The point of ISO standardization of Office file formats...
Most of the debate around ISO standardization of Open Office XML file formats -- the native file format of Office 2007 -- is terribly acrimonious and FUD-filled. For a different and interesting take on the debate, see here. Why interesting? The blog makes argues that the point of of ISO standardization is to actually take control of OXML away from Microsoft and place it in the public domain -- something important to society given how many people use Office.
Rob seems to be under the impression that ISO-approval is some kind of quality badge of honor that you can proudly carry around. First of all, I think we can all agree that ODF itself is a clear example that ISO-approval not necessarily implies quality, interoperability and clearness. Secondly, how the specification was made is not the first priority when talking ISO-approval. The first priority should be:
We need to take control of OOXML out of the hands of Microsoft and back into society as a whole
This was imho the focal point of Patrick Durusau's support of DIS 29500 approval. Amongst other things he said that
Patrick Durusau: The cost of rejection is that ordinary users, governments, smaller interests, all lose a seat at the table where the next version of the Office standard is being written (bold emphasis from original post).
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About john.mullinax
John Mullinax is a Platform Strategy Advisor with Microsoft's DPE Team. Before joining Microsoft in 2006, John held a vartiety of positions at Ford Motor Company, most recently leading IT services strategy to support explosive business growth in China. Other positions included: Enterprise Architect, Application Portfolio Management, Technology Governance, and Product Manager. Prior to joining Ford, John earned his MBA at the University of Washington. Before that, he was Director of Elections for Douglas County, Washington, where he conducted the first Federal mail-ballot election in the USA. Subsequently, he joined the Secretary of State's office as a consultant working with county election officials in Washington state to improve operational effectiveness, integrity, and security (aka, to prevent the kind of debacle we saw in Florida in 2000).
