Friends of OpenDocument Inc

Minutes of Annual General Meeting, held 21 Jan 2007.

Microsoft’s Office Open XML specification

On December 7, 2006, Ecma approved Microsoft’s Office Open XML (OOXML) specification. It has been submitted to the Joint Technical Committee 1 of ISO/IEC, to be considered for adoption as an international standard. Ecma is attempting to fast-track OOXML through ISO/IEC JTC 1.

Several critical questions regarding the Ecma process itself and OOXML need to be carefully considered, given the long-standing policies of ISO and IEC regarding openness and transparency of the standards-development process, the technical quality of the standard, and the avoidance of “contradictory” standards.
Examples of OOMXL contradictions/objections.

Because of these issues, this specification should not be allowed “fast-track” approval as a standard. Instead, it should be remanded to Ecma International for further development.

The February 5 deadline for national standards bodies to submit “contradictions” in Ecma Office Open XML (OOXML) is approaching rapidly. We urge you to write to your national standards bodies on this issue. Linked below is all the information you should need.

1. ISO/IEC JTC 1 Contact Information,
   http://www.grokdoc.net/index.php/EOOXML_Contacts
2. Examples of OOMXL Contradictions/Objections
3. Sample Letters
4. OOXML Fact Sheet (PDF) from the OpenDocument Alliance

Notice of Annual General Meeting, to be held 20-21 Jan 2007.