OOXML standard still received ISO approval

Yesterday it became known that the file storage format of the Office 2007 Office suite still received the approval of the ISO organization and is now recognized as an international standard de jure. To push OOXML through all instances, Microsoft has promised to open source codes and format documentation, and also guaranteed its transparent work with competing programs.

According to information from members of the ISO committee, Microsoft exerted powerful pressure on the committee, and also applied its influence to change the position of those who, during the preliminary voting, spoke out against. “This voting is a tragedy for standardization,” Steve Pepper, ISO representative for Norway, commented on the decision of the committee.

However, the ISO decision did not affect the position of many critics of OOXML, who argue that the adoption of this standard leaves MS Office users no choice and binds them to Microsoft products forever. OOXML opponents brought many arguments in their favor, but even the collection of signatures could not affect the ISO decision.