01.14.08
Quick Mention: Pieter Hintjens’s Digistan Identifies OOXML-GDP Links
The less money one has, the easier s/he is to corrupt
A new press release has just been issued.
Poorer countries more likely to vote for Microsoft format, says a new study from the Digital Standards Organization.
A new study from the Digital Standards Organization (Digistan), “Influence of Per-capita GDP on the ISO OOXML Process” says that the average GDP per capita of the countries who voted for the Microsoft OOXML proposal in September 2007 is ’significantly lower’ than the GDP per capita of those who voted against it.
[…]
The Digistan study says, “Just before the ballot the following countries applied for p-membership: Malta, Venezuela, Pakistan, Poland, Egypt, Lebanon, New Zealand, South Africa, Ecuador, Jamaica and Uruguay, 8 of which voted for approval.” P-members are normally long-term participants in the standards process.
Also see: Corrupt countries were more likely to support the OOXML document format
Based this on the corruption index, those that Microsoft can corrupt are also those who are likely to vote “Yes”. We have identifies and documented plenty of evidence in the past, so people are encouraged explore and find out the truth. There have been incidents of bribery as well, so it clear that many people vote for their wallet. █
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.