03.12.07
Full Speed Ahead on OOXML
Despite the numerous issues and contradictions already enumerated during the ISO Fast Track process, the secretariat of ISO’s Joint Technical Committee (JTC-1) on Information Technology, Lisa Rachjel, has apparently decided to continue with the Fast Track process for Microsoft’s Office Open XML document format anyhow.
According to an e-mail sent Saturday by Lisa Rachjel, the secretariat of ISO’s Joint Technical Committee (JTC-1) on Information Technology, the Open XML proposal, along with comments and criticism by nations that have already reviewed it, will be put on the ISO’s five-month balloting process….
Rachjel wrote that she decided to move Open XML forward after consulting with staff at the International Technology Task Force.
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.