not Denmark as originally stated. The protests of Denmark and Norway are being disregarded, as they do not come from the administrative heads of their national organizations.

17 of 138 comments (clear)

  1. Simpsons reference by codemachine · · Score: 2, Funny

    Haha!

    1. Re:Simpsons reference by nem75 · · Score: 2, Funny

      That was supposed to have a 'Nelson' close tag.

      <nelson>Haha!</nelson>

  2. Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster! by austin987 · · Score: 3, Funny

    In His infinite Noodliness, has touched the ISO with His Noodly Appendage.

    1. Re:Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster! by cp.tar · · Score: 3, Funny

      In His infinite Noodliness, the FSM touched the Microsoft midgit while he was composing the OOXML standard draft and put in all the spaghetti code and specifications, and is now laughing His Hallowed Noodles off.

      --
      Ignore this signature. By order.
  3. Re:ISO standards themselves are closed! by Chyeld · · Score: 3, Funny

    Don't worry, that was before they had Microsoft's corporate sponsorship to subsidize the cost of making copies....

  4. On Hold... by db32 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Actually them putting it on hold is compliance with the OOXML specification as written by Microsoft.

    "No Microsoft product shall have the features promised or be released when scheduled".

    So all of you cheering this decision are incredibly misguided. Look a little closer and you will see this is clearly evidence of more MS tampering in the process.

    --
    The only change I can believe in is what I find in my couch cushions.
  5. After OOXML fails ISO by kiehlster · · Score: 5, Funny

    So, Bill, what are we going to do tonight?

    Same thing we do every night, Stevie. Try to take over the world.

  6. Re:GREAT by roc97007 · · Score: 4, Funny
    > ...then it would mean that the attempt to buy a standard failed, thanks to the pressure put on ISO by the states that participate, which ultimately stemmed from organizations in those states who saw what was happening and protested.

    ...and that those people need to be sure to look both ways before crossing the street for the next few months...

    --
    Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
  7. Re:If only I could cry nonsense by SendBot · · Score: 4, Funny

    Mind you, if ISO is so vulnerable this does beg the question 'is it still relevant?' Maybe they're just better for things like high voltage electrical connections or things that are otherwise very safety-oriented (read: can catch on fire).

    When it comes to things that could save nation-states guhzillions of dollars and maybe use that money for something more important...

    Steve Ballmer will throw a chair (metaphorically) at anyone who gets in the way of his profits.
  8. Re:If only I could cry nonsense by rcw-home · · Score: 4, Funny

    Mind you, if ISO is so vulnerable this does beg the question 'is it still relevant?'

    Of course. Why, ISO is an ISO-9000-compliant organization!

  9. Re:hurrah! by ozbird · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Microsoft can just embrace, extend and extinguish the domino effect." There, fixed that for you.

  10. Re:Norway set aside the comittees no, and said yes by drinkypoo · · Score: 2, Funny

    Norway is spending only the interest on selling off their oil reserves, and stashing the rest. Didn't you watch Sicko? They put a philosopher in charge of how to spend the money. I feel like I'm playing Alpha Centauri... and losing.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  11. Re:that's OK by louzer · · Score: 2, Funny

    I bet MS ODF file will contain a high res JPEG rendering of the document. This will get the MS fan boys in corporate world think FOSS is incompetent

    --
    Heroes die once, cowards live longer.
  12. Re:ISO standards themselves are closed! by NJRoadfan · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just be lucky they aren't basing the price in Euros.

  13. Venezuela != Denmark by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    seriously. I know the ./ crowd is mainly US folk, but try to get the international stuff right once in a while.

  14. I disagree. by jd · · Score: 5, Funny

    To be ISO9000 compliant, ISO must have written documentation outlining the procedures for being bought off. If no such documentation exists, it violates the standard.

    --
    It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
  15. Common misconception by remmelt · · Score: 2, Funny

    > a pinhole of light at the end of the tunnel

    That's not the end of the tunnel, that's just oncoming traffic.