04.09.08
OOXML Dirty Tricks Miscellanea: Norway, Misdirection, GPL Exclusion as Standard
A couple of readers have sent information for us to share, or at least become aware of. The issues will be addressed separately, in turn. They are loosely related.
“Keeping It Simple [It’s Not Microsoft vs IBM], Stupid”
The latter points in this post talk about legal traps in OOXML, which are a very serious issue that is no surprise at all.
Meanwhile, other issues can be raised which are related not to practical exclusion but a conceptual one too. In relation to “Microsoft’s Open Confusion”, a reader suggests a stronger rebuttal to Microsoft misdirection about the debate. “It’s not Microsoft vs IBM, it’s Microsoft vs a metric load of governments, businesses, universities and agencies,” he says. It’s worth emphasising this more strongly in the future.
Norway & OOXML
Related to the above, consider the protest in Norway and mind the central point of the speech given there. Our reader tells the gist of the story:
“I found that Geir Isene’s blog has a good article about a speech given by Steve Pepper at a demonstration against OOXML:
OOXML demonstration in Oslo: The speech
“He thinks that ODF is like the standard electrical outlet and OOXML is like a major vendor who tries to get everyone to use a different kind of electrical outlet which is only compatible with their equipment.
“He also has a good article called “Sorting to untruth to justify a bad decision”:”
After Mr. Jachwitz overturned his technical committee and decided to vote “Yes” to OOXML on behalf of Norway:
“We had an initial vote back in 2007 of nearly 50 people and the vast majority were in favor,” Jachwitz said. He did acknowledge that 21 members of the group last week submitted a letter asking for Norway to oppose Ooxml. “Our vote reflected the majority opinion,” Jachwitz said. “I do not see that it was improper.”
Source: The International Herald Tribune
He is now counting votes all of a sudden - and the 37 form letters are the basis for his justification to change Norway’s vote to “Yes”. Sorting to untruth to justify an irregular decision only adds to the irregularity.
The EU commission has already inquired about possible irregularities in the Norwegian process. This too will be reported.
The OOXML Trap
Yesterday we mentioned those 14,000 pages for software patent tax to be enforced. It’s a patent trap, as even the Gartner Group admits and developers are encouraged never to approach it, The same goes for OOXML, which is a case against the GPL. Microsoft is creating new conditions under which GPL development is being excluded and sidelined. By ruining ISO, Microsoft strives to make GPL exclusion the international standard, too.
Wishful Thinking: Making MSN the Standard
Speaking of exclusion, Microsoft’s fight against Google comes to mind also. Remind yourself again of how Microsoft escaped DoJ scrutiny (mind the bit about Google) when exploiting its Web browser and other bundled software.
A reader tells us: “I noticed that the search box built into MSIE nowadays goes to MSN and only MSN. If it weren’t for that MSN Search would probably get 0 hits.”
Microsoft uses Linspire and Turbolinux to redirect all users to MSN, as well. It’s part of their patent peace deals. You may also wish to know that, based on ODF/OOXML test runs, Live/MSN is inherently ‘broken’ (possibly tweaked by business design). █
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.