01.30.08
Benjamin Henrion et al on OOXML and Software Patents
A FFII representative, Benjamin Henrion, had a little chat that happens to cover some of the issues associated with Microsoft’s OOXML (starts around 5mins 40secs), but it’s focused on patents, which are themselves an OOXML issue (direct link to video)
Jan and me had the chance to talk to André and Benjamin Henrion from the Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure (FFII) at the 24c3 Chaos Communication Congress. Besides some general talk about the activities of the FFII in Brussels we get a few insights into the current campaign against the Microsoft standard ooxml.
From Australia comes another reminder of the Microsoft Office lock-in. ODF is needed to restore competition, not only to have a real standards mandated for objects that we all use extensively.
IT managers considering the future of their organization’s desktops need to be wary of the amount of dependence workers have on Microsoft Office documents — which cause the most lock-in, according to one consultant.
Hence the need for ODF. Another barrier is the perversion in Web standards, courtesy of Internet Explorer. █
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.