12.03.07
Open XML, Closed Doors
Sadly enough, the ISO continues to fail. The lack of transparency in the ISO not only gave birth to OpenISO, but it also led to loss of trust, many misdeeds, and great anger. Microsoft totally controls the ISO (the image on the left says it all). At this point at time, it is important to track and document all the oddities in the process. Only then, can the ISO return to its senses and regain credibility. Until it does, it will be possible for corporations to merely buy a standard rather than earn one.
Here is the latest report from Rob Weir:
Let’s review how things worked with ODF.
1. OASIS ODF TC mailing list archives are public for anyone to read
2. OASIS ODF TC public comment list archives are public for anyone to read
3. OASIS ODC meeting minutes, for every one of our weekly teleconferences going back to 2002, are all public for anyone to read.
4. The results of ODF’s ballot in ISO are public, including all of the NB comments
5. The comments on ODF from SC34 members are also public
6. The ISO Disposition of Comments report for ODF is also public for anyone to read[...]
But what about the OOXML process? Every single one of the above items is unavailable to the public, and in many cases cases is not available even to the JTC1 NB’s who are deciding OOXML’s fate.
On a related note, it is now being reported that the obscurity of the DIS 29500 standardisation process has its reasons.
Charles makes some good points why ECMA refuses to help the national Committees to resolve all comments.
The headline states “Open and dark?”. Aptly titled. █
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.