Microsoft format as an international standard

Fri, 2007-07-20 11:34 — Terry

Others may be unaware of this topical issue mentioned on a few forums and a mailing list I happened to visit. See NO to the Microsoft Office format as an ISO standard.

I signed the petition some weeks ago and in the last few days received an email. I believe I'm not breach of any understanding of confidentiality by quoting from it:

Thanks for signing the NoOOXML petition. 143 Aussies signed the petition so far, pretty good showing, though I think over a thousand people signed in Portugal.
Unfortunately the Australian standards body seems to be totally asleep, and the vote is being treated as an IBM vs. Microsoft thing. When MS threatened New Zealand with sanctions if they did not support OOXML, there was outrage.

Microsoft have been busy getting their business partners to lobby for OOXML. [Link engaged by me]

The US, Italy, South Africa, and Czech Republic have all said "NO" or abstained in the last couple of days. So I'm asking you to help in Australia, to get universities, companies, and the press involved in the debate, and quickly. We only have a week or two left. [emphasis added]

To start with, join our list on [Mailing list].