Open Microsoft?

Well, well, well ... Not content with dominating the office suite world, M$ are now attempting to get their new MS Office file format (OpenXML) approved by the ISO as an "open" standard so that it can beat of the challenge by the already open and OASIS approved OpenOffice.org file format. M$ are trying to force this approval through in a matter of months, whereas the OOO format took nearly 5 years to be approved ...! Hmm ... wonder why M$ are in such a hurry? Perhaps they don't want the ISO to look too closely at the file format specification, because if they did they would find all sorts of proprietary and patent-encumbered jiggery-pokery in there. Hardly what is required in a supposedly "open" file format. ;-)

Anyway, so that you can form your own opinions here are some relevant links to look at:

Microsoft's perspective

MS OpenXML developer's opinion

E-week's article on MS response to the ODFA

E-week article on ISO approval of ODF

Linux-watch article on MS tactics

Sam Hiser's analysis of the OpenXML license

Chris Samuel's summary of Sam Hiser's analysis

Infoworld article on OASIS push for OpenDocument adoption

Groklaw's ODF and OpenXML format comparison

FFII's Workgroup on Open Standards

There you go! That should keep you all quiet! Have fun reading and let me know what you think ...