[Chapter-delegates] OOXML as standard: not likely but even impossible before 2009

[Michiel Leenaars]

Dear all,

I hope you will find below analysis of what happens next in the
controversial OOXML ISO process of interest.

The result of the recent negative vote is quite significant. Whatever
happens to OOXML at the Ballot Resolution meeting in Geneva, even if a
magic pixie turns thousands of comments into thin air and all P-members
see the light, there cannot according to ISO/JTC1 SC34 be a so called
Final Draft International Standard vote before december 2008 [1]. 
After the socalled BRM in Geneva tentatively scheduled for Februari a
modified DIS is to be sent to the voting nations again as an FDIS (Final
Draft International Standard) for a final approval vote (yes or no). 

If new members have joined by december 2008, or others have dropped off
again, the vote can still change and therefore ISO status will remain
uncertain until the very last moment. If the vote is positive ISO still
takes some time for the final issuing as standard - formally up to 60
days after FDIS approval to allow for appeals etc. I can't see why they
would want to rush this given the damage it occurred throughout the
OOXML process. Only then (at best early 2009) could there be a formal
'de iure' ISO Standard.  

It is highly likely that given the turbulence around the standard
this scenario is way too optimistic - perhaps years or even eternity.
The technical work is extremely complex. Investigations around
corruption, committeestacking and payola for votes will have their
impact and make the otherwise already controversial OOXML even less
attractive with the legacy binary formats still performing for the
vast majority of users. My feeling is that OOXML will be too late to
play any significant role in the game - and since it started only when
ODF 1.0 was finished and a good five years after the work on that
standard took off that is only logical. Microsoft should activate the
native ODF support in Office 2007 it has probably been working since
2005 when the format got standardised at OASIS and just give in.
Anything else will damage its customers and that would be a
capital mistake.

Kind regards,
Michiel Leenaars
Director ISOC.nl

[1] http://www.jtc1sc34.org/document/secretariat_temp.html#is29500