Russell was feeling down on MOnday about what seems to be a vote for global adoption of Microsoft’s OOXML standard; however, the news reveals a few problems with the way two countries voted, and the final tally really isn’t in yet – although it doesn’t seem bright for open standards. Here’s a short list of updates re: the vote tally, which was supposedly finalized on Monday, March 31 (no, this isn’t an April Fool’s joke):
- Australia abstains on final OOXML vote: “After a lengthy deliberation, Australia’s peak standards development body has revealed it carried on its motion to abstain from voting on the status of the document format, citing a lack of consensus among its members as reason for bypassing the decision.”
- Norway asks to suspend its ‘Yes’ vote on OOXML: “Things are getting weirder and weirder,” said Andrew Updegrove, a supporter of ODF, a rival to OOXML, and an open-source and open-standards attorney with Gesmer Updegrove in Boston. “I think OOXML is going to be in the news for a while.”
- If OOXML is Approved…: “Of course, the object of securing a stable document standard for the future will not be delivered, and Microsoft will have generated an ongoing market for it’s services.”
It appears that results won’t be known until Wednesday (tomorrow), and it appears just as possible that this story will garner Microsoft all the publicity it wants or needs.
All I have to say is “shame on the ‘Aye’ sayers.” This is no way to establish a noble global standard. No way at all.
